Page 148 - End Procrastination Now Get it Done with a Proven Psychological Approach

116 End Procrastination Now!

Take this exercise to the level of analysis. The Greek philoso-
pher Epicurus once advised weighing the results of an action
against its side effects. Behavioral diversions can lead to excuses
to get off the hook, strengthening a procrastination habit and lead-
ing you to live uncomfortably with an incomplete task. A do-it-now
alternative may have side effects of strain from pushing through
inertia, but this adds weight to your belief in your self-efficacy.

Is Time Management Really an
Effective Behavioral Technique?

Time management refers to the use of time-saving ideas and man-
agement tools to increase efficiency. The approach involves analyz-
ing how time is being spent, setting priorities, and planning and
scheduling to concentrate on what is most important to do in the
present moment. Better time management presumably provides
an opportunity to capture added time for production.
Is time management a behavioral solution for procrastination?
The process may be useful in contributing to the solution for some
forms of deadline procrastination. However, time management is
typically most useful for those who need the program the least. It
also seems to be used to as a technique to squeeze more work out of
managers and staff, and that presents a different set of problems.
There is another side to the productivity story. Research over
the past two decades suggests that higher levels of productivity are
obtained more through human resources programs that empha-
size self-empowerment, extensive training, and teams that actually
work well together. Productivity gains from these improvements
exceeded those created by just-in-time, Total Quality Management,
and supply-chain partnerships. It’s tempting to conclude that a
sense of control over your work is a critical factor in containing
procrastination and increasing productivity.
In manufacturing settings, productivity is increased by doing
more with the available personnel or doing the same amount of