Procrastination: 10 Steps to Break the Habit

Written by: David Terry, Executive Director

Procrastination is the number one illness in America today. We’ve all been plagued by it. For some, it is a chronic problem. Others find that it hits only some areas of their lives. The net results, though, are usually the same--wasted time, missed opportunities, poor performance or increased stress.

Procrastination is a bad habit. But like any habit it can be broken. Benjamin Franklin said, “Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.”

Let’s take action to overcome procrastination now. Here are ten steps that will help break the habit:

Think about WHY you procrastinate: Are you afraid of failure? The true meaning of FEAR is a False Evidence Appearing Real. Are you a perfectionist and only willing to begin working after every little element is in place? The Japanese have a concept called kaizen, which means continuous improvement--progress,
not perfection is your goal.

Recognize when you procrastinate. Learn to catch yourself when you start to put things off. Plunge into the task- just like jumping into a mountain lake, it’s often less painful to leap in than the slow torture of gradual immersion.

Make a list of the things that need to be done. List them all and put them in order of priority-the most important things first. Then set daily goals to accomplish your priorities.

Don’t talk about work you have to do-DO IT! Sit down and get started. Break up large, difficult projects into smaller, more manageable pieces and tackle each piece separately. Complete something, then move on. Partializing works especially well for those unpleasant tasks.

Work in small blocs of time instead of long stretches. Set an appointment with yourself to do the job. When the allotted time is up, take a break and move on to the next task.

Announce your intentions publicly. Telling the world is an excellent technique for support and accountability.

Reward yourself. Let yourself enjoy the completion of even the smallest tasks.

Eliminate distractions or move to a place where you can concentrate. Close your door, clean off your desk, turn off the television, remove snacks or anything else that might keep you from your task.

Be willing to make adjustments in your plan. When you notice yourself continually pushing a task into the low-priority category, re-examine the purpose for doing it at all. Drop it, delegate it, or pay someone else to do it.