Procrastination seems to be one of the latest buzzwords these days, but it is something to be taken seriously. I think we all suffer from it, some more than others. I used to have my own strategies for overcoming it. When I was at university, and I had assignment deadlines, I promised myself to always complete any assignment 2 days early. I thought this would prevent panicking at the last minute, and it worked out well.
I carried this strategy through to my working life. I never complete anything at the last minute. I always come into work at least an hour early, beat any deadline by at least 2 days and this has always helped me to perform well.
I do reasonably well at the things that I enjoy. When I prepare for a running race, I usually make sure that I get most of my training done in the weeks or months leading up to it. Running is something that isn’t a chore for me, but as I said, I get most of my training done. I am never 100% prepared for my races or even anywhere near it. I know now the reason why.
It is the lack of having a deadline. I used to follow a running plan in the past and I had different running goals for every day. These goals formed a deadline, and with the help of a coach to instruct me, or to kick my butt, when I wasn’t on track, I was able to achieve these goals.
Performing well in work and in hobbies are one thing, but what about things that you want to do to get ahead? Starting a side business, fixing up the garden, working towards achieving new qualifications and the list goes on. There are so many things that we don’t get around to. So many things in life that we don’t achieve. I don’t know about you, but for me, it is so frustrating and often depressing when I don’t get things done that I really want to do.
These things, year after year, we think back. We wonder why we haven’t done them. Maybe other things were more important, or we didn’t have time. The excuses are endless. I think the key is deadlines. Set a realistic date to achieve something and have someone monitor your deadlines with you. If it works at work and at university, it will work for anything you want to achieve.
Write out a list. The painting needs to be done by 20th of August, the garden planted by the 10th of August, study Spanish every week, starting on the 15th of August. Getting things done is a great feeling, and constantly putting things off will eventually cause you to feel depressed. Be tough on yourself if you love yourself. Let me know how you go.
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