6 tips to overcome procrastination: Stop putting off 'til tomorrow what you don't want to do today!
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We all put some things off until tomorrow (or next week), but sometimes that behavior can cause problems. Bills don’t get paid on time. Tax forms are submitted late. Projects are postponed for a last-minute scramble.
This behavior can cause us to feel guilty, burdened, and exhausted. Plus, it can cost us in penalties and relationship problems – not to mention lost sleep!
Ready to conquer procrastination? Follow these simple tips:
1. Do it first thing in the morning – If you aren’t mustering the energy for an unpleasant or difficult task, try tackling it first thing in the morning – before your other tasks take over your day. Then you can spend the rest of your day on enjoyable projects.
2. Think about the project’s steps – If you’re overwhelmed by the sheer size of a project, break it down into smaller steps. It helps to think of the steps backward, from completion to beginning. Write each step on your calendar and stick to these deadlines, just as you would if they were appointments with your boss or a friend. Step by step, you’ll make progress.
3. Just do one tiny thing now – Still having trouble moving forward? Do one small, easy task to move your project forward. For example, pull the binder off the shelf to start that report. Or grab a stack of photos for your album.
4. Get a little help from a friend – If you still can’t get motivated, ask a friend or colleague to help you. It’s amazing how companionship can help you get focused and energized to tackle that tough job. To ensure non-judgmental help, a professional organizer can guide you through your organizational or time-management project.
5. Trick yourself! – Do you procrastinate on projects because you enjoy the excitement of last-minute scrambles? If so, try this trick: Forbid yourself to work on a “procrastination” project for 15 minutes, then do nothing but think about that project. Considering the project and the steps involved might move you into action.
6. Consider crossing it off your list – Now be honest: Do you have a project on your plate that you will never get around to doing? Maybe you can delegate it to a family member, friend or co-worker, or hire an outside service to do it for you. Or perhaps you can cross it off your list and move on with your life. Now that will ease your burden a bit!
Let’s move into action …
Take a moment to select a tip that fits your style, tackle that “procrastination” project, and lift the burden from your life! n
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About the Author
Sue Becker is the owner of From Piles to Smiles® professional organizing service. She is a CPA, and spent 20 years in various auditing, accounting, finance, and marketing positions at a variety of companies, including The Quaker Oats Company and SBC. The organization and time management skills that she used in these positions led to numerous accolades, including a prestigious leadership award. She started From Piles to Smiles early in 2000.
As a full-time working professional and parent, Sue knows the positive impact of an organized home and business. Her goal and passion is to help others achieve the peacefulness and joy that comes from feeling in control and having time to enjoy the things that really matter in life. She has helped people from Washington State to Washington, D.C. live more stress-free and harmonious lives by showing them how to reduce clutter, organize paperwork, and prioritize tasks.
Sue is a featured author in the most recent edition of Conversations on Success along with sales legends Tom Hopkins and Danny Cox, and communications expert Dr. John Gray. In addition, Sue has written articles for, and been featured in, numerous local and national newspapers and magazines, including: Real Simple Magazine, The Chicago Tribune, The Daily Herald, West Suburban Living, and The Reporter. Sue has appeared on the national TV show "Starting Over" as an expert on time management and space organizing, and has also appeared on an NBC TV news segment offering practical advice for women who need help getting organized. She is quoted as an organizing expert in the book How to Position Yourself as the Obvious Expert.
Sue received a B.S. degree in accounting from the University of Illinois and a MBA in finance and marketing from Northweste
University's J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers, and is the former Vice President of the Chicago chapter. She is the former treasurer of the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization, and is the first person in Illinois to earn the title of Certified Professional Organizer - Chronic Disorganization (CPO-CD®). She is also an ADD Specialist, and holds certificates of study in the following areas:
Basic Physical Conditions Affecting the CD Client
Understanding the Needs of the Elderly CD Client
Understanding the Needs of the Student CD Client
Basic Mental Health Conditions and Challenges Affecting the CD Client
Learning Styles and Modalities
Basic Hoarding Issues with the CD Client
Sue serves her community by volunteering with local organizations including DuPage Senior Services, St. Joseph Finance Committee, PADS, and others.nn n
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