How I overcome procrastination

dh5114 · 10-19-2009, 03:29 AM

I had tough time avoiding twittering, forum-posting :-), reading email and so on. I felt like I have thousands things to do and I'm just too busy to do the "ordinary" things like grocery shopping, taking a walk, jogging, etc..

Hours would slip by without me even realizing. This is how I deal with it with great success:

1. On a peace of paper I write down "Super simple & quick" as title
2. List all things needed to be done as I think of them
3. Sort them by importance and due-dates (write numbers in front of items)
4. Strike them through as I finish them

The main point here is I'm always thinking this is "super simple & quick" small thing I could do to finish particular item on that list.

I start with the smallest, quickest and easiest thing to do. Then funny thing happens... I get momentum and solving another one small thing that comes from solving previous one is so simple & quick I just might do it right now and forget about it.

In the evening, it's such a great feeling seeing a list full of striked-through items. And I still get to participate in forums, twitter and read a whole lot of emails.

Hope it helps...

GT · 10-19-2009, 10:52 AM

Hello, dh:

Thanks for this personal tip on dealing with procrastination. I'll give it some thought ... tomorrow ...

lol, just kidding!

I am a big believer of the value of daily lists to help keep a person focused and productive. I've had discussions like this in several other forums and there seems to be two schools of thought on how to tackle the daily list:

- One school says start with the simple things to build momentum (like you do).

- The other school says tackle the highest priority items first (which, in many cases, are probably the least simple things).

In either case, in my opinion, the key thing is to just make that list and work at getting things done.

GT

Scott Murdaugh · 10-19-2009, 11:05 AM

I agree with making a daily "Must Do" list...

Personally, I work in order of importance, so IF I don't finish everything I want to, the most critical tasks are out of the way...

And crossing "to do's" off of that list is a great feeling and an awesome motivator...

Peace,

-Scott

ghyphena · 10-19-2009, 11:19 AM

I use a countdown timer set to 15-minute slices and then I allow myself a break.

Of course, getting myself to go back to work is a different story...

Gil-Ad

JustinP · 10-19-2009, 11:30 AM

Thanks for this post. It is a great reminder on the power of success-tracking.

I also love the idea of getting to the end of a day and seeing a huge list of crossed-off items. I recreated my entire life over the course of about 110 days in 2007 by doing something like this every single day, 7 days a week. It allowed me to monitor and adjust my behavior so that I could produce brand new results in my life.

Kenster · 10-19-2009, 11:59 AM

To do lists are essential to get me to overcome procrastination. Take 10 minutes (literally time yourself) to write down everything you wish to accomplish that day. Be specific so you can check off each item as you complete the task. After ten minutes begin attacking each specific item (you may have 30) and work down the list. If you finish early, good on you...go watch tv. If it takes you longer than the normal x hours you want to work....deal with it and dont stop until everything is done.

this has helped be exponentially grow my business. Im sure it can help you as well

shermanbir · 10-19-2009, 02:10 PM

Find something that you love doing and start doing it. this will lead away from procrastination and towards taking action on something you are passion about.

Prorastination is about trying to do something you really don't want to do it and too lazy to find others who will be willing to do it for you because they love doing it.

MattSteel · 10-21-2009, 10:01 PM

I have received several promotions at my job simply because I walk around the office all day long with a long yellow legal pad of my "TO DO' list, with items highlighted off in different color highlighters. I do not use a blackberry or any other new-fangled device! A simple yellow legal pad (it must be yellow for some reason or my simple mind can't respond to it). During meetings, I am jotting things down, and during conversations with subordinates I am highlighting things off. I never meant it to be anything other than a way to keep myself organized, but it also seems to send a message to those around me that a) I won't forget anything and b) it WILL get done. It also says another message: if it ain't on the pad, it ain't important!

Also, when I am procrastinating and don't feel like doing anything written on this magic pad, I will say to myself, "Choose any 3 items and DO them...any 3". Make that promise each day, and the momentum begins to build.

digileaf · 10-22-2009, 07:35 AM

I particularly like Matt's idea of do 3 ... any 3. You're right it helps to build momentum. This is something I had forgotten, but I have used it in the past. That will be a good tip to get me back on track today. I have just finished a major project and need to find the momentum and drive to start on the next thing, big or small.

With regard to lists, my approach (when I use it) is a bit different. I have small whiteboard and I write on the essential tasks for the day. I try not to put on any more than 10-12. I cross them off as they are completed. then at the end of the day I rub out all the crossed off ones. Now that really is satisfying - rubbing them off. Next day I write up a new list, including the left overs from the day before if they are still important.

Kate

natscash · 10-22-2009, 07:49 AM

Benjamin Franklin, who knew how to conquer procrastination as well as anyone, said that "by failing to prepare you are preparing to fail." How do you plan your work? And if you don't plan, how do you know if you're reaching your goals? It's time to find out.

EaglePiServ · 10-22-2009, 07:50 AM

Never put off till tomorrow, what you can put off till the day after. j/k

Yeah, it's easy to get caught up in analysis paralysis and information overload with this stuff. Thanks for the tip. I use something similar, when I think to do it! Whiteboards help too....

10-19-2009, 03:29 AM	#1
dh5114 HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 158 Thanks: 16 Thanked 234 Times in 27 Posts Social Networking	How I overcome procrastination I had tough time avoiding twittering, forum-posting :-), reading email and so on. I felt like I have thousands things to do and I'm just too busy to do the "ordinary" things like grocery shopping, taking a walk, jogging, etc.. Hours would slip by without me even realizing. This is how I deal with it with great success: 1. On a peace of paper I write down "Super simple & quick" as title 2. List all things needed to be done as I think of them 3. Sort them by importance and due-dates (write numbers in front of items) 4. Strike them through as I finish them The main point here is I'm always thinking this is "super simple & quick" small thing I could do to finish particular item on that list. I start with the smallest, quickest and easiest thing to do. Then funny thing happens... I get momentum and solving another one small thing that comes from solving previous one is so simple & quick I just might do it right now and forget about it. In the evening, it's such a great feeling seeing a list full of striked-through items. And I still get to participate in forums, twitter and read a whole lot of emails. Hope it helps...
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10-19-2009, 10:52 AM	#2
GT Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northern Alberta , Canada. Posts: 1,911 Blog Entries: 266 Thanks: 949 Thanked 296 Times in 224 Posts Social Networking	Re: How I overcome procrastination Hello, dh: Thanks for this personal tip on dealing with procrastination. I'll give it some thought ... tomorrow ... lol, just kidding! I am a big believer of the value of daily lists to help keep a person focused and productive. I've had discussions like this in several other forums and there seems to be two schools of thought on how to tackle the daily list: - One school says start with the simple things to build momentum (like you do). - The other school says tackle the highest priority items first (which, in many cases, are probably the least simple things). In either case, in my opinion, the key thing is to just make that list and work at getting things done. GT
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10-19-2009, 11:05 AM	#3
Scott Murdaugh ResultsCopywriting.com War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: San Diego, Ca Posts: 909 Thanks: 265 Thanked 573 Times in 210 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: How I overcome procrastination I agree with making a daily "Must Do" list... Personally, I work in order of importance, so IF I don't finish everything I want to, the most critical tasks are out of the way... And crossing "to do's" off of that list is a great feeling and an awesome motivator... Peace, -Scott
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10-19-2009, 11:19 AM	#4
ghyphena HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 170 Blog Entries: 9 Thanks: 16 Thanked 60 Times in 38 Posts Contact Info	Re: How I overcome procrastination I use a countdown timer set to 15-minute slices and then I allow myself a break. Of course, getting myself to go back to work is a different story... Gil-Ad
	Gil-Ad Schwartz

10-19-2009, 11:30 AM	#5
JustinP Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orangeville, Ontario, Canada Posts: 713 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 543 Thanked 234 Times in 165 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: How I overcome procrastination Thanks for this post. It is a great reminder on the power of success-tracking. I also love the idea of getting to the end of a day and seeing a huge list of crossed-off items. I recreated my entire life over the course of about 110 days in 2007 by doing something like this every single day, 7 days a week. It allowed me to monitor and adjust my behavior so that I could produce brand new results in my life.
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10-19-2009, 11:59 AM	#6
Kenster Krazy Kenster War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 5,085 Blog Entries: 11 Thanks: 578 Thanked 1,885 Times in 841 Posts	Re: How I overcome procrastination To do lists are essential to get me to overcome procrastination. Take 10 minutes (literally time yourself) to write down everything you wish to accomplish that day. Be specific so you can check off each item as you complete the task. After ten minutes begin attacking each specific item (you may have 30) and work down the list. If you finish early, good on you...go watch tv. If it takes you longer than the normal x hours you want to work....deal with it and dont stop until everything is done. this has helped be exponentially grow my business. Im sure it can help you as well

10-19-2009, 02:10 PM	#7
shermanbir Active Warrior Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: , , USA. Posts: 32 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: How I overcome procrastination Find something that you love doing and start doing it. this will lead away from procrastination and towards taking action on something you are passion about. Prorastination is about trying to do something you really don't want to do it and too lazy to find others who will be willing to do it for you because they love doing it.
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10-21-2009, 10:01 PM	#8
MattSteel Active Warrior Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: NOVA outside DC Posts: 41 Thanks: 28 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Contact Info	Re: How I overcome procrastination I have received several promotions at my job simply because I walk around the office all day long with a long yellow legal pad of my "TO DO' list, with items highlighted off in different color highlighters. I do not use a blackberry or any other new-fangled device! A simple yellow legal pad (it must be yellow for some reason or my simple mind can't respond to it). During meetings, I am jotting things down, and during conversations with subordinates I am highlighting things off. I never meant it to be anything other than a way to keep myself organized, but it also seems to send a message to those around me that a) I won't forget anything and b) it WILL get done. It also says another message: if it ain't on the pad, it ain't important! Also, when I am procrastinating and don't feel like doing anything written on this magic pad, I will say to myself, "Choose any 3 items and DO them...any 3". Make that promise each day, and the momentum begins to build.

10-22-2009, 07:35 AM	#9
digileaf HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK, Watford Posts: 233 Thanks: 66 Thanked 53 Times in 43 Posts	Re: How I overcome procrastination I particularly like Matt's idea of do 3 ... any 3. You're right it helps to build momentum. This is something I had forgotten, but I have used it in the past. That will be a good tip to get me back on track today. I have just finished a major project and need to find the momentum and drive to start on the next thing, big or small. With regard to lists, my approach (when I use it) is a bit different. I have small whiteboard and I write on the essential tasks for the day. I try not to put on any more than 10-12. I cross them off as they are completed. then at the end of the day I rub out all the crossed off ones. Now that really is satisfying - rubbing them off. Next day I write up a new list, including the left overs from the day before if they are still important. Kate
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10-22-2009, 07:49 AM	#10
natscash Tantje Gumbs War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Netherlands Antilles Posts: 62 Thanks: 7 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts Social Networking	Re: How I overcome procrastination Benjamin Franklin, who knew how to conquer procrastination as well as anyone, said that "by failing to prepare you are preparing to fail." How do you plan your work? And if you don't plan, how do you know if you're reaching your goals? It's time to find out.

10-22-2009, 07:50 AM	#11
EaglePiServ Gobsh1te War Room Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 77 Thanks: 46 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts	Re: How I overcome procrastination Never put off till tomorrow, what you can put off till the day after. j/k Yeah, it's easy to get caught up in analysis paralysis and information overload with this stuff. Thanks for the tip. I use something similar, when I think to do it! Whiteboards help too....