Eyes that see the good in things: Jan. 21, 2019

I am a master procrastinator. It’s true. It goes all the way back to junior high, but I got better at it as I got older because I practiced a lot. If you’re also a procrastinator, you understand what it’s like to put off an assignment for days or weeks at a time. Then, when it comes down to the wire, you put in an all-nighter, only finishing half an hour before it’s due. All the while, you tell yourself that you thrive under these conditions and that you do your best work under pressure.

Am I right? If you’re a procrastinator, I’m betting you told yourself that too.

I would start with the best of intentions when I was in college; but the assignment wasn’t due for another month. How could I really think about starting it already? I had all the organizing tools, though. I had an organizer with folders for each of my classes. A page for a calendar and another for the class syllabus. So, as I sat in class, I would neatly record the due date on the calendar and put the assignment in the folder. However, this was a long-term assignment, so it wasn’t something I had to worry about right away.

Throughout the month, the assignment would surface in my head. I’d remember when it was due and then push the thought away until about a week before it was due. Then, I’d head to the library to choose a topic. I was told the library was a good place for me, because there were fewer distractions there. In all honesty, it was very intimidating to choose a research topic there. With all the books in a university library, how was it going to be possible to choose just one topic? So, I’d strike up a conversation with the librarian and then wander over to get a drink of water. Finally, after paging through a few magazines, I decided to call it a day and left the library. Still without choosing a topic.

After leaving the library on my way back to my room, I passed a classmates room, so I stopped in to see how her project was coming. I was hoping to hear her say no, she hadn’t started yet either so we could commiserate. Except that she had already turned her paper in. “Huh,” I thought. “Good for you!”

A couple of days later I told myself that I had to settle on a topic. Finally, with a topic chosen, I could check some research books out from the library. When I sat down at my desk to pound out a rough draft, I noticed that my throat felt a little scratchy, so I got up to get a glass of water. As I drank the water, I noticed that no one had washed the popcorn popper from the night before. Packing up a couple of glasses and mugs in the top of the popcorn popper, I headed for the lounge to wash them up. While there, I started talking with some people who were heading out to Sher’s (a nearby restaurant) for coffee and rolls. Did I want to go too? Well, of course I did.

It’s lucky for me that I also worked at the library, so I brought my research materials with me to put in some solid writing time. However, when my shift was over, I told myself I was too tired to stay at the library any longer. I stopped off at the deli, picked up a sub and headed back to the dorm for a much needed (because I had been working and doing homework all week, right?) movie night.

Except, right about then, my adrenaline started to kick in because it’s Saturday and the paper is due on Monday. The closer it got to d-day, the more I started to panic. That’s when I decided to paint my fingernails because I type so much better with pretty nails. Then, I sat down staring at a typewriter with a fresh sheet of paper. (I just realized how much I’m dating myself in this story, but there’s no sense in stopping now.) That’s when my roommate asked me if I was going to the party where most of the floor would be.

“I CAN’T,” I told her very decisively. “Some of us have homework!” After she left, I noticed that the albums were very disorganized, so I put them all in their jackets and arranged them in alphabetical order. And curled my hair. And made a pot of coffee because it was going to be a long night. Finally, I made myself sit down and work. The advantage to doing schoolwork at the dorm that night, was that the other procrastinators and I were probably the only ones in the building. I finally pounded out that rough draft and went to bed the next morning.

When I woke up, I spent the rest of the day editing until I had a finished research paper. Monday morning, I walked into class and turned in my paper, certain that I would never let that happen again. Shortly afterward, the professor assigned a new paper. True to my word, I had learned my lesson and I carefully wrote down the due date and the paper requirements. Then I filed it all away in my organizer. I knew that I was going to get started right away. Right after I stopped for a cup of coffee…

No, I didn’t learn my lesson that time. If you’re a procrastinator like me, you know that it’s something that we fight all the time. Sometimes we learn techniques that make it a little easier to succeed, in spite of the procrastination.

Although I tell this light-hearted story, I know that it’s a problem that can be serious. Too many people procrastinating at the same time can make whole organizations lose their momentum, a team can miss a goal they could have made oherwise, and individuals can lose out on an opportunity of a lifetime.

 So, knowing that this was a problem that I had to deal with, I took another course from a business coach who has battled with procrastination herself. I had already been using several of these techniques but one was new, and it’s already made a big difference to my writing day.

Don’t bite off more than you can chew – break large tasks down into smaller tasks. Large tasks can overwhelm and negatively impact people, including the procrastinators among us.

Set a deadline – Set deadlines for the tasks. Make sure that they are still challenging, yet achievable. A sense of achievement will add positivity as each of the smaller tasks or projects are delivered.

Practice the 80/20 rule – (Pareto Principle) is a concept that suggests two out of ten items, on any to-do list, will turn out to be worth more than the other eight items put together. The most valuable tasks you can do each day are often the hardest and most complex, but the payoff and rewards for completing them can be tremendous. Before you begin work, always ask yourself, “Is this task in the top 20 percent of my activities or in the bottom 80 percent?”

Walk away – If you are really struggling, go for a walk round the block. Sometimes, taking ourselves away from what you are working on can provide clarity and the direction that you need to make significant progress.

Get it done! – It can often be as simple as telling yourself to get on with it. Perfectionism begets procrastination. Sometimes it is better to get something out the door quickly. In a situation like that, progress is better than perfect because perfect may not get done. Get it done.

Give a few of these a try if you’re also a recovering master procrastinator.

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