Tag Archives: performance management

Procrastinate… later!

Procrastinate - later!

Procrastinate – later!

Thanks for your input on my pre-blog question about procrastination. I have finally found my ’round to-it’ and so here, eventually, is the Procrastination blog!

Procrastination is a state of mind and a stressful habit. You know from experience that leaving things to the last moment means that you can never deliver your best work and there will be no time to deal with last minute problems. However, we all still do it! Hope some of these ideas are helpful to you.

1 Use the term ‘live-line’ rather than ‘deadline’ – it will put you in the here and now and it is just ‘nicer’!

2 If you know that you work better under pressure, create a make-believe live-line that falls several days before the real time due and plan to work ‘frantically’ towards that!

3 Make a ‘to do’ map or list and stick it where you can see it ALL the time!  The first item on your to do list is to make one, so you start off with a success right away!

4 Just start! Even if it is just a matter of taking some paper out, or opening a new file on your computer, do it. Build some fun into the task. Yes, fun! It will help to keep your motivation high and it is always easier to focus on something that is enjoyable.

5 Pick one thing that you usually leave until the last minute and commit to completing it to a suitable timetable – give yourself a reward when you achieve this. Overcoming your procrastination habit is building a new brain pattern, remember your brain is ‘plastic’ so it is possible to do this.

6 Does being a ‘Perfectionist’ make you procrastinate? Decide in advance what level of ‘perfection’ is appropriate for the task. Learn to ‘let go’ by working on the ‘good enough’ principle.

7 Keep your eye on the clock. There is a limited length of time that you can invest in any one task. Set a timer, lose yourself in the task and still keep in a timely manner. TURN OFF your phone / emails (or set them to mute); schedule specific times to check them.

8 If you are always late for appointments, set your watch 5–10 minutes fast. Realise that by being late (either in person or with a task) you are showing lack of respect for others. Someone will be inconvenienced by your poor manners. Concentrate on how it feels to be on time and not rushed and stressed. Revel in that feeling.

Doomed by your goals?

Recently several people have told me they do not want to set goals. When I ask why, the response is either that if they set the goal too high they will be discouraged when they do not meet it and if they set the goal too low, it won’t feel like an achievement. And anyway, what if a GREAT opportunity comes along, they would be restricted. Doomed any way! So the easy solution is to just not set them…

Here is a slightly different way to look at goals and how they can serve you.
Directional goals:   For example, you have a goal to get to Albuquerque (or have a sales target etc.). The mode of transport; the length of time the trip takes; the route you take; who does/not travel with you  are all open to your choice – the only ‘must’ is that you will end up in Albuquerque!

Attitudinal goals:  Another aspect is to set attitudinal goals – how would you like to BE for this day / week / month / year? We are, after all, human BE-ings, not human DO-ings! This can be rather fun as you think about what the best BE-ing state is for the things you have to DO. Might it be best for you to be: appreciative; charming; hopeful; joyful or upbeat? For additional enjoyment, you can see if those closest to you can guess what emotion you are being!

Finally – get ADOCTA!  This will assist you with the terminal goal killer of thinking that being off course, or making changes means you have failed. IT DOESN’T –  it just means you are learning and adjusting is required for final success. The steps to ADOCTA are: Action – decide on an action to take: Do – one step / action which you think will move you towards your goal: Observe – what was the outcome from that action, what actually happened? Consider – did it take you closer to (or away from) your goal? Tweak – do you need to amend / repeat / reinforce before you… Action – take another action step. In this formula, there is NO failure – you are just discovering and learning how to achieve your goal.

Make a Mind Chi Maplan: Here is an example comparing a current non-goal setting situation and the effects of the desired goal setting life. Copy it, stick it up to remind you that goals can bring you much success and happiness.  Please tell us your goal stories!

Mind Chi Goals Maplan

Mind Chi Goals Maplan