Avoiding the Procrastination Trap

Procrastination – the dictionary defines the word as “to put off intentionally and habitually” and it is something we are all guilty of at some time or another and for many people it really is a bad habit. Why do we do it? There are so many reasons. Some people put a task off because they know it is going to be a challenge and they are not “in the mood” for that right now and convince themselves that tomorrow they might be and head off to check their Facebook rather than start wading through it today.

Others are simply disorganized and underestimate the amount of time and effort they may have to put into something, or they are unclear about exactly what they are trying to achieve. Whatever the reasons for putting something off for another time that should be done right now the consequences of those actions can be quite unpleasant.

So how do you break the procrastination habit? The most important step is to become more organized. It does not matter how you do it – buy an organizer, make lists on your computer, even use scraps of paper if you like, whatever works for you – and make yourself a daily to do list. It may sound corny but it works. Prioritize these tasks in order of their importance and discipline yourself to stick to the item at hand and do not move on until it is checked off.

As you go through your task list you still may find your mind wandering off to the myriad of things you would rather be doing. You will find it much easier to get your work done if you actually schedule time for these more pleasurable activities. For instance, tell yourself that once you have finished the dreary task of preparing your taxes you can go play Bejeweled for an hour.

If you become anxious about facing task procrastination can set in. Try this simple breathing exercise in times of stress: Inhale deeply while counting five then exhale to a count of five. Rinse and repeat. You will be surprised what a difference it can make.

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