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How to Handle Stress-Related Procrastination 83

a reference. Facing subordinates with incomplete information is
an added strain. So, how do you proactively cope under such cir-
cumstances?
Your proactive coping goal for the meeting is to act proactively.
You’ll take a look at the issue and prepare a position. You’ll re-
search the area and distill your findings into a position. You may
not precisely know your position before you start. That is the pur-
pose of proactively doing the research.
Four Steps to Proactive Coping 

end PrOcrastinatiOn nOw! tiP

Step 1: Accept ambiguity and uncertainty as normal for upcoming
situations. You help yourself reduce fears of uncertainty
through exercising your proactive coping resources. You
won’t see the complete picture until you engage the chal-
lenge; the more knowledge you develop, the more gaps
you can discover. That is typically better than relying on an
illusion that the future will be better without your making
any effort today.
Step 2: Think about potential stumbling blocks that can predict-
ably get in the way, such as stress thinking. Plan to proactively
cope with this and other expected impediments in advance
of their occurrence.
Step 3: Prepare and gather information to create a plan that you
can modify with new information. As you actively engage in
this constructive process, you can build momentum for
other preparatory steps further down the line.
Step 4: Actively work to develop a time perspective for proactive
coping, or the process may get caught up in the same time
vortex as other delayed activities. A commitment about when
you’ll start and what you’ll do first can start the process in
motion and make the difference. Apply challenge language
about how, when, and where you’ll proactively cope.