Admitting Procrastination: Essential Self Development Tips
Procrastination pentrates every aspect of our lives. And we’ve conquered it to perfection having learned a subtle form of it when we were babies.
We put off falling asleep because our mothers wouldn’t cradle us in her arms. We’ve procrastinated in carrying out our duties at home, in school, in the work place, and in our most precious human relationships. We dread to think what the final tally of lost hours will be because we procrastinate habitually.
Procrastination is an expensive habit. We discovered that one of the ways that will not make us procrastinate is to figure out the dollar amount of something that was not done because of procrastination.
It all points to the generally accepted idea that time is money. This alone can serve as a strong motivator not to procrastinate again. Or at least to try not procrastinate!
Avoiding procrastination is more effective when we start with little actions. It does not mean having to change our lives drastically.
In deciding not to procrastinate, you may want to partner this determination with clear cut and well defined goals.
Have a goal that is quantified, and not just qualified.
For instance, saying “I will lose weight” is NOT as powerful as “I will shed 30 pounds in 10 months.” These are precise data you can work with. “I will shed weight” sounds noble enough, but let’s count the ways, shall we?
If someone said to you that you were a procrastinator, your immediate reaction would be to defend yourself. “It’s his fault”, “My father was like that too”, “I was forced to do something I didn’t want to do”.
Many people like to blame their misfortunes on others. But the truth is, you are equally to blame. You procrastinate because you yourself choose to procrastinate. The sooner you accept that, the better you’ll be able to conquer procrastination.
Once you accept that procrastination is your weakness, the next step is to eradicate this weakness. Your desire not to procrastinate anymore must be sincere. You must demonstrate that determination through small daily gestures.
You’ve accepted the fact that (a) you’re a procrastinator, and (b) you have a sincere desire to change. Now tell yourself that if you fail to achieve a particular goal or a given task, it’s because you procrastinated. Mea culpa. Admitting guilt is a huge step. Note, however, that there is a huge difference between admitting guilt and being too hard on yourself. Admitting guilt is taking ownership of your deeds. Being too hard on yourself is unjustified self-blame.
Ask yourself, “In what ways do I procrastinate?” Sit down with pen and paper. Writing them will help you focus and identify them more clearly. Here are some ways where people procrastinate:
* paying bills
* not discussing the complaints you’ve received about a member of your team or familyfor fear of hurting his/her feelings
* repeatedly postponing a dental appointment because you’ve got other things to do
* not returning the call of your child’s teacher because you know what the issue is and you’re fed up
* not discussing your resentment about your husband spending too much time at work or with his buddies
* not getting that hair cut, that suit dry-cleaned, that donation mailed
* not visiting a sick relative in the hospital
* not admitting to your significant other you no longer love her/him
* not calling your doctor about that persistent numbness in your right arm or not fixing a colonoscopy exam date
* not having the car’s squeaking brakes checked
* not sending that overdue thank you note or making that overdue call to your mother-in-law
I’m positive you can come up with many more too.
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