Posted by Jan Wencel on Fri, May 21, 2010
You know it's bad when the productivity trainer in your life is providing procrastination aids, but this is just too good to pass up!
If you haven't already visisted Google today, go now. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Awaiting you is a fun game of Pacman...Google style.
There's sound, so turn down the volume if you think you'll get caught.
Posted by Jan Wencel on Mon, Apr 26, 2010
Last week at the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) conference I thanked industry legend, Barbara Hemphill--Taming the Paper Tiger at Work author, for writing the statement: "Clutter is postponed decisions."
Simple, yet profound, this phrase is one I almost always include in my productivity training sessions.
When you thoughtfully examine the items cluttering your desk and office, I suspect you'll arrive in agreement with the sentiment--many items represent a postponed decision or action.
So why not make today the day you start changing your procrastination habit? Following are two questions to ask to make that happen:
What can I do in the next 15 to 20 minutes to move this forward? From The Now Habit author, Dr. Neil Fiore, this question propels many into action. No need to wait until you have enough time to complete the project. Do something now to prime the pump and maintain a forward motion.
By the end of the day, what do I want to accomplish in order to feel good about it? If you can make a habit of asking yourself this question, you'll make a habit of getting the critical stuff done. Use this daily empowerment form to capture your ideas in the morning...and to confirm they're getting checked off in the afternoon.
What questions do you use to prevent procrastination?
Posted by Jan Wencel on Wed, Jan 06, 2010
We all struggle with prioritization from time to time. But if we're honest with ourselves, we already know what's more important and what needs to get finished today. We know what we need to do in order to meet our deadlines. And when we're engaged in reaching our goals, we know what needs to be done next to push them along. We're just not slowing down enough to listen.
If you want to consistently spend time in a committed and purposeful manner, consider adopting this new daily habit:
At the end of each day, review your tasks to make a plan for the next working day. Pick three-a frog, a dream and a wild card.
Start by identifying the biggest, most important task you need to complete-the frog. (There's an old adage, if you have to eat a frog, don't spend a lot of time looking at it first. And if you have to eat two of them, start with the ugliest.) Maybe it's strategic work that requires focused think time, or perhaps it's something you have a burning desire to procrastinate for untold emotional reasons. No matter, eating your largest, ugliest frog first will give you the boost to help the rest of the day seem lighter.
Next, pick a dream. The daily grind is rich with externally-driven tasks and rarely prompts you to insert assignments related to your personal, inwardly-driven goals. To move yourself toward your ambitions, consciously include taking one step toward your dreams. You'll see, over time they will develop into reality.
Lastly, select one critical task of your choice-the wild card.
Put the three items you picked on top of your to do list. Will you accomplish more than three things the following day? Maybe, but no matter what else happens, you'll focus on the three most important things first. (And you'll sleep easier knowing what's ahead of you the next day.)
It's going to be tough, but stick to the plan you outlined. Eat the frog. Reach for the dream. But do not initiate other tasks before completing the three you selected. One easy way to make this practice a reality: don't check your email until you've eaten the frog, legs and all.
Posted by Jan Wencel on Wed, Dec 09, 2009
Although we'd like to say, "Get back to work," we have something more to share. We came across a short animation created by the cartoonist Lev that addresses the procrastinator in all of us. Turn on the volume, and have a good laugh. Then it's BACK TO WORK! Procrastination video here.
Posted by Jan Wencel on Wed, Dec 09, 2009
Do you read and respond to emails as soon as they hit your inbox...especially when you're drafting a letter you don't want to write? Perhaps you get up to get a glass of water to avoid going through the week's mail. Do you think about what outfit we're going to wear Saturday instead of starting a load of laundry?
Guess what? You're just like everybody else: you procrastinate. But you can set yourself apart by discovering your procrastination tells.
Like poker tells, most people have habits, behaviors or physical reactions which predict when they're about to procrastinate. If you can figure out what your signals are, then with thoughtful determination you can minimize your productivity intermissions.
FLAVORS OF DILLY DALLYING
Procrastination typically presents itself in the following varieties. 1. Events that come to you: the phone rings, an email pops in your inbox, someone knocks on your door. 2. Events with outside objects that you create: you get up to get a snack, to find "the best" frying pan you follow a chain of websites until you can't see straight. 3. Internal events: you daydream, you think about trying to remember to pick up toilet paper on your way home.
ENDUCING DEFERRED GRATIFICATION
After you've uncovered your tells, try to change your environment or your routines to lessen the distractions. For example, decide to not answer any outside callers during particular hours of the day. Remind yourself to get back to work when you find yourself thinking about candy bars. Set the timer for 15 minutes and consider the task complete when the buzzer sounds. Carry a notebook to collect extraneous to dos so you can safely tell your brain to focus on what you're supposed to be doing.
You'll be amazed at how you can convert your procrastination habit into one of productivity.