Page 19 - End Procrastination Now Get it Done with a Proven Psychological Approach

End Procrastination with a Three-Step Approach xvii

excuses to justify the delay or ask for an extension for yet another
day. Procrastination can include intricate patterns of delay.
Let’s look at an example: Jane’s struggle with procrastination
over a written analysis of her organization’s quarterly financial
results. After weeks of delay, Jane decided to finish the report over
the weekend. After Sunday lunch, she was ready to start, and she
walked sluggishly to her computer, wincing at the thought of writ-
ing. The following sequence of events occurred:

1. As Jane sat down to get started on her report, she heard the
call of her lawn’s long grass, which needed mowing.
2. Jane walked toward the mower, pulled the cord, and heard it
come to life.
3. She felt relief as she thought she’d get the report done after
raking the grass clippings. By concentrating on the mowing,
she put aside the nagging reminder in the back of her mind
that she felt in her gut.
4. As she finished mowing, Jane noticed her neighbor sipping
lemonade by her pool and walked over to chitchat.
5. After catching up on things with her neighbor, Jane returned
home to cook dinner.
6. After a filling meal, she went to take a nap. She said to
herself, “I’ll start later, when I feel alert.”
7. Waking up from her nap, Jane realized that it was time for
the nightly news. She told herself that after the news, she’d
stay up late and get the report done.
8. The news ended, and Jane returned to the computer.
However, her fingers had a life of their own. She clicked the
solitaire icon and felt jived about the game.
9. Before she realized it, it was midnight. She thought, “It is
too late to start now. I’ll start early in the morning.” She felt
good about her new resolve
10. Her alarm rang at 7:00 a.m. Now panicked to get ready for
work, Jane had no time to start the report.