HANDS UP IF YOU ARE A PUTTER OFFER??
Go on, be honest, are you a PROCRASTINATOR???
We are inspired to write this blog today cos as you know, the Boss and Diane are off to London this week, for a jolly (oops, sorry, a Very Important Quick Books Seminar!). Actually, it is very important cos QuickBooks are totally fab and make our life (and yours) so much easier – more about that later in the week!
So, for the last few weeks the Boss has been dithering: Let’s give you an example ! Or 3 !
Will I take a light jacket or a heavy jacket? Which colour, light or heavy? An umbrella? It might be really hot down there! (Jeez, it’s London, not the Caribbean)! Then the KEY action of a Procrastinator – “Oh, I will just have a coffee and then decide!”
What shoes shall I take? I might need this pair for “this” and that pair for “that”?! KEY action - “Oh, is it really time for my nightcap? I will sort the shoes tomorrow!”
I really do need to get checked in online – but…wait for it, KEY action – I will just read this incredible interesting article on tax! Is there such a thing?
All the time PUTTING OFF!
WHY, we ask ourselves? It’s painful for US!
So, we thought we would share our thoughts on Procrastinators, and we have come to the Canine Conclusion that it is not necessarily the task that is the problem, it is the way you feel about it.
Shoes and Clothes for London? The Boss is at his happiest when he is pretty casual. We love the fact he refuses POINT BLANK to even consider wearing a suit and tie for work! (It’s too flippin cold in that shed – fleeces all round, we say!). So, to have to look at different “gear” makes him feel a little uncomfortable. And that is the reason he procrastinates!
Now, as for checking in online !! Well, give him any kind of new accounting software to try out and he is a technical Wizard – but checking in online? What was the matter with good old airline tickets??
Again, he doesn’t do online check in very often (and you can bet your bottom dollar it will be delegated to Diane in the end!), because it will annoy and frustrate him. In his eyes, it’s just a tiny bit…..dare we say, difficult!
We are really here to tell you that behind the endless cups of coffee before starting a task there really will be a reason WHY and we urge you to really consider your WHY the next time you find yourself putting something off that you really can’t face, until you have scrolled through Facebook, cleaned the oven, car etc..
Here we share a few reasons that might be your WHY
Tasks that are boring or unpleasant – (the boss, his clothes and checking in!)
Poor organisation – not a great fan of To Do Lists? Start now!
Overwhelm – we all experience that from time to time. Chunk things down to sizeable,
manageable tasks.
Fear of failing – O, a lot of people suffer from this. AND surprisingly, fear of success! Bring it
on, we say!
REALLY, THE KEY QUESTION IS: HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU WASTE BY PROCRASTINATING?
Translate that in to how much it affects your life and business. When you catch yourself putting things off,
just take a note of how long, how much time you “lose”!
So, Ladies and Gentlemen, here’s what we would do, if we were procrastinators, (we certainly are NOT!)
Just get your head around “doing” and not “avoiding”. Like we say, if necessary, break really awful, boring tasks down, bit by bit. Oh, and we recommend a reward or 3, along the way and on completion!!
No matter how much it pains you, do away with distractions! Be very firm with yourself when you commit to a task, or part of a task.
Remember, you have a choice – so when you tell yourself that you “need to” or “must”, you put unnecessary pressure on yourself – your choice – to do, or not to do!
Think about the not so nice consequences of not doing whatever task. How long does the feeling of guilt hang over you!
And finally, that feeling of achievement makes it worthwhile! It motivates you and the more you do it, the better you get at overcoming procrastination!
Signing off for a well-deserved snooze after sharing our “wisdom”!
Max and Sam
