Procrastination - What can I do to manage this problem?

Coordinated

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I wanted to post about this ages ago but kept putting it off!

Im an inveterate procrastinator at work and home, professional and personal life.

What can I do to tackle this life long condition?
 
I love the Humour !!!


Inability to make decisions can be related to poor time management, planning and lack of setting goals for yourself.


Reccomend "Goals!" by Brian Tracy, can be purchased in Easons et al ...
 
Do one thing at a time. Start with something easy. Finish it. Take heart from your ability to achieve that one task and move on to the next one.
 
join audible.com - where you can download audiobooks online, and listen to them on your mp3 player.
here are some very good books available at audible, for dealing with procrastination, and helping you understand what might be causing you to procrastinate:
The Procrastinator's Handbook: Mastering the Art of Doing It Now
The 60 Second Procrastinator
The Now Habit
Eat That Frog
Id recommend listening to all of these books, and taking notes. Then you'll have a list of tools and ideas to help you get moving on whatever you need to get through, and you'll have a much better understanding of the probable causes of your procrastination: fear of failure, perfectionism, feeling of being overwhelmed (instead of viewing the project as a series of steps, that can be done one at a time, for short periods), indecision, feeling that you wont have time to enjoy other things (realise that it's essential to have time for play, friends and enjoyment, and plan your work periods accordingly) etc.

here are some ideas:
obsession with perfection is the downfall of procrastinator

-aim for excellence not perfection

-be decisive and make decisions - worst decisions are the ones you never make

-identify fears that delay you from tackling something, and then conquer the fear

-how to conquer the fear:

1. identify the fear and give it a name

2. then magnify the fear (example fear of failing), and imagine the worst thing that could possibly happen if it should happen. then realise that you'd still survive it and learn from it. in many cases the worst possible scenario isn't as bad as you feel from being a procrastinator

-procrastination due to trying to do too much and juggle too many projects: solution - focus on current task, plan and set time limits and deadlines, and decide on what you can realistically get done.

-can't do everything: be selective, streamline, prioritise

-even when financially broke, or swamped with tasks to do, remember to take time to relax and enjoy: "hyacinths to feed thy soul"
("If of thy mortal goods thou art bereft,
And from thy slender store two loaves along to thee are left,
Sell one, and with the dole
Buy hyacinths to feed thy soul.")

-procrastination due to juggling too many commitments: you must set limits

-in the process of trying to do everything, end up doing nothing

-key secret of time management : choose to say no to some activities