Page 147 - End Procrastination Now Get it Done with a Proven Psychological Approach

Powerful Behavioral Techniques to Curb Procrastination 115

You can daisy-chain one behavioral diversion onto another.
Instead of dealing with a knotty personnel problem, you check the
latest news on the stock market. Then you browse a bookstore. You
nap. You call a friend, and so on.
Paradoxically, productivity tools can be used as behavioral di-
versions. Computers increase productivity, but you can use them
as a distraction to avoid an unpleasant situation by e-mailing
friends, surfing online, and other such activities. Cell phones,
PDAs, and text messaging are great ways to stay in contact with
people, but they’re also great ways to avoid work.
If you choose to trump a behavioral diversion(s), this ordinar-
ily starts with knowing your options. To avoid automatically drift-
ing in a procrastination direction, use the contrast exercise to
sharpen your choice between behavioral diversions and ending
procrastination now!

Behavioral Diversions Ways to End Procrastination Now!

1. Play games or surf the Internet. 1. Take the first planned steps and
use 10 minutes of playing a
game or surfing the Internet as a
reward for each hour of uninter-
rupted work.

2. Go for a drive. 2. Refocus and stay on task.
3. Call a buddy to chat. 3. Call a buddy to talk about ways of
getting back on track.

Now it’s your turn to identify your personal behavioral diver-
sions and alternative actions to end procrastination:

Behavioral Diversions Ways to End Procrastination Now!

1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.