Page 73 - End Procrastination Now Get it Done with a Proven Psychological Approach

Defeat Procrastination Thinking 41

table 2.2 (continued)
Questions Straight Answers Do-It-Now Strategy

3. Support 3. Delays that continue 3. I am likely to get
positive to affect other favorable perfor-
actions? people are likely to mance reviews and
put people off. salary increases
with timely work
submissions.
4. Allow for 4. When I delay, I feel 4. While I can’t com-
a broad pressured, and mand stress to stop,
range of my emotions are I can focus on what I
emotions? significantly reduced can control.
to stressful.
5. Promote 5. Dodging discomfort 5. Corrective actions
healthy and making tomor- involve breaking the
lifestyle row promises is activity down into
habits? nonproductive. what I do first,
second, and so forth.
(See Chapter 6 for
behavioral actions
that support a do-it-
now philosophy.)
6. Lead to 6. Later thinking leads 6. I can choose to cor-
openness to entrapment in a rect this thinking. I
to experi- rut where I spin can look at its results
ence and my wheels and get and control what I
flexibility? nowhere fast. do to produce a dif-
ferent outcome.

Through following the above approach, Jane established con-
trol over a negative procrastination process, and such control is
positive. She also took action through proactive coping, which you
learn more about in Chapter 4. She engaged in proactive coping
when she prepared for the next report by working out her prob-
lems and planning action before the time to start. Proactive coping
is designed to promote effectiveness and well-being. These results
represent the new effects she gained through this exercise.
Now, it is your turn to use the ABCDE system (see Table 2.3).