Cures for the Chronic Procrastinator

Procrastination does not have to be a curse or plague that it seems to be for so many. Like so many different things in our lives, if we utilize just a little bit of organization we can find ourselves cured of the chronic procrastination plague. Since this is a problem that seems to cross all professional boundaries, it is a problem that almost everyone can seem to relate with, and as such is something that just about everyone can use a cure for. These cures are fairly simple, and all that it takes is just a little bit of work on your part, since you are probably going to needing to change a few things in your lifestyle.

The first thing that you are going to need to do is to break the chronic procrastinator's habit of putting off for tomorrow what you are supposed to do today. This thinking habit is typically the root cause for procrastination. Thinking that there is more time to accomplish a given task than there really is leads many people to delay finishing tasks. One of the simplest solutions for this particular problem is to create a "to-do" list. By organizing such lists for the coming days, weeks and months you are going to have a better idea of what needs to get done (and when it needs to be done). Share your list with others, and this can give you a boost in motivation to accomplish such tasks.

Another way to help reduce the likelihood of procrastination is to eliminate possible distractions. If you find yourself easily distracted, eliminate possible distractions, even if it means locking the door, taking the telephone off the hook, and switching on your answering machine. Many times people use such distractions as an excuse for not completing—or at least putting off—tasks that need to be completed.

When you find yourself faced with a project that is large or complex, try breaking it down into smaller and more manageable portions. One of the best ways to do this is to take time at the start of a project to ask one of the simplest, yet most profound, questions possible: "Is there a simpler or easier way of doing this task?"

One of the easiest ways to keep from being a procrastinator is to keep busy. On those times that you find yourself faced with several tasks that need your attention, simply work on each whenever you can. By keeping yourself busy as much as you possibly can, you are going to be surprised to find out just how quickly you are going to finish each project. One way to do this is to start with the simplest and most enjoyable part of any job, even if it may not be the logical beginning point. I have found that during those times that I begin any project with the enjoyable portion first, I end up enjoying all of it and completing it quicker.