|
Dependability is Key to Your Success
One way our dependability is damaged occurs when we procrastinate. In
fact, one of the primary ways we create stress and struggle in our lives
is
through procrastination. When we say, "I just don't have the time
(or
energy) to deal with it now," we "pay the price" of our
procrastination in
several different ways. First, when we focus on a task and decide not
to
act on it, we've wasted time we could have used to complete the task or
to
work on something else. Second, the more we procrastinate, the more difficult
it becomes to take action to complete the task. Third, delaying the task
often increases the "cost" of completing it, much like paying
a credit card late
increases the cost of carrying the debt.
What can you do to reduce the procrastination in your life? Here are five
simple strategies:
1. Increase your awareness of when you procrastinate.
Note how often you
decide to postpone tasks as well as how you feel when you make the
decision not to act on it now. Notice which types of tasks you normally
complete as
well as those where you consistently procrastinate.
2. If there's a consistent area where you procrastinate, it's
probably
time to delegate it or dump it. Many times we're trapped by our
own belief
system that tells us we "should" engage in a particular activity.
For example,
you may believe you have to bake a homemade cake for a special birthday
when
one from the market would be just as good and would be a lot less effort.
3. Tackle the simple items first. If you try to stop
procrastinating all
at once or tackle the hardest items first, you'll only create more struggle
and stress. Instead, start with what you can easily handle and then move
to
the more difficult items.
4. Put a "time limit" on what's not handled.
For example, if you don't
read this month's magazines, put them in the April stack. If they are
not read
by June 1, discard them. Allowing them to pile up is a constant reminder
of
your procrastination and only makes you feel worse as the pile continues
to grow.
5. Prioritize what's most important and focus on completing those
items.
The 80-20 rule says 80% of the benefit comes from the top 20% of our
activities. Conversely, the bottom 20% produces less than 1% of benefit.
For the next
week, eliminate the bottom 20% of your activities that produce the least
benefit. Reducing how much you have to do frees you up to deal with the
important items you've been procrastinating about doing.
Reducing procrastination requires a series of small steps over a long
period of time. If you're ready to stop procrastinating, how about completing
one
item right now that you've been putting off?
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to Bernice's free weekly newsletter,
RealClues.
Click here
to subscribe.
|