Procrastination or Prioritizing?
Rhonda, a solopreneure, started to write a paper for her MBA program at ten in the evening. She worked until 1:00 a.m.. Then, satisfied that the paper could be turned in class the following evening, finally went to bed.
The next morning at work, feeling exhausted, she berated himself for waiting until the last possible time to get her homework done. She always seemed to procrastinate about something important, and then push himself beyond her limits to get it done.
She seldom kept her promise to herself to start things early.
Rhonda discussed she problem with her coach. As they explored procrastination, Rhonda learned why people often have trouble starting difficult, unpleasant, or time consuming tasks.
They usually say to themselves "I should..." or "I have to..." and ignore the little voice that says, "I DON'T WANT TO!" After all, it's not acceptable not to want to do those things. When people procrastinate, that little voice takes charge.
There are many possible reasons for not wanting to do a task:
- Sometimes a person has decided to do a task to meet a long term objective, and immediate short term projects seem more pressing.
- Some people don't want to do a task because it is inherently unpleasant.
- Others don't want to do it because they are afraid of failing and looking bad.
- Often people don't want to do a task because it is about someone else's agenda and not their own. They said yes to a request they really wanted to refuse.
Sometimes people fear starting a large, complicated project because they simply don't know how to organize and manage the task. They may believe that not having enough time will excuse them from not meeting their own very high standards.
In today's busy world, people often believe they need to do more than it is possible for one human being to accomplish in any reasonable period of time. The reasons for procrastination are as varied as the people who procrastinate.
Rhonda had lots of information and a few suspicions about why she kept putting off important tasks.
She made a list of the commitments in her life. Work, school, her fiance, her community service activities, and her loyalty to her swim team. She couldn't remember the last time she had taken any time to just relax. She was clearly over-committed, and her short-term activities were interfering with her long-term goals.
She discussed the situation with her fiance, who helped her set priorities about what things would matter most to both of them.
She decided that both her business and school were important to her long-term success, and that she really preferred hiking with her fiance to swimming. She also reluctantly decided to postpone the community service activities until she completed her MBA.
In the following few weeks, she found that she was able to keep her commitments to himself, and even take a few evenings off just to relax.
Related Tags: time management, priorities, decision making, procrastination
Communicate skillfully about sensitive subjects in business situations. Have the challenging conversations that lead to cooperation and success. http://www.DareToSayIt.com/blog Laurie Weiss, Ph.D. is a Master Certified Coach and communication expert. Dr. Weiss has spent 35 years helping clients resolve conflict in business and personal relationships. Email feedback@laurieweiss.com
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Increase Your Productivity - How To Clear The Mechanism
How can I increase productivity and what is productivity? Well, I'm glad you asked…First, the dictio - Are You In Check?
Work/life balance is really a broad concept comparing the proper prioritizing between career and det - The Ebb & Flow Of Balance
One recurring theme we all face is balancing the demands of their career with those of our personal - The Three Rhythms Of Workflow - Getting And Staying In The Groove
It's been a rock and roll day here at QuietSpacing(R) central. Monday's always are … for most of us. - The Real Key To Time Management
One of the biggest struggles all of us have in our modern world has to do with how to manage time. M - 4 Tips To Better Command Your Workload
We entered the workforce well educated, but few entered well skilled. Gaining skills on the subject - When Is Asap?
Our 24×7 world has a rash … a rash of ASAP. It's highly contagious and seems to strike from the top - Effective Time Management Training
Most losses incurred by companies are due to a lack of sound time management program. Then, it leads - Busy Work Is Not Always Productive
Busy work can be regarded as any task or assignment we engaged in that consumes our time but in the - You Need To Overcome Procrastination Before It Kills You
Sounds a little dramatic doesn't it? Well let me give you several examples and you can decide for yo
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Time Unmanagement
Is that really a word, "unmanagement" ?"Sorry, we have no matches for unmanagement", well I guess if - How To Implement A Time Management Strategy For Better Productivity
I've often been asked why my life seems so organised. When this question was first put to me I didn' - It's About Time
Of the essential elements it takes to start and grow a profitable business - a concept, money, a pla - Tips On Time Management
Time management is one of the hardest things to master. For some people it comes easy and for others - Big Rocks
As I sat at the edge of the pool, watching my kids swim, I thought about what a blessing it was to b - The Challenge of Focus
Laser Beam Focus. To be successful you need to be focused. I make a plan. I plan the day, then I sti - Are You Ready To Throw Time Management Out The Window
Forget about time management, I have. Why? Have any of the hours upon hours of training, or readi - Work at Home Moms: Tips on Staying Focused
Let's face it…moms working at home have a ton of distractions. Staying focused on your business can - More Efficiently Utilize Your Time by Listening to Audio Books
Are you short on time? With everything else you need to do these days between work, taking care of - Suggestions for Using Time Wisely
There are twenty-four hours in a day. At a first glance it seems a lot, but in our practical day-to-
