Page 61 - Time Management

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Time Management
What Are You Procrastinating About?
So far, this discussion has been about general categories. It’s
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now time to get specific. What are you putting off right now?
Make a list of business duties, personal responsibilities, and

long-term goals that you’ve done nothing about (e.g., changing
careers, getting married), short-term tasks (that complaint let-
ter), telephone calls, a vacation—anything you can think of,
large or small, that you should be doing but haven’t gotten
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around to.
You may be surprised at the number of tasks backlogged in
your mind. Out of sight, out of mind, right? One common sub-
conscious method of procrastination involves simply putting
certain chores or tasks out of your mind. Your first step in con-
trolling your urge to procrastinate, then, is pushing these items
back to the forefront of your consciousness, where they belong.

The Eight Factors
For each item on your list, try to identify which of the eight pro-
crastination causes from Figure 4-1 probably reflects the major
reason you’re putting off this task. This will give you clues as to
what must be cast off before you can take action. Some of the
tasks may have more than one reason causing you to procrasti-
nate.
There are proven strategies that will allow you to surmount
the barriers—and perhaps get you started on the very things
you’ve been neglecting.

1. The task seems unpleasant. Is this your single most impor-
tant reason for not completing the tasks on your list? If so,
you’re typical. This is, by far, the most commonly given reason
for procrastination. After all, what could be easier to put off than
reprimanding an employee, washing the dishes, preparing a
speech, or making a dental appointment?
Five strategies can help you take on a task that you avoid
because it’s unpleasant:

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