Dealing with Procrastination

Poor time management can significantly contribute to not getting a task done on time, especially when the time necessary to complete a task has been underestimated. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed, not knowing where to begin because you can't decide where to start can make it difficult to feel motivated to begin working on a project.

Being a perfectionist or setting your standards too high can also lead to procrastination; if you are constantly worried about making mistakes or are over-concerning yourself with creating a flawless product, you may be discouraged to work on it.

Here are some ways to combat procrastination:

• Manage your time wisely: think about how long it will take you to complete a task, and plan your time accordingly. It is better to overestimate the time you will need and get done early than to underestimate how long the task will take.
  
  Seek clarity: if you are having trouble deciding how you should proceed with a task, talk to the person concerned about it. You may also consider discussing it with colleagues. You may ask someone to read the instruction if in an email to see what their take is on it. The more you know about what is expected of you, the easier it will be to start and complete a task.
  
  
• Perfection is unattainable but excellence is achievable: setting unrealistic goals for yourself will only hinder your motivation. It may help to concentrate on finishing a "rough draft" that you can then review for mistakes instead of trying to first come up with the final copy first.
  
  
• Divide the task or project into smaller steps: this is especially helpful for large projects. Smaller projects are easier to complete, and many people find they have a lot more motivation to work on three small things than one large thing. Dividing a project into smaller tasks makes it easier to figure how much time you will need to complete the entire thing.
  
  
• Set reasonable and realistic goals: don't assume that you will be able to read all 15 chapters of your economics textbook the night before the exam. Instead, read a few chapters at a time to allow yourself to better understand the material and get a better grasp on the chapters to come.
  
  
• Remember to take breaks: work for an hour or so and take a 15 minute break before returning to your project. Don't try to finish a 10 page research project in 6 hours straight. Schedule time to relax. Take a walk, watch TV, listen to music, or do something else for 15 minutes to give your brain a break.
  
  
• Reward yourself for even small accomplishments: this is especially true for larger projects. As you complete parts of your project, reward yourself before resuming the rest of it.

 

For more than a decade, Tracy Keith has been working within organisations coaching and mentoring people around her to achieve their aspirations, chart their personal course to success or feel in control of their life. She enjoys working with anyone who is /or wants to be excited about life, is ready to stretch their personal boundaries, and committed to making positive changes in their life.

If you would like to talk more about the services offered by TMK consulting, contact Tracy today on 021 044 5454 or [email protected].

  

Submitted At: 14 August 2011 11:09pm | Last Modified At: 15 August 2011 3:35pm

Article Views: 1043

Author: TMK Coaching

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