Procrastination
“Defer no time, delays have dangerous ends. “ William Shakespeare
There are five top reasons I procrastinate. While I originally thought they were listed in the order of importance, it was easy to pluck examples from my life in each one of these categories. This list is directed toward blogging; however, it easily applies to any other area of your life.
Can you identify with any of these?
1. Must Be Perfect. This requires going over an article at least five times. Had I known that blogging would become a full-time passion, I would have majored in English in college. Since nothing is worth publishing until it is perfect, days go by while I contemplate re-writes. Videos are scrapped for a noise here, a Jing box you can see in the lower left hand corner, or a sentence that is out of place and won’t fit anywhere.
2. Have All the Facts. This article can’t possibly be ready to publish, because I have more volumes to read on this topic. I don’t have a grasp of all the fine-print details yet. There is so much more to learn about this topic, or there is another class coming up in two weeks where I might learn more about this. Perpetual student syndrome is hard to shake.
3. The Blame Game. This game includes all of the reasons you can’t do something. It is generally circumstances that are out of your control. If only the neighbors weren’t so loud I could concentrate on writing. I could shoot great videos if I had a decent camera and lighting equipment, but my tax bracket was so high I couldn’t save money for the equipment. I would eat better and thus have more energy to write if the manufacturers of food didn’t offer such poor quality food. Playing the blame game absolves you of responsibility for your actions!
4. Busy Doing Nothing. There are phone calls to make, friends to connect with, banking and grocery errands. But you’ve been really busy today! Your email, Facebook and Twitter accounts have been incredibly demanding. You’ve had to check them on a regular basis. It is now 9:00 p.m., the “To Do List” has collected dust on your desk, with nary one single item crossed off. Phew! Much ado about nothing …
5. Dreaming About It. Picture what you want and daydream about it. Goals? Well, they aren’t set yet. That will go on the To Do List for tomorrow. Goal setting is easy. It just requires some imagination and a little bit of writing. Goal achieving, on the other hand, demands that you step outside of your comfort zone and take risks. It requires scrapping these reasons, thinking outside of the box, perhaps embarrassing yourself a little, but moving forward without fear.
Do you identify with any of these points? Can you name some other great reasons to procrastinate? I’d love to hear your favorite ones. Can we bury them together, wipe the slate clean and begin anew with a powerful To Do List that will focus on our WHY and bring us one more step towards our goals?
Let May West’s statement ring in your ears: “He who hesitates is last.”
To Our Abundant Growth,
Dar
June 29th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Darlene,
I immediately identify with #4 “Busy Doing Nothing.” Now completing tasks is not really doing nothing; the tasks have to be done – get gas for the car, go to the bank to (hopefully) deposit checks, stop at my P.O. Box to receive that huge check (LOL), stop for a short lunch, stop to buy office supplies, etc. And reading and responding to emails is also not really doing nothing. I have new clients contacting me. I am invited to speak on blog talk radio shows or to write articles for someone’s site. And syndicating my TSA tribe members is also not doing nothing, it is building my network of like-minded, supportive colleagues. And watching teleseminars and webinars about building my business is also not doing nothing.
However, there are many days where that is all I accomplish – chores and syndicating and listening to others who have already made it. So, then the following day I focus on my immediate to do tasks.
Bottom line is that there really is a lot to do, lots of details, lots of different tasks. Outsourcing some of it can make a huge difference.
Dr. Erica Goodstone´s last blog ..Boundaries of Love
June 29th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
Procrastination is a strange term. Sometimes it feels like I am procrastinating, because I am not accomplishing my business to-do list, but I am getting important and essential chores done. The chores (like going to the bank to hopefully deposit checks or getting gas for my car) are eseential, must get done. And responding to emails brings me new clients, offers to speak or to write, opportunities to be interviewed on radio, or invitations to free teleseminars or webinars about something to help grow my business.
Then, when all that is done, sometimes I still have time to work on the important to-do items. If not, then I will devote another couple of days toward doing those items first.
Dr. Erica Goodsotne´s last blog ..Boundaries of Love
June 30th, 2010 at 4:28 am
Good tips here.I have fallen in those too.Procrastination hurts you more than anyone.Thanks Darlene.
Beverly Monical´s last blog ..Videos Are The Best Way To Brand You
June 30th, 2010 at 8:17 am
Hi Darlene,
Oh Dear!! I used to be intimately involved for many years (like 20) with a chronic procrastinator and it can drive you up the wall!! It ultimately can destroy a relationship if it involves “getting to” serious matters!!
I can think of one reason I put things off..confusion. If I am unsure which way to go, I will blame it on being confused, indecisive, and thereby stay stuck. Not good! The past relationship broke me of most of it though.
Great article. Excited to know you!!
Laura Morris
Laura Morris´s last blog ..How To Get Anything You Truly Want
June 30th, 2010 at 10:48 am
I love it! I’ve gotten a few of these points mastered, not the ‘much ado about nothing’ one! There really are phone calls to make, friends to connect with, banking and grocery errands! My facebook accounts are incredibly demanding.
I don’t even check them on a regular basis!
OK, I’ll start with the To-do list first!!
~Linda
Linda G. Cox´s last blog ..Why Are Some Rich and Others Poor
June 30th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
Hi Darlene
I can relate to this post of yours!
The thing that I struggle the most with regarding procrastination is perfectionism.
While perfectionism is an excellent quality to have in some areas (as in my editing, proofreading and writing business!), it’s not such a great thing in other areas.
My main reasons for procrastination are:
* Worrying what others think of me and the fear of embarrassment, possible humiliation and feeling foolish.
* Fear of making mistakes and the consequences that would likely follow.
… and yet “What other people think of you is none of your business” is a quote that I’ve heard numerous times in recent years – I like it!
I struggled for a ridiculous number of years (throughout my six years of secondary school and beyond) worrying about what others would think if I made a mistake(there is more to that story, but I’ll explain that further in a post on my blog at some stage).
The extra pressure I put myself under was ridiculous, although, I couldn’t see it at the time.
It’s only as I’m getting older and more comfortable with who I am, that I’m able to beat procrastination in more ways that I used to be able to.
I am still a champion procrastinator in some areas of my life, however, I am very aware of it and often “argue” with myself by thinking through whether my thoughts are rational or not (cognitive behaviour therapy works
).
Oddly enough, wouldn’t it be a boring old world if everything and everyone in it were perfect?!
When I watch a video on YouTube, the ones that I’m the most drawn to are those that aren’t perfect, ie: the message is there, but there might be a dog bark in the background, or a plane flying overhead, or the person says a word the wrong way, or stammers … and the person takes it all in their stride.
The human element to these videos is what I relate to the most, and yet, I really do struggle doing videos myself!
Points #1 and #2: These are important, but I’m sure many of us (including me) deliberate over them more than we should.
Don’t be so hard on yourself regarding Point #3. Things that are out of our control are … out of our control. Life happens, and I can relate the noise thing – big time!
While my kids are usually very good when I’m working at the computer, they often get a bit too noisy for me to concentrate properly. When that happens, I either have a break and do something else and come back later when things are quieter, or, if I’m really pushed for time to get something done online, I’ll sit here at the computer with my earmuffs on (silly and all as it looks!) so that the noise is at least muffled – where there’s a will, there’s a way!
Point #4 is closely linked to #3 and … life happens. As Linda said, groceries, banking etc have to be done, and I don’t know about you, but the “Housework Fairy” doesn’t visit me, so I have to do all those jobs too! lol
The other thing to remember is that it’s okay to have a “slack” day here and there. On the days that I’m having a bit of trouble getting into the flow of writing, I’ll spend my time with other activities online (such as Twitter, Facebook, emails etc) because they do need my attention at some point, and I find them easier to do when tired, than trying to write articles when I’m tired.
Point #5: It’s often easier said than done to set goals. For a long time, I didn’t think that writing my goals down would make any difference – I was wrong! I haven’t updated my list for while, but there are so many things that I want to do during my lifetime, that I know I’ll never accomplish everything.
The most important part about it though, I feel, is to work towards the ones that mean the most to you. They may not have anything to do with financial matters, or they just might. It’s completely up to you and what is right for YOU, nobody else.
Darlene, a few nights ago, I finished reading, “Defy Gravity – Healing Beyond the Bounds of Reason”, by Caroline Myss. I loved it and will definitely be reading it again.
There is a phrase in it that Caroline speaks of that has had an enormous impact on her life. It is:
“This day will never come again”.
To quote Caroline in part of the last paragraph of the book:
“… Such tiny realizations are also the most profound soul awakenings. You have resources yet to be unleashed. Make bold, outrageous choices. Live as though you have the power to change the world – because you do”.
Darlene, you are already changing the world and helping to make it a better place. For starters, by sharing your knowledge and experience, including your struggles, it helps the rest of us to realise that we’re not the only ones with challenges in our lives … and that we’re normal!
Darlene, I know this comment of mine is of epic proportions, but I would like to share one last thing – a funny quote that rings very true:
Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today, because if you do it today and you enjoy it, you can do it again tomorrow!
I have no idea who messed around with the original quote for this, but whoever they are, “Thanks!”
~ Kylie ~
Kylie Doak´s last blog ..A Blast From The Past
June 30th, 2010 at 10:28 pm
Oops! I’ve just noticed a typo, but in the spirit of this blog post, it’s okay.
Kylie Doak´s last blog ..A Blast From The Past
June 30th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
Darlene,
Thanks for writing this post , i find the information that you have shared of great value to the people that i connect with and going to pass this on to my tribe. I look forward to reading more from you.
Chris.
Chris Bernardo´s last blog ..Saving Money and Time by Working Smart
July 1st, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Hi Darlene,
Another good post from you here, I can relate to all of these but especially number 3 – The Blame Game. I did this ALOT but then I became aware of what I was doing.
Also someone told me, you should never blame anyone else for where you are in your life, if things are going wrong or you don’t like how your life is – you got yourself there, no one else and you should work to put things right.
Take care,
Vanessa
Vanessa´s last blog ..Fruits- Vegetables and the Key to Immune System Health
July 2nd, 2010 at 5:56 am
Darlene,
#4 was an issue for me for years in business. I then changed to a new strategy that changed everything. I simply chose a handful of marketing actions to do each day for the entire month. I wrote them on a 3 x 5 card at the time, then each morning when I sat at my desk, I tackled those items first… No reading emails, etc until they were done.
That generally took about 1 hour at the most. Then, I was free to spend the rest of the day as I chose.
I still do that today and over the years, it not only transformed my business but it created more freedom and less guilt!
Wishing you continued success,
Robin
Robin van der Merwe´s last blog ..Audio- Living a Life That Matters
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:35 am
Darlene,
Procrastination can at times be such a good friend…not! However, the reality for me is that it does happen. I find myself in the mode of a little tweak here, just a little tweak there, oh wait…maybe another tweak right here… If I can just remember that it doesn’t have to be perfect and go ahead and get it out then maybe I can finally cross one of those things off that “to do” list.
Thanks for the gentle nudge.
Don Enck´s last blog ..A 10 Week Journey…Something Old…Something New
July 2nd, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Darlene, yes I really can identify with everything you said!!! We all find our reasons to procrastinate, I think it’s just human nature. I think I can relate to #4 the most. I have adopted what they call a DMO (daily method of operation). I write down 3 to 5 things that I am going to do the next day that will help my business. I found this really helps me and forces me to to what I wrote down! Great post! Thanks, Joe
Joseph McDevitt´s last blog ..How To Install A Networked Blog Widget
July 3rd, 2010 at 3:03 am
Thanks for this thought-provoking post, Darlene. And to think you even got Mae West in there too – I thought she was famous only for the nickname given to a certain life preserver during WWII!
Back to your question: Here’s a big contributor to my procrastinating on certain things – I simply hate doing them. Example, annual taxes. Hate that task like the Plague.
Stew Shaw´s last blog ..World Cup Vuvuzela Multiple Choice Question
July 3rd, 2010 at 7:08 am
I must admit at times I have made a to-do list to find my to-do list. The it dawned on me…just do it. Great post.
Clint White´s last blog ..What is a Favicon and Why You Need One
July 3rd, 2010 at 1:07 pm
Hi Darlene! This truth hurt a little bit. If I didn’t know better I would think your were talking directly to me in #1. Well, there is good news and bad news. The bad news is I still have things to work on regarding my procrastination. The good news is that I am an artist
Always balancing,
Rafael
Rafael Cantu´s last blog ..One Step at a time…
July 4th, 2010 at 11:33 pm
Darlene I think I can relate to every one of these, gee I didn’t think I was that big of a procrastinator though. Maybe I need to reassess. I find that I m always busy but it may not be income producing busy and so I am side tracking. I try to do at least one thing a day that I have been putting off for whatever reason or I feel inundated with the thought of all I have to do.
Belinda
belinda cunningham´s last blog ..Creating a link to an external URL in your menu bar of a wordpress blog
July 7th, 2010 at 3:54 am
Oh dear…I think I am guilty of all of the above. My only saving grace is that I am at least aware of my procrastinating and work hard at fighting it. Perfectionism is probably my biggest enemy and every now and then everything gets out of control again. So thank you for the reminder Darlene and it is indeed time to make a fresh start and get things done.
July 9th, 2010 at 8:14 am
Oh my goodness, yes!!! Procrastination (I love how you phrased it “The Art of…”) is a HUGE struggle for me that I constantly and consciously need to be working to overcome daily and the majority of mine is due to #1 being a Perfectionist . I am like the worst LOL. Overtime though I’m learning to say “Who cares, just do it”.
#4 and to a lesser degree #2 come into play as well but being too particular even though it can also be a positive attribute, is what ‘particularly’ gets in my way.
Thanks, Laura
Laura Paulson´s last blog ..Network Marketing Success- Get Your Newbies Started Right
July 9th, 2010 at 9:00 am
Laura,
The first one is the issue I struggle with most, too, hence I listed it first. It has taken me many years to accept anything less than perfect. However, I’m learning to selectively apply perfection in those areas that point directly to my goals. Thanks for being so honest.
July 14th, 2010 at 6:50 am
Hi Darlene,
A great post on the one of the actions that when implemented keeps us from accomplishing great things. The other two words are excuses and blame. When we can eliminate the three, the sky is the limit.
Make it a great day!
Lloyd Dobson
Lloyd Dobson´s last blog ..Three Key Qualities For Your Journey Through Life
July 14th, 2010 at 7:41 am
Lloyd,
The trick is just to form good habits. I like your way of putting it—just eliminate the three.