Do You Procrastinate?

[Merika]

Studies have shown 25% of adults are habitual procrastinators. I know I AM! Do you do everything on a schedule or procrastinate in some or all areas?

This is kinda long....I didn't know where to put it.

Why People Procrastinate

* Poor Time Management. Procrastination means not managing time wisely. You may be uncertain of your priorities, goals and objectives. You may also be overwhelmed with the task. As a result, you keep putting off your work for a later date, or spending a great deal of time with your friends and social activities.

* Difficulty Concentrating. When you sit at your desk you find yourself daydreaming, staring into space, looking at pictures, etc., instead of doing the task. Your environment is distracting and noisy. You keep running back and forth for needed items or info.

* Fear and Anxiety. You may be overwhelmed with the task and afraid of failing. As a result, you spend a great deal of time worrying rather than completing.

* Negative Beliefs such as; "I cannot succeed in anything" and "I lack the necessary skills to perform the task" may allow you to stop yourself from getting work done.

* Personal problems. For example, financial difficulties, problems in your relationships are distracting.

* Finding the Task Boring.

* Unrealistic Expectations and Perfectionism. You may think that you haven't done the best you possibly could do, so it's not good enough.

* Fear of Failure. You may think that if you don't do something perfectly you are not a good person, rather than that you are a perfectly ok person who has failed a task.

How to Overcome Procrastination

* Recognize self-defeating problems such as; fear and anxiety, difficulty concentrating, poor time management, indecisiveness and perfectionism.
Identify your own goals, strengths and weaknesses, values and priorities.
Compare your actions with the values you feel you have. Are your values consistent with your actions?

* Discipline yourself to use time wisely: Set priorities.
Do tasks in small blocks instead of long time periods. For example, you will accomplish more if you study/work in 60 minute blocks and take frequent 10 minute breaks in between, than if you study/work for 2-3 hours straight, with no breaks. Reward yourself after you complete a task.

* Motivate yourself. Dwell on success, not on failure. Break large assignments into small tasks. Keep a reminder schedule and checklist.
Set realistic goals.

* Modify your environment: Eliminate or minimize noise/ distraction. Be neat! Take a few minutes to straighten your desk. This can help to reduce day-dreaming.

[RandomSkater]

I read the first part... I'll read the rest later. :P

[Paul]

I'll give you my reply later.

Darn Random, that's my joke!

[Duke]

I've always procrastinated, it's one of my more endearing traits.

[Luba]

Originally Posted by Duke

I've always procrastinated, it's one of my more endearing traits.

It used to bring me a lot of anxiety, especially when you had a project due or had to study for a test...

[Merika]

This is actually a bad trait I've been working on by not putting off stuff I should get done until last minute. I feel more in control...but it seems I have limited free time cause there is always something which needs to be done.

[Luba]

Yes, it is a bad trait, and I, too, have been working on without too much success yet

[Merika]

Since I've went back to work....I just don't have any other time or energy to fall back on. It either gets done on the weekend or it just ain't gonna happen. I have a posted weekly menu, all clothes washed, the house cleaned and the short daily chore lists....which the kids get paid to do. If I don't have all that ready.....I can't sleep at night for worrying about it. LOL!

I think as my health gets better and I don't get so wore out after working all day.....we'll be able to relaxe in it more. I used to work many more hours in a harder job and not feel as beat as I have the past month.

Or...I could just be getting old. HAHA!

[Duke]

Its funny, but the busier I get the less I seem to procrastinate. Of course that only applies to the big, important stuff, everything else is still left till the last minute.