How To Beat Procrastination At Work

This is a good follow-up time management article to the previous one because it goes deeper into the mindset of how time is viewed by the individual, and talks about some of the habits we may have the cause us to not make the best use of our time. This article really discusses the some of the reasons we procrastinate and some of the solutions to overcome procrastination.

Listen. If you don’t beat procrastination at work the long
term consequences could be serious.

Take this example of how expensive work procrastination can
be…

The assignment that your boss gave you several days ago
still isn’t done. The assignment is a report that your
boss needs to take to an important meeting, and you may get
a big promotion if the meeting goes OK.

You’ve had plenty of time to get it done, but still just
don’t do it even though your future career could be in
jeopardy. What’s wrong with you?

You are one of the millions who procrastinate. You feel
inadequate, guilty, depressed and have low self-esteem.

Procrastination means avoiding doing tasks, which need to
be done – sometimes doing them at the last minute or
sometimes never doing them at all.

The reasons for procrastinating are as numerous as the
excuses one can make for not completing tasks.

A few of these reasons for procrastinating are listed below:

1. If you are a poor manager of your time and have
trouble identifying your objectives, you most likely are
overwhelmed by your tasks.

You try in vain to prioritize them, and failing at that
you’ve even been known to secretly throw a few written
requests into the trash, and later claiming you never got
them. You are a procrastinator.

2. You find it hard to concentrate. You may think
about what you’re going to cook for dinner or you daydream
about your next golf game. So you put off getting the job
done; you sit and think about it but take no action.

3. You may be easily distracted by outside influences
such as ringing telephones, other folk’s conversations, and
may even spend time performing “no-brainer” tasks such as
sharpening pencils, shuffling papers, or make endless trips
to the restroom or coffee bar.

4. Your self-esteem is very low. You have a negative
image of yourself and believe that you’re an underachiever
who can’t succeed at much of anything. You also may be
bored with the task at hand and lack enthusiasm.

But listen up – you CAN break the procrastination habit at
work as well as in every other area of your life.

Here are a few suggestions for beating procrastination:

1. Go on; admit that you have some fears and
anxieties about your ability to get the job done!

It’s a perfectly normal feeling, and once you face your
problems with concentration, time management, and the
inability to make a decision, you can take steps to change
them.

2. Instead of brooding about your problem areas,
identify your strong points, set your goals and priorities
and develop a “can do” attitude.

3. Use time wisely. The value you place on yourself
and your work has a direct bearing on your ability to do
your work in a timely, consistent manner.

4. Set priorities and perform each job accordingly.
Tackle the jobs you dislike aggressively; it’s best to get
them done and out of the way. Consider breaking large
assignments into smaller segments (if time allows).

5. Take a couple of minutes frequently to stand, stretch or
move about to energize both your body and your brain. If
possible, get some fresh air during breaks and your lunch
hour.

6. Take the initiative to change your work environment if
it causes distractions. Placing a barrier such as a tall
plant in front of your desk will block the view of
co-workers passing by.

Make sure you have the information and supplies at hand to
avoid the temptation to wander away from your work area.

A few changes in your attitude and work habits will make a
dramatic difference in the way you perform your work.

Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time (BK Life)The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free PlayThe Procrastinator's Handbook: Mastering the Art of Doing It NowProcrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About ItIt's About Time!: The Six Styles of Procrastination and How to Overcome ThemTime Management for the Creative Person: Right-Brain Strategies for Stopping Procrastination, Getting Control of the Clock and Calendar, and Freeing Up Your Time and Your Life

Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a
very popular free report that reveals how to crush procrastination and
sustain lasting motivation. Apply now because it is available for a limited
time only at: http://www.getmotivatedstaymotivated.com/special.htm

[tags]time management, procrastination, habit, work[/tags]

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