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April 20, 2009 01:22 AM
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Given the state you're in you need some simple advice to get you started, rather than a more detailed discussion of procrastination.
You sound like you're an "indecison procrastinator". You can't decide what to do, you spend lots of time worrying what to do, then end up doing nothing.
Tip #1:
Just pick any one of the things you've been putting off, and do some work on it. Don't worry about picking the right thing. Don't worry about getting it all finished. Just make a start on something.
Once you start actually doing any of the things you've been putting off, you start to feel a lot better, and everything starts to look more manageable.
Tip #2:
Take what looks like a big scary thing, and just pick out a bite sized piece you can get to work on, and tell yourself how long you'll work on it. Then do what you said. (It helps even more if you tell someone else what you'll do.)
If you have a thousand emails in your inbox, don't define your task as "clear my inbox". Say to yourself: "I am going to spend 30 minutes working through emails". Then spend 30 minutes.
Tip #3:
If you're finding it hard to get into a project, identify the "next action" that you need to take. For example, if your task is to clean out a room, maybe the very next step is to get some garbage bags. "Get garbage bags" is a lot more do-able and a lot less daunting than "clean the room".
Psychologists have found that people procrastinate a lot more on big abstract tasks than concrete tasks planned for a specific time.
These tips will help you get out of the state you're in, get some things done, feel better, and be ready to tackle more, both in terms of your work and in terms of more systematically tackling your procrastination.
When things aren't quite so dire, I recommend checking out a couple of sites:
http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/dont-delay
http://www.procrastinators-anonymous.org/
I suggest you don't look at them just yet though!. Otherwise they'll just be more things to do added to your already unmanageable and scary seeming list of things to do.
Maybe spend a couple of days, just getting some things done, and then come back and ask more questions here, or on those forums.
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Here is a book / resource on how to do it:
http://lifehacker.com/169192/wikibook-on-overcoming-procrastination
A step-by-step guide:
http://lifehacker.com/165009/overcome-procrastination-by-understanding-it
A few general tips:
http://lifehacker.com/111981/tips-on-beating-procrastination
Personally, I suggest that you look deeply at the task(s) that you're having trouble finishing. Motivation is a funny thing and if deep down, you really don't *want* to complete the task, procrastination will sneak in.
Otherwise, make a schedule and stick to it. Routine is key to completing tasks that you find hard to finish.
I hope that this helps you to overcome procrastination. Don't worry, you're not a lone. Lots of people (myself included) battle this.
RB : http://www.twitter.com/AR_RobBrown
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The key to both is first figuring out what things are important to you, and *how* important to you in relationship to each other. You could draw a circle and divide it into sections of "personal", "relationships", "business" and "faith". Or you could divide a sheet of paper into sections and label each section with one of these headings. If you aren't in an organized religion, you could label it "ethics" or "beliefs" or "character" or whatever chimes right for you.
Then, under each heading, write several goals. A big goal: not a little task, because this goal should be something it will take at least a year to accomplish. Could even take a decade.
Then, make a sheet of paper for each area. Write out each goal again, with space near each. Break each goal down into smaller goals, and then each smaller down even further, and then even further until you have a list of steps.
What this does is help you break down the great big goals that you think are important but that can frighten many of us into inactivity and procrastination. Breaking them down into daily tasks that can be worked into a routine makes them much less frightening. Plus, if you happen to miss a day or even two, you can look back at a track record of doing those tiny steps and realize it's not the biggest thing in the world to have missed a day.
There is something called a Seinfeldian Chain, called that because Jerry Seinfeld mentioned he does this: put the thing you're trying to accomplish but that you've been avoiding on a calender, and then for every time you do it, put a big red "X" through that day. Then the whole key is Don't Break The Chain! Once you start getting a few days built up, it becomes a challenge to keep the chain going. You can do this online at Joe's Goals or here at SmarterFitter:
http://smarterfitter.com/chain
The nice thing is you can make it a bookmarklet so you can just click on it when you need it!
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How can I overcome procrastination? so much to do & don't know where to start. Have been on the verge of tears for a week x
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| April 20, 2009 02:25 AM | view on twitter |
You sound like you're an "indecison procrastinator". You can't decide what to do, you spend lots of time worrying what to do, then end up doing nothing.
Tip #1:
Just pick any one of the things you've been putting off, and do some work on it. Don't worry about picking the right thing. Don't worry about getting it all finished. Just make a start on something.
Once you start actually doing any of the things you've been putting off, you start to feel a lot better, and everything starts to look more manageable.
Tip #2:
Take what looks like a big scary thing, and just pick out a bite sized piece you can get to work on, and tell yourself how long you'll work on it. Then do what you said. (It helps even more if you tell someone else what you'll do.)
If you have a thousand emails in your inbox, don't define your task as "clear my inbox". Say to yourself: "I am going to spend 30 minutes working through emails". Then spend 30 minutes.
Tip #3:
If you're finding it hard to get into a project, identify the "next action" that you need to take. For example, if your task is to clean out a room, maybe the very next step is to get some garbage bags. "Get garbage bags" is a lot more do-able and a lot less daunting than "clean the room".
Psychologists have found that people procrastinate a lot more on big abstract tasks than concrete tasks planned for a specific time.
These tips will help you get out of the state you're in, get some things done, feel better, and be ready to tackle more, both in terms of your work and in terms of more systematically tackling your procrastination.
When things aren't quite so dire, I recommend checking out a couple of sites:
http://blogs.psychologytoday.com/blog/dont-delay
http://www.procrastinators-anonymous.org/
I suggest you don't look at them just yet though!. Otherwise they'll just be more things to do added to your already unmanageable and scary seeming list of things to do.
Maybe spend a couple of days, just getting some things done, and then come back and ask more questions here, or on those forums.
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Other Answers (2)
April 20, 2009 01:25 AM
| view on twitter
The productivity blog, Lifehacker has an archive of tips and how-to's that can help guide you through procrastination. Here is a book / resource on how to do it:
http://lifehacker.com/169192/wikibook-on-overcoming-procrastination
A step-by-step guide:
http://lifehacker.com/165009/overcome-procrastination-by-understanding-it
A few general tips:
http://lifehacker.com/111981/tips-on-beating-procrastination
Personally, I suggest that you look deeply at the task(s) that you're having trouble finishing. Motivation is a funny thing and if deep down, you really don't *want* to complete the task, procrastination will sneak in.
Otherwise, make a schedule and stick to it. Routine is key to completing tasks that you find hard to finish.
I hope that this helps you to overcome procrastination. Don't worry, you're not a lone. Lots of people (myself included) battle this.
RB : http://www.twitter.com/AR_RobBrown
Permalink | Report
Reply
April 20, 2009 01:49 AM
Here are a couple of methods I've seen and used from seminars I've attended. The key to both is first figuring out what things are important to you, and *how* important to you in relationship to each other. You could draw a circle and divide it into sections of "personal", "relationships", "business" and "faith". Or you could divide a sheet of paper into sections and label each section with one of these headings. If you aren't in an organized religion, you could label it "ethics" or "beliefs" or "character" or whatever chimes right for you.
Then, under each heading, write several goals. A big goal: not a little task, because this goal should be something it will take at least a year to accomplish. Could even take a decade.
Then, make a sheet of paper for each area. Write out each goal again, with space near each. Break each goal down into smaller goals, and then each smaller down even further, and then even further until you have a list of steps.
What this does is help you break down the great big goals that you think are important but that can frighten many of us into inactivity and procrastination. Breaking them down into daily tasks that can be worked into a routine makes them much less frightening. Plus, if you happen to miss a day or even two, you can look back at a track record of doing those tiny steps and realize it's not the biggest thing in the world to have missed a day.
There is something called a Seinfeldian Chain, called that because Jerry Seinfeld mentioned he does this: put the thing you're trying to accomplish but that you've been avoiding on a calender, and then for every time you do it, put a big red "X" through that day. Then the whole key is Don't Break The Chain! Once you start getting a few days built up, it becomes a challenge to keep the chain going. You can do this online at Joe's Goals or here at SmarterFitter:
http://smarterfitter.com/chain
The nice thing is you can make it a bookmarklet so you can just click on it when you need it!
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Voted as best: masontx
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