Procrastination - Tips to Get Organized and Finish Tasks and Projects at Home and Work

How can I procrastinate? Let me count the ways...

I can find any number of wonderful and important 'ways' data recovery tape put off starting or completing a task or project. As human beings we all have a unique capacity to use our creativity and ingenuity to do just that.

• How do you manage all those fabulous distractions life has to offer?
• How do you finish what you started?
• Are you someone who tends to procrastinate?
• Do you become stuck trying to get it 'just right'?
• How many times do you end up with too many unfinished projects?

Many behaviors contribute to the tendency to procrastinate. Here are a few:

• Must-do stuff (that I don't like to do)
• Perfectionism
• Creating more work than was asked for or expected
• Over Commitment - Just say yes (to everything)
• Avoidance - use common everyday distractions to make one look busy, busy
• Poor planning
• Fear's voice in our head

I am an excellent procrastinator. I tend to procrastinate most often with follow-up calls. I can let weeks go by without making a single "important" business call. I had to dig deep to figure out what would cause me to do this. I think I know the reason and I am satisfied enough with it to use that reason to help me move ahead. My motivator for NOT calling is fear of rejection. Now I know I am not alone in this fear. Many share this with me including most of the people I need to call. In fact, that realization became my new motivator. I tell myself that if I do not make the call, I am sending a message that I don't care. I want my clients and prospects to know that I care. And, to help me in following through, I have a call sheet on which I write info relevant to the call, my deadline date and I include a space in which to write the success I had with the call. This works great for me!

We know that when we procrastinate we lose. We miss deadlines, we add stress, the quality of our work suffers, maybe we lose a little sleep, perhaps we trip over that thing that should have been moved and now our head is broken...Given the risks and lack of pay-off, why would we want to procrastinate? Whether you know the answer or not, follow this line of questioning and maybe you can stop procrastinating...tomorrow.

Q1: What? What is it that is 'not' getting done?

Example: I keep putting off going through the last four boxes from my office move.

This is the easiest of our 'procrastination questions' to answer. The challenge might be in having too long a list. If that is the case for you, try doing your short list first.

• What has been waiting the longest for your undivided attention?
• What will have the greatest impact on your work or life if is not done - soon?
• What are those things that are impacting other peoples' ability to get their stuff done (who has been waiting on you)?

Warning: Don't let picking your answer to the 'What' question become a tool for more procrastination. Pick one for now. Just do it!

Q2: Why? Why have I been putting this off? Why isn't it already done? There is a really, really good excuse. Let's hear it.

Example: Because 'I don't know where to put all the stuff that is in the boxes'. Sounds good, doesn't it? Need more examples? 'I don't know where to start'. 'If I start it now, I won't have time to finish.' 'I need to buy a new file cabinet (or Tupperware box, paper shredder, dog, house...) first.' What is your first 'why'?

Q3: Why again? Why haven't you done this or that?

Example: Why haven't I taken a moment to figure out the storage question so I can get going on this project? Mmmmmmm...Okay, okay... Truth is I just don't like sorting through and categorizing all that stuff. Maybe the clutter-fairy will come and take it away if I just wait long enough. This is me hanging out with my inner-child. Stick with me for there is hope.

Q4: Why, again and again, until you run out of why's. The average number of why's needed to get to the bottom of things is five. It's true. You have to dig deep to get out of your own way. Why oh why oh why....Want to know my 'bottom why' on this? I know that there are projects in those boxes that I never finished and I don't want to be reminded of them. It sometimes feels like failure when I start a thing that does not get finished. Would you agree that this is getting deep? Do you have 'things' in your boxes that you don't want to face?

Q5: What? What will you do to make it happen? And, how will you be when you do it?

Example: Nike' Shoes suggests in their ads to "Just Do It". Adopting the 'just do it' attitude will help me to move forward. No tricks or techniques. Really, be a grown-up and just do it!

What and how questions are action questions. When we use action questions we are compelled to DO something. So, I DID, happily. I made a decision before tackling those boxes that any unfinished projects would go into a special set of folders I call the "parking lot". Here they will remain until I decide to rejuvenate them. With that angst out of the way I was ready to finish the job of unpacking. Thank goodness I can now check that off my list.

There is no rocket science answer to solving the problem of procrastination. Usually, it is just a matter of checking in to acknowledge that you are procrastinating; figure out what is behind the procrastination; accept that 'why' and creating a plan to put it aside or deal with it. Then move on in spite of it. Nothing bad will happen! Instead, you simply get it done.

Let's look at those five-plus questions again.

1. What is the 'what'? What is NOT getting done?
2. What is your why?
3. What is your next why? Who is talking to you, your inner-child or your inner-adult?
4. Why and why again and again...get to the 'bottom why'.
5. What action will you take to create success? What attitude will you adopt as take that action?

You get to choose. Dig deep and you will figure it out! You can learn to prioritize and focus. No more juggling act. No more balls falling around you. No more stress and disappointment. No more falling over the clutter. No more misses and near misses.

Time to take control of that little voice in your head telling all the things you THINK you want to hear. Stop procrastinating...today!

Author, Linda L. McDonald is an executive and business coach and owner of REACH Resources in Easthampton, MA. Linda works with new and seasoned leaders and managers specializing in interpersonal relationships and communication. She holds a master's degree in organizational psychology and is a certified coach.

Among Linda's clients are engineers, telecommunications specialists, executive directors of non-profits, independent business owners in fitness, whole health, chiropractics, farming, beauty salons and multi-level marketing.

Linda is a member of BNI and Toastmasters International and is the current president of the Women Business Owners Alliance of Pioneer Valley, Inc.

Linda is available for public speaking engagements, organizational development and provides individual and group coaching in person and by telephone.

Learn more about REACH Resources and Linda at www.REACHresources.nethttp://www.REACHresources.net