FSS Newsletter :: December 2003

I'm Going to Stop Putting Off Things Starting Tomorrow

I've put off writing this column as long as I could. Not because I don't enjoy giving advice, or writing, or seeing my name in print. I just have this occasional tendency to procrastinate. Procrastination is a big word, and it's a big problem.

Benjamin Franklin said, "One today is worth two tomorrows; never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today."

All kidding aside, there are a lot of reasons for people procrastinating on certain things. Fear is a big reason. Conflict and anxiety are others. It's just so easy to procrastinate.

I'm no different. I don't want to deal with certain things. I don't want to call that person. I don't even want to think about that yet. Whatever the reason, let me tell you some of the strategies that I use for avoiding procrastination:

Do two things each day that you don't want to do. Every day when I get up I know I'm going to have to do about two things that I don't want to do. They're most likely problems, and quite often difficult or confrontational. Because I've anticipated them, I'm not going to procrastinate. Know that it's going to happen and take the anxiety out.

Set aside time in your day to do the unpleasant tasks. I know a lot of people who begin each day by doing the things they're not looking forward to. We all know what we have to do or things that we eventually will have to do. Get on with it and get it over with. You'll feel better.

Go "public" with your commitment to do whatever you want to do. I always try to put pressure on myself. If I tell my friends, family and business associates about something that I'm going to do, then I'd better do it.

Have a time and action calendar. I've got a little contract with myself. I have a time and action calendar for everything that I do and accomplish. I'm kind of a nanosecond guy. I learned it from my father. He used to tell me that he'd pick me up at 8:13. If I was there at 8:14, I missed my ride.

Pale ink is better than the most retentive memory. Write it down. A lot of us procrastinate because we forget. Take those things that you are procrastinating about and write them down and force yourself to do them. When I really need to do something, I put little reminders everywhere. I put a note on the floor when I get up in the morning so I have to walk over
it. I put a Post-it note on the mirror where I shave. I also put notes on the refrigerator, in my car, on my phone and so on. All this helps me stay focused and on track.