Procrastination is easily my biggest weakness and I always delay working on it. Yes, that was humor. I even delayed writing this post for a year at least for fear it needed to be perfect. However I was inspired by a great read on the Pick The Brain blog.
This post is far from perfect so I’m actually using one of the weapons below that defeated Procrastination. That weapon had me hit the publish button. Read on to find out which weapon I used.
Tiny Tasks
Like a virus many tiny tasks can eat away at the enormity of a big task. Breaking big tasks into a multiplicity of small doable tasks to overcome that enormity you created with that little shoulder devil saying “that’s too big, do it later”. Recognise and admit it is the enormity of the task that is stopping you.
BANJO
It stands for “Bang A Nasty Job Out”. I love this one (thanks Pick The Brain). In a nut shell knowing you have nasty tasks ahead stops you working down your list. Getting the nasty one done solves this problem. Personally I think a more realistic approach for a procrastinator is to use the previous weapon in conjunction with this weapon for a more reliable way of taking out the enemy.
Endorphins
Wow these little guys kick some you know what. They arrive shortly after exercise and for me they always inspire me to take action, get stuff done and help me fell good about things that might in another mood send me into a spiral of procrastination.
Don’t do it, just strike it off the list
Do you have to do this thing you are procrastinating about. If you keep delaying it maybe you really aren’t committed to doing it. One example for me is painting (the artistic kind). Been procrastinating about it for years before I realised I’m obviously not that desperate to do it if I haven’t started. It’s probably just a mental desire. So now it’s on my maybe later list.
Road block removal
You find reasons, dependencies and blocks that allow your mind to justify not doing something. Interestingly this technique also counters the guilt associated with not getting something done. So the trick here is removing the excuses you come up with via a method outside your normal way of being. Get help from another person, delegate the thing that is stopping you, pay someone to do that part which will free you up to do the rest.
I first realised this was happening to me many years ago when I was doing up my house. I stopped at plastering, seemed to hard and nothing happened for months. Then I spent a pitiful $200 to get the few holes and section of a wall plastered and I was off and running again.
Deadlines
Here is a weapon that can be used lethally against procrastination. Tell lots of people about your commitment to do X and that you plan to have it complete by Y date. Then schedule it in your calender. Then ask your partner or close friends to call you on word to do it in the event of likely failure or post failure. Ask them to tell you you are procrastinating on this. Lastly as a bonus ‘hammer it home’ weapon, create a financial loss out of not having it done by your deadline. Just a token financial loss like a friendly bet or a forfeited deposit can work a treat.
This one isn’t for everyone but in many people the procrastinator in them is easily defeated by their desire to win a bet, to be right, to prove themselves to others. It is driven by trying to look good and be admired.
The setup
All through history people win games, battles, arguments and all kinds of competitive situations through “the setup”. Create a setup that has you win in this battle to achieve this task that you keep procrastinating about. Put some conditions, variables, resources to bear on the outcome so only one thing can eventuate - success. Thinking a few moves ahead like in a chess game can help.
Say you want to start going to the Gym. Having a friend go with you is a setup technique. It’s harder to pull out or say no on the day. Extend this by having them pick you up. Go further and pay for the session in advance. Yes its a setup but its enough to channel you into action.
Sleep
Of all the things that saps enthusiasm, lack of sleep is the one. Well slept, is well kept, in the game of life. How can you expect to play hard against ‘team procrastination’ if you go out partying the night before. All that will happen is that you will wake up hungover, unmotivated and feeling very sorry for yourself to the point where the only thing that will be crossed of your list that day is “make coffee”.
Reward
All intelligent species respond to rewards. If you don’t get something for doing something you are procrastinating about then I ask why do it? What is the reason? I’m not proposing a selfish way of being, I’m just being realistic on this. What’s in it for you? Survival, happiness, making others happy? Create a reward. If it is a job for someone else then concentrate on how it will help them, they will appreciate it and you can bask in your good Samaritan sun. Bask away and don’t be ashamed of it!
Martyrdom
Sometimes a task can be crappy, dangerous or boring. Worse still you get no reward at completion for doing it. I suggest creating a reward called Martyrdom. Take it on, bring it on and state your position to others who won’t (with your chest out). Be the Martyr, just do it. Be like the guy who volunteers to take “point” in the jungle war scene and gets the medal. Be the person who takes the dive for the team victory and gets lifted up on their shoulders. It sounds bizarre but I assure you when you come out the other side and the nastiness is over others and even yourself will say. I did the yards, I played the position no one wanted to play, I got the job done. You will feel very alive.
Anxiety reality check
Is this your root cause of procrastination? Historically procrastination and anxiety go hand in hand. You are anxious about something and accordingly find ways to avoid, delay and distract yourself from that something. In severe cases people avoid living life in a normal way. I get anxious and I try to remember to remind myself that anxiety only has a home is in my head. Anxiety isn’t a physical thing, it’s not made of atoms. It is mind created, possibly has genetic or medical reasons for being there but it doesn’t change the fact it isn’t real and can’t be touched. Remembering that helps me reduce its impact. It can feel very real and significant for many and if so get to the Doctor they are the professionals on this one.
Near enough IS good enough
This is tough but quite often procrastinators are actually perfectionists in disguise who won’t start or finish something for fear of the result being less than perfect. If this is you then dwell on this. Doing nothing about ‘X’ is so far away from perfection that you would be a fool not to do something about it.
So suit up, get your weapons together and kick procrastinations butt!
