November 2008
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
« Sep
	1
2	3	4	5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12	13	14	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22
23	24	25	26	27	28	29
30

Lets Stop Procrastination

Lets Stop Procrastination Dead in its Tracks

Are there times that you put off something important just to fiddle around doing some meaningless or unimportant task? Its been said that we are often busy rather than productive and we try to avoid what’s uncomfortable that is actually a high priority. This is certainly true for me and I know for others too. Sometimes it’s just the sheer magnitude of the important task. Sometimes we just don’t want to do it. Sometimes it takes so much time to do that other things can’t get done. Whatever the reasons, and there might be many, we just procrastinate on those important obligations.

If we examine a day we often see we are doing many things that are not important and are neglecting the things that are important or things we should be doing. It’s so much easier to surf the net, read a magazine, or call a friend on the phone than concentrate on one task, especially the task we should be doing. In addition, some things like video games, computer games, and watching TV are pleasant forms of procrastination that can waste hours of your time. Now days you can just add surfing the ‘net to that list.

You need to face head on the very thing you are putting off. It can be a work project that seems challenging. It could be cleaning your house or completing the paper for school. It really could be anything that is the haunting weight. One thing to look at is what is the sticking point for you. It might be having to get in the car and drive somewhere. It could be having to complain about a problem or service. It could be anything that may involve you having to call someone on the phone and you might really hate the idea of having to call anyone.

I know that is the case for me. Often for easy tasks, I need to call someone, but I put it off until the very last minute when I am forced to make that call. The phone call is almost always my sticking point when it comes to procrastination. If there’s a call involved, the whole project or task often gets put on the back burner. In my case, and probably many of yours too, when you deal with the rest of the process that you don’t mind doing, then everything is fine. We get stronger when we face what’s uncomfortable and even more importantly, it is quite liberating to do what you have been avoiding to do. It really feels like a big accomplishment once its done and over with.

Every uncomfortable situation we face helps us see our resistance was worse than we thought. For example, if you are avoiding the report that’s due now because you feel insecure about your introductory page, then go online and check out some examples of other introductory or similar pages. You’ll start thinking and get some ideas how to write your own version of what they did. Whether it’s positive thinking or something else it will then be much easier for you to write your own paper. You might even write a much better introduction than you ever hoped. Getting beyond the paralysis teaches you that yes; you can face it head on. That is such a valuable lesson that it can be applied to many contexts in life.

Once that task you’ve have been putting off is finished, the enjoyment you’ll have will be much better. And your diversions will be far more enjoyable since there won’t be that sense of urgency to complete that undesirable task. That will release the heavy weight on top of you.

When we do things to avoid something else, we know that in one level of our minds we will still be thinking about the task we’re avoiding and our body just cannot fully relax. The feeling you get after you’ve finished that objectionable chore is a great reward and you’ve accomplished something even deeper than the task itself: You’ve been able to overcome a fear and that is an accomplishment in itself.

Charles is a software developer and owns several websites. He creates websites and writes articles. One of his favorite interests is heart health and heart disease. Another is creating computer software. Charles is also interested in self-help and personal development.