There are certain skills required when learning how to
procrastinate. It isn’t enough just to know how to
procrastinate, but one needs to know why and when to do it.
In this article you can find suggestions on how to
procrastinate and the reasons behind choosing this option.
Eventually, with practice this can become a skill and a
person will no longer need to know how to procrastinate but
can put their knowledge into action.
There are reasons why people procrastinate, and to know how
to procrastinate purposefully it is important to know what
the main reasons for choosing this option are:
1. Poor time management.
2. Inability to prioritise.
3. An overload of tasks (integral in deciding how to
procrastinate and choose which task to leave longest).
4. Task anxiety, will it be a success or a failure?
5. Feeling overwhelmed, bored, any kind of negative feeling.
There is an old saying, "You know you’re getting old when
it takes to much effort to procrastinate." This infers
that it requires some effort to learn how to procrastinate,
which is not necessarily always the case.
How to procrastinate is a choice of the procrastinator not
the situation, there are various methods or distractions a
person can employ to procrastinate successfully:
1. Time filling. The most important thing when learning
how to procrastinate is to replace the time that should
have been used doing one task by doing something more
appealing to the would-be procrastinator.
2. Goal completion. Knowing how to procrastinate well does
not mean time should be spent sitting doing nothing but
breathing. Having a goal with a set amount of time means a
level of procrastination can be permitted without harm to
the task.
3. Schedule clashes. Often one piece of previous
procrastination can be used as an excuse for another bout
of procrastination. A more tedious task can be supplanted
by a less tedious one that had already suffered from delay
previously.
4. Money or friends? Which comes first? In learning how
to procrastinate a person has to decide which is most
important and which can be put off for a period of time. A
friendless rich man or a broke popular person, which is
more appealing?
5. Clear thinking and justification. When deciding how to
procrastinate it is important to choose how to qualify the
procrastination, if you cannot justify it to yourself then
you are not learning how to procrastinate properly.
The dictionary definition of ‘procrastinate’ is "To put off
doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or
laziness."
When learning how to procrastinate only the former part of
that definition is true, the act does not have to be due to
‘carelessness’ or ‘laziness’.
Being able to know how to procrastinate does not have to
have negative connotations, it can mean a person is good at
time delegation and work prioritising, both important
skills in business and education.
So tips to remember:
1. Prioritise. Procrastinate with care.
2. Fill your time. Don’t waste an act of procrastination.
3. Perspective. Don’t let procrastination affect money,
friends or health if possible.
4. Keep a goal in sight. Be realistic in time management
so procrastination is possible.
5. Know how to procrastinate and feel positive about it.
Finally it is not just a skill to know how to procrastinate
but when to do it, some things just can not be left till
later or tomorrow, again this depends on circumstance and
the individual. Knowing how to procrastinate is a useful
tool in a busy world.
Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert.
He recently produced a very popular free report that
reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting
motivation. Apply now because it is available for a
limited time only at:
http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Monday, May 02, 2005
Procrastination Help
If you are a procrastinator and need procrastination help
don’t despair there is hope. With only a little work on
your part and a determined mindset you can overcome
procrastination, help yourself and start getting things
done. Procrastination help is on the way.
Here are a few simple strategies.
1. Admitting there’s a problem - The first thing that will
help you overcome procrastination is to admit that you have
a problem. You cannot help yourself overcome
procrastination unless you first realize that you are a
procrastinator.
By admitting to yourself that you are a procrastinator you
have taken the first and most important step in helping
yourself overcome the problem of procrastination.
2. Make A List – Making a to-do list will help you organize
and prioritize those things that you have put off doing by
procrastinating about them.
If you have felt overwhelmed by the things you need to do,
but have not done, putting them down on a list allows you
some control over what might seem an out of control
situation.
Also, you will receive a sense of satisfaction when you
cross off completed tasks. Making a list puts you in
charge of your efforts to help yourself overcome
procrastination.
3. Self-talk - The way you talk to yourself about a task
can either help or hinder you in overcoming procrastination.
If you tell yourself that the task is simply dreadful,
horrible, too difficult, etc. you will be more likely to
procrastinate about it.
However, if you tell yourself that the task is really not
that bad, will only take a few minutes, will make you feel
better about yourself, etc. it will be easier to overcome
the temptation to procrastinate about it.
Positive self-talk can make a world of difference in
helping you overcome procrastination.
4. Accountability - Making yourself accountable to someone
can also help you overcome procrastination. Enlist your
family and friends and ask them to hold you accountable for
the tasks you have been procrastinating about.
Accountability should not be confused with nagging.
Accountability means someone you care about will simply ask
if the task has been completed or not.
Nagging, on the other hand, is a demand that the task be
completed, and often serves to make the procrastinator
procrastinate even longer.
By making yourself accountable to someone else, you help
yourself overcome procrastination by sharing your
responsibilities with others.
5. Rewards - As any psychologist knows rewards encourage
positive behavior. This is especially true with
procrastinators and can significantly help you overcome
procrastination.
The rewards don’t have to be costly or time consuming.
They can be as simple as allowing yourself to watch a
favorite television show only after you have completed one
of the tasks on the to-do list.
Or, it could be allowing yourself a dish of ice cream, a
phone call to a friend, or just about anything you would
rather be doing instead of the tasks on your list.
If you consistently reward yourself for each completed task
you will find that you have helped yourself overcome
procrastination in a positive and fun manner.
Procrastination can be a serious problem and frequently has
long-term, negative consequences. You can overcome
procrastination, help yourself gets things done, and become
more successful simply by making up your mind to take the
first step today. Don’t wait and do it tomorrow. Do it
today and give yourself some procrastination help.
Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert.
He recently produced a very popular free report that
reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting
motivation. Apply now because it is available for a
limited time only at:
http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm
don’t despair there is hope. With only a little work on
your part and a determined mindset you can overcome
procrastination, help yourself and start getting things
done. Procrastination help is on the way.
Here are a few simple strategies.
1. Admitting there’s a problem - The first thing that will
help you overcome procrastination is to admit that you have
a problem. You cannot help yourself overcome
procrastination unless you first realize that you are a
procrastinator.
By admitting to yourself that you are a procrastinator you
have taken the first and most important step in helping
yourself overcome the problem of procrastination.
2. Make A List – Making a to-do list will help you organize
and prioritize those things that you have put off doing by
procrastinating about them.
If you have felt overwhelmed by the things you need to do,
but have not done, putting them down on a list allows you
some control over what might seem an out of control
situation.
Also, you will receive a sense of satisfaction when you
cross off completed tasks. Making a list puts you in
charge of your efforts to help yourself overcome
procrastination.
3. Self-talk - The way you talk to yourself about a task
can either help or hinder you in overcoming procrastination.
If you tell yourself that the task is simply dreadful,
horrible, too difficult, etc. you will be more likely to
procrastinate about it.
However, if you tell yourself that the task is really not
that bad, will only take a few minutes, will make you feel
better about yourself, etc. it will be easier to overcome
the temptation to procrastinate about it.
Positive self-talk can make a world of difference in
helping you overcome procrastination.
4. Accountability - Making yourself accountable to someone
can also help you overcome procrastination. Enlist your
family and friends and ask them to hold you accountable for
the tasks you have been procrastinating about.
Accountability should not be confused with nagging.
Accountability means someone you care about will simply ask
if the task has been completed or not.
Nagging, on the other hand, is a demand that the task be
completed, and often serves to make the procrastinator
procrastinate even longer.
By making yourself accountable to someone else, you help
yourself overcome procrastination by sharing your
responsibilities with others.
5. Rewards - As any psychologist knows rewards encourage
positive behavior. This is especially true with
procrastinators and can significantly help you overcome
procrastination.
The rewards don’t have to be costly or time consuming.
They can be as simple as allowing yourself to watch a
favorite television show only after you have completed one
of the tasks on the to-do list.
Or, it could be allowing yourself a dish of ice cream, a
phone call to a friend, or just about anything you would
rather be doing instead of the tasks on your list.
If you consistently reward yourself for each completed task
you will find that you have helped yourself overcome
procrastination in a positive and fun manner.
Procrastination can be a serious problem and frequently has
long-term, negative consequences. You can overcome
procrastination, help yourself gets things done, and become
more successful simply by making up your mind to take the
first step today. Don’t wait and do it tomorrow. Do it
today and give yourself some procrastination help.
Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert.
He recently produced a very popular free report that
reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting
motivation. Apply now because it is available for a
limited time only at:
http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm
Monday, April 18, 2005
Beating Procrastination One Step At A Time
Yes, that’s right – we said you can beat procrastination.
Don’t worry – we’re not going to ask you to take a 6-week
course on the art of how to beat procrastination.
Instead, we’re going to give you some simple, brief hints
that you can jot on Post-It notes around the house, in the
car, or at your desk at work. Soon, you’ll be remembering
these tips on hwo to beat procrastination, and will learn
to employ them in your every day routine.
So, here goes. Stay with us now – and most importantly, do
NOT procrastinate reading these hints.
1. Set your priorities – and then leave an open notepad on
your desk – or file on your computer, labeled simply with
“To Do.” It doesn’t have to be formal, and don’t try to
force yourself to make a big list at once – THAT kind of
chore is one that’s begging to be procrastinated.
Remember, our point here is to help you BEAT that
procrastination habit that we ALL have at one time or
another! Just jot things on the list throughout the day, as
you think of them.
2. Eat your spinach first! (Yes, this does relate to
beating procrastination, believe it or not.) Every day,
look at the one or two “must dos” that you’re
procrastinating – even dreading – the most.
Do those first, if your time priorities allow. This
accomplishes two things: one, it frees up your mind from
spending your whole day thinking, “Drat, I still have to
write that report!
I’m never going to get it done!” and two, it gives you the
momentum to get more done, since you’ve gotten the “big
thing” out of the way. Think of it as if you’re a child,
and you’re eating the yuckiest thing off your plate first.
3. Set a timer for 15 minutes. Now, look at some of the
quick things you need to do – mailing out bills, clipping
an article to read later, straightening the top of your
desk, tossing out the trash. Make it a race against the
clock to see how much you can get done.
4. Divide and conquer. If a project is still overwhelming,
then break it into smaller parts. Conquer the pieces one at
a time.
5. Remove distractions. For some people, this means
turning off the TV or radio. For others, it means clearing
your work area of all clutter, so you don’t get trapped
into shifting your attention from one task to another,
while not actually accomplishing anything. Remember, you’re
trying to BEAT procrastination, not encourage it to be
worse!
Repeat after us, “DO IT NOW!” Now, follow your own advice!
Well, what are you waiting for? You can beat
procrastination – so get moving!
Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert.
He recently produced a very popular free report that
reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting
motivation. Apply now because it is available for a
limited time only at:
http://www.procrastinatorhelp.com/
Don’t worry – we’re not going to ask you to take a 6-week
course on the art of how to beat procrastination.
Instead, we’re going to give you some simple, brief hints
that you can jot on Post-It notes around the house, in the
car, or at your desk at work. Soon, you’ll be remembering
these tips on hwo to beat procrastination, and will learn
to employ them in your every day routine.
So, here goes. Stay with us now – and most importantly, do
NOT procrastinate reading these hints.
1. Set your priorities – and then leave an open notepad on
your desk – or file on your computer, labeled simply with
“To Do.” It doesn’t have to be formal, and don’t try to
force yourself to make a big list at once – THAT kind of
chore is one that’s begging to be procrastinated.
Remember, our point here is to help you BEAT that
procrastination habit that we ALL have at one time or
another! Just jot things on the list throughout the day, as
you think of them.
2. Eat your spinach first! (Yes, this does relate to
beating procrastination, believe it or not.) Every day,
look at the one or two “must dos” that you’re
procrastinating – even dreading – the most.
Do those first, if your time priorities allow. This
accomplishes two things: one, it frees up your mind from
spending your whole day thinking, “Drat, I still have to
write that report!
I’m never going to get it done!” and two, it gives you the
momentum to get more done, since you’ve gotten the “big
thing” out of the way. Think of it as if you’re a child,
and you’re eating the yuckiest thing off your plate first.
3. Set a timer for 15 minutes. Now, look at some of the
quick things you need to do – mailing out bills, clipping
an article to read later, straightening the top of your
desk, tossing out the trash. Make it a race against the
clock to see how much you can get done.
4. Divide and conquer. If a project is still overwhelming,
then break it into smaller parts. Conquer the pieces one at
a time.
5. Remove distractions. For some people, this means
turning off the TV or radio. For others, it means clearing
your work area of all clutter, so you don’t get trapped
into shifting your attention from one task to another,
while not actually accomplishing anything. Remember, you’re
trying to BEAT procrastination, not encourage it to be
worse!
Repeat after us, “DO IT NOW!” Now, follow your own advice!
Well, what are you waiting for? You can beat
procrastination – so get moving!
Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert.
He recently produced a very popular free report that
reveals how to crush procrastination and sustain lasting
motivation. Apply now because it is available for a
limited time only at:
http://www.procrastinatorhelp.com/
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