Procrastination truly is an amazing thing. We put off doing just about anything we remotely don't want to do. Even if our very health depends on it. The New Yorker's James Surowiecki points out in this book review that 70 percent of glaucoma patients procrastinate putting in their eye drops, even though doing so puts them at risk of going blind!
If you're a chronic procrastinator, there's still time to turn things around. Luckily, each day is a new opportunity for making a change and deciding to stop putting off the important things you have to do. Here are a few ways to help you kick start that desire.
1. Stop whatever you're doing and start now. Whatever's at the top of your to-do list, do it right now. I mean it. Stop reading this blog. I mean it. I give you permission. Don't worry, I'll still be here when you get back. We procrastinators are famous for the "tomorrow" theory. I'll start my diet tomorrow because this burger looks too juicy. I'll get to that report tomorrow because the game's on tonight. Getting your work, your chores or whatever you have going on in your life done is like pushing a rock downhill. It may be hard to get started, but once you do, you've got momentum on your side.
2. Schedule your next day in advance. This is one I've started doing. Schedule your entire tomorrow out tonight, and put the most important tasks first. When you wake up in the morning, you've got a game plan right in front of you.
3. Team up with someone. Here's a great one if you're procrastinating getting to the gym. Find someone who shares the same goals as you and ask them to hold you accountable, and you them. Form a "no excuses" pact and give them permission to give you all sorts of grief if you don't follow through. Chances are that when you're up and excited, they'll be down and in need of motivation, and vice-versa.
4. Write down your "why." Put down on paper the reason you want -- or need -- to accomplish a specific task or list of tasks. If you can't think of one, perhaps the task really isn't all that important to you and you should bump it down on your priority list and move on to something that means more.
5. Take a day off of the Internet. There's no more attention-deficit creating invention than the Internet, with round-the-clock information access, Facebook posts, up-to-the-minute Twitter feeds, multi-tab browsing, there's no wonder you can't concentrate on one task at a time. Take a vacation from your computer for a full 24 hours and get some stuff done. And yes, it is possible.
Photo via Flickr user Renette Stowe
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