The Price of Procrastinating
Procrastinating is never a good way to go through life. Constantly saying that you will ‘get to it’ tomorrow or even next week is a fine way to ruin your relationship with your family and friends. It is also an excellent way to put your career on the line as you struggle to get anything done.
Think about it this way: you have a major project that must be presented at 11 a.m. It is now 9 a.m. and you have not even started the project. Now it’s crunch time and you have to try to get a 5 hour project done in just two hours.
What happens if you don’t get it done in time?
* You become stressed because you know you did not accomplish this one task.
* You could lose a potential customer.
* You could reschedule with a client if he is willing to do so.
* You will have to work late into the night to finish it before the next work day.
* This takes time away from your family and will interfere with your sleep time.
Becoming stressed and overwhelmed is not good for your physical or your mental health. Stress can lead you to do a poor job.
This is a problem that can quickly spiral to an out of control chaos.
There are a few things you can do to alleviate the downward spiral of your procrastination. Try these ideas:
Start Off Happy
Most people procrastinate because they don’t like the job they have to do. It needs to be done, but there is no motivation to even begin.
Start off choosing a project that you enjoy. As you work, you will notice your confidence building and you will be more than willing to start on the dreaded job once you complete the current one. A positive attitude will help you complete the job and do it right.
Find That Spark
If your work is boring, and you procrastinate because of this, then you need to reach down and find the one spark in the job that will awaken your spirit. Then, find a way to make the work enjoyable.
The spark can be as simple as you wanting to finally tackle the job. Make a game out of the process. Use a kitchen timer and set it for a set amount of time and see how much you can accomplish in this time.
When the buzzer goes off, reward yourself before moving on to the next part of the job. Maybe a short walk around the room, or a small snack. Nothing over the top, or the distraction will keep you from finishing the job. Continue using the timer until you finally finish.
Power Up
People who procrastinate often do so because they are stressed out and tired. It is hard to find motivation and willpower when running on a low battery. Starting with low energy means you struggle just to begin each work day.
The best way to increase your energy level – power up – is to eat nutritional foods that help to sustain your energy. You can take dietary supplements if you need them. Most important, get lots of quality sleep each night.
It’s up to you to beat procrastination. It can be done. Take your time to learn to follow these steps; but don’t say “I will do it tomorrow!”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.