Do you procrastinate? I’ve noticed that the things I procrastinate the most are those that I think I’ll fail at. For instance, I don’t think of myself as a writer and even after three years with this blog, writing posts is still not easy for me. Because I recognize my lack of confidence in this area and the potential I have to stress about it, I’ve been able to triumph over this bad habit by simply adjusting my schedule. How?
I rarely write my blog posts in advance. I always leave it until the night before which I know just sounds like an excuse to put it off until the last minute, rather than an actual strategy, however writing my posts any earlier just gives me more time to sit and stew about it. By scheduling it this way I know I only have so much time and I’m able to focus in and get it done. I write the post, hit publish and that’s that. I don’t worry about it after that. I also have a very short attention span so having this self imposed deadline forces me to concentrate and stay on task thereby, believe it or not, causing me less stress in the long run.
As mentioned earlier this month, the prize in this month’s Organizing Round-Up is a book by Organizing Expert, Julie Morgenstern called When Organizing Isn’t Enough – SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life.
In Julie’s book she offers six ways to break the bad habit of procrastination that I thought were interesting. Here is an excerpt of those six ways:
Discover your optimal times frames ~ setting aside either too much time or not enough time can make you procrastinate
Choose the best time of day ~ be at your peak energy when you tackle the things you tend to procrastinate
Create bite-sized chunks ~ break overwhelming projects down into a series of smaller steps, delegate pieces you find particularly challenging
Get expert guidance ~ if fear of making a mistake or doing a bad job is what causes you to stall endlessly, run it by someone for feedback
Stop when you say you will ~ determine how long you’ll give something, and stick to it. Set a timer.
Choose to make your life easy ~ putting things off until the last minute is also a way to throw unnecessary obstacles into your own path, making your life more difficult. Retrain yourself to believe things don’t have to be so hard!
I’d like to add one more….Eat the Frog!
This expression refers to biting the bullet and doing the least desirable chore first to get it out of the way. It’s amazing how getting that one thing done lifts a huge weight off your shoulders and makes everything else to follow that much easier. This one step alone literally has changed my life. If you’d like more information about it, this post over at Simple Mom is terrific, Start Your Day By Eating a Frog.
Marci@OvercomingBusy says
Your blogging style cracks me up because it is so like mine! If I write ahead of time, I get out of schedule and then procrastinate about writing more. I remember reading Eat That Frog years ago. I have found that I have to just eat a frog right after breakfast if I am going to get my day going at all. That is when I schedule the “must do” item of the day.
Cammy@TippyToeDiet says
Wonderful tips, especially ‘get expert guidance’. I have been fumbling with a remodeling project for over a year now, and it’s obvious I need some help. I’ll line up some possibilities tonight, and make the calls tomorrow morning.
Thanks so much for the nudge!
Tanna says
Procrastination, why I have no idea what your talking about! (wink, wink)
Hello cleaning! I’m working on a post now about how I failed miserably at spring cleaning so I decided to invite people over and that got me off my rear end to get some cleaning done. Or is that considered laziness? Anyhow the house is clean finally, and I will finish that post, eventually, when I get around to it, if nothing better comes up. LOL!
I’ve been waking up at 5:30 to write because I can’t seem to concentrate at night. Always trying new times but morning seems to work right now.
Anne says
Sounds like great advice. I’ll start on it -er- tomorrow?
Jane says
This is spot on! I just discovered your site and am finding it very useful and thought-provoking 🙂
Amy Lynne says
I love that I am not alone in this way of thinking. I had put off things this last school year thinking it would take a really long time, when in reality it was finished pretty quickly. Thanks for sharing your struggle with the rest of us.
Tim says
Nice post…I agree that writing blog posts is a difficult thing..and I enjoy writing. I also checked out Julie’s new book out of the library and have really enjoyed it. The six tips to break the procrastination habit is common sense, but also much needed. Thanks!
Conquerer says
What a blessing your site is for someone like me who is chronically disorganized!! I have piles of clutter I no longer need and am searching for ways to get organized. Great tips!
brandi says
I have been such a slacker lately, even on important stuff. So when I opened this and saw the title I was like ok and posted the car for sale on craigslist like I have been supposed to do for a cpl days now! Thanks for the push and reminder! BTW Now I’m working on the paper pile I was putting off too!
Abundant Living says
I have never read that putting aside too much time for something can cause procrastination, and that’s exactly what I do! It’s as if that was the key that unlocked the problem I have. Thank you so much for your post! I love your blog! =)
P.S. I too love to organize…baskets are my friends…lol…
Jess says
One of my dad’s favorite things to say was, “I never get around to procrastinating…” I have come to understand more fully what that means as I’ve gotten older (and added 3 kids to the house).
As an obsessive organizer myself, it’s good to hear new tips and info. thanks
Pamela Carvalho says
Well isn’t this a coincidence, my mom and I were just talking about eating our frogs! She had gotten an email about it and I loved the idea. My daily frog is excercise, weekly is cooking (it’s hard when it’s for one)!