Dear Michelle,
Do you teach time management? I’ve put things off until the last minute for a long time. It’s become a cross I’d rather not bear.
Yes, we do teach time management seminars. I’m glad you wrote. Your question signals that the cons of procrastination outweigh the pros for you these days, so it’s a good time to revise. Let’s not label your habit as “bad”, because it does work in one’s favor sometimes.
Who, you may ask, does procrastination serve? For those who embrace risk and crave excitement, pressure to perform in the 11th hour is a natural high. Is that you? If so, find new rewards to replace the rush of racing to finish. Procrastination is tough to alter if it brings success. Pull an all-nighter and score an A on the exam? It solidifies your process. Write a presentation the night before, then knock ‘em dead, and you increase the likelihood of a repeat performance.
Humans tend to procrastinate unpleasant or difficult tasks. Sometimes we’re unsure how to begin. We might fear failure or be perfectionistic in our thinking. When we lack interest in a project or aren’t happy that a task is assigned to us, that’s another reason we may put something off.
Personality affects time management. It turns out optimists try to achieve more in shorter periods of time than pessimists (or “realists”, as my buddy Jeff likes to say). That struck a chord with me. I try to squeeze a lot in to one hour. Does that resonate with you? Underestimating how long tasks will take and neglecting to plan for the unexpected is literally risky business.
Do some reflective writing. What undesirable outcomes result when you stall? How could this habit negatively affect you and others? What benefits come from starting and finishing earlier? Could you take a small first step?
List your roles and describe how you want to be remembered. What goals do those definitions dictate? Can you see your plan? Get all your commitments visible on one page and assign A-B-C priorities.
Go ahead and 1-2-3 your A-B-C’s if you wish.
When executive coaching clients complete this stress-reducing exercise, we call it a Brain Dump. To-do lists are executed in sync with your overarching goals. You enjoy your day more fully as you complete tasks in order of importance, delaying or delegating what isn’t vital.
Time is a gift. No matter one’s station in life, each of us has 168 hours per week. Small changes in behavior can net big results.
Best wishes, and please stay in touch.