Thursday, September 25, 2008

Solutions to Stop Procrastination


I try to find solutions to do better and I found this information that has been helpful to me . Check out their time Tabulator.
  • Recognize that procrastination stems from habit. New habits will be needed, and these take time and commitment to develop.
  • Harold Taylor defines procrastination as the intentional and habitual postponement of an important task that should be done now.
  • Understand the cause for procrastination, then develop strategies to fix it.
  • Recognize the difference between an appropriate decision to delay, and an irrational postponement without justification.
  • Fix procrastination by working on a) tasks and b) your environment:

TASK STRATEGIES

Unpleasant tasks

  • Unpleasant tasks rarely turn out to be as bad as you think.
  • Complete these tasks first. Schedule them for early in the day. Give yourself a reward for doing them.

Complex Projects

  • Something looms ahead of you: starting a small business, getting a job, preparing the annual budget. The job is too big or will take too long to do now, so you put it off.
  • Break large jobs into smaller, more manageable tasks. Plan and complete a start-up task, no matter how small.
Indecision
  • People delay because they can't make up their minds.
  • Determine a time for making a decision and the criteria for making it. Share your deadline with someone else.

Fear of failure (lack of self confidence)

  • People don't want to face the consequences of failure, so they delay. (Some people suffer from fear of success too!)
  • Develop a clear mental picture of the completed task and how you will feel at that time. Maintain a focus on the end result, not just the process. Remind yourself how good you'll feel when you're finished.

Lack of interest

  • You are tired or lazy. You're just not very interested in the task.
  • Reward yourself for accomplishments. Go out for special lunches when major projects are completed. If you don't earn the reward, don't take it.
  • Schedule the task for when you will be at your peak.

Perfectionism

  • People delay because they want to get the project perfect.
  • Set deadlines for yourself. Tell other people your deadlines and encourage them to check up on you.
  • Maintain your high standards, but recognize that sometimes 80% for you may well be 100% for someone else. Don't spend hours conducting a detailed cost breakdown when a rough estimate would suffice.

Hostility towards a boss

  • People delay because they don't like the person who assigned the task.
  • Review with your boss what exactly is needed. Clarify the expectations.
  • Make a game out of unpleasant tasks. Give yourself points, or do a running commentary on yourself as you do the task.

Distraction, lack of focus

  • Sometimes losing concentration causes delays.
  • Create a to-do list with priorities.
  • Block your time for projects.
  • As you get distracted from a work project, make a rule that you are not allowed to move out of your chair, make a call, surf the net, pick up a book etc. until you return to your task.
  • Complete something. Make a very small task for yourself and finish it. Very small. Then, make another one.

ENVIRONMENT STRATEGIES

  • Tailor your environment for work. Close your door, clean up the clutter on your desk.
  • Remove distractions such as water coolers, snacks, in-boxes, coffee machines and magazine racks.
  • If you work at home, treat your office as an office. Don't go out to lunch before lunchtime or watch television before the end of the day.
  • Tell your family that you are not to be disturbed in your home office.


This information was compiled by a company called Pace Productivity and the company provides solutions for the business world and this information can be used individualy as well. You can visit them here.

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