Work matters

Are you a champion procrastinator?

Procrastination, putting things off, delay tactics

Are you guilty of putting off jobs, forever thinking, ‘Yes, I’ll get round to that’, and then, somehow, you never do? If this sounds like you, ditch the delay tactics with our handy guide, designed to kick procrastination into touch.

Don’t put off until tomorrow what can be done today is not a phrase that trips lightly off the tongue of a procrastinator.

We’ve all done it, of course – be it finding something (anything!) to do instead of a dreaded task or sitting staring at the same bit of paper for hours on end.

And because we’re all guilty of it, it’s an easy habit to write off as laziness. But is it that simple? DialExpotel talks to life coach and NLP practitioner Georgina Burnette about the real reasons we put things off – and what we can do about it.

Why people procrastinate

“The tendency to procrastinate is the product of negative thoughts about the task ahead,” says Georgina, explaining why we can get ourselves in quite a pickle over a relatively small task.

“Mostly, it’s a fear of failure, a sense of being overwhelmed, or just simply an expectation of not enjoying the job in hand that will cause people to procrastinate,” she continues.

So, not only is it not laziness, but what it is – fear, the sense of being overwhelmed and demotivation – are not to be taken lightly. But that’s not all.

What happens when you procrastinate?

“When you spend too much time thinking about something rather than actually doing it, you lose perspective of the actual scale of the task”

“When you spend too much time thinking about something rather than actually doing it, you lose perspective of the actual scale of the task,” says Georgina.

“It may prevent you from starting or finishing other tasks, which in turn adds to your lack of motivation and eventually has a detrimental effect on your stress levels and general wellbeing – including self-esteem.

“The more you let procrastination sneak in, the more it becomes a habit, and before you know it you are procrastinating over even the most simple of things.

So, to kick the habit into touch – and to stop wasting yours and your company’s time – take action.

How to stop procrastinating

“The good news is that it is very simple to break this cycle,” says Georgina. “If you feel overwhelmed by a task, break it down into baby steps. For example ‘sorting out the budget’ seems like an unending task. If you break it down and the first step is to ‘make a list of expenditure’, it feels much easier to tackle.

“If you find it challenging to know where to start, fast-forward to the end target and work your way backwards, working out each step you would have taken to get to that stage.

“If you are not looking forward to something, focus on the end product. Visualise the sense of achievement or relief that will come from completing this, as opposed to the journey itself.

“Writing lists will always help to put things into perspective, so if you are suffering from lack of motivation, get yourself in the ‘doing’ zone by setting yourself a couple of easier, more simple tasks, and build up your energy ready for the more important, long-winded task.

So, want to stop procrastinating? Do it now – not tomorrow!

This feature was written by DialExpotel for Expotel, the UK’s leading hotel, travel and venue booking agency. To find out more about Expotel, call 0844 793 7300.

Published: 22-03-2010 12:00:00

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