Hmm...hard to believe it. But that's what Amy Gallo has to say in the HBR blog post "Stop Procrastinating...Now."
We are all victims/willing participants in the procrastination game. I do my best cleaning (desk, laundry, house) when I'm avoiding an even less desirable task.
So, what does Ms. Gallo suggest? Just a few strategies to help us make progress and feel good:
1. Figure out why. Two ideas here...it's something we don't like to do, or something we don't know how to do. Personally, this won't help me get the job done, but it might work for some.
2. Set deadlines. Break the task into steps. I can relate to this one. I'm a list maker. I get a huge feeling of accomplishment if I can cross something off a list. Perhaps create a morning list, one for the day, or one for the week...whatever makes sense for your work flow or project. Don't be discouraged by having to add things to your list...just keep working and crossing things off. And accept that the list will never be complete.
3. Increase the rewards. Create little incentives like snack breaks, walks around the block, listening to music. Did I mention snacks?
4. Involve others. Gallo mentions going to colleagues for advice, input. Here, my suggestion is that if you own up to something externally you are more likely to do it. Can't complete that paragraph about a new info center service? Ask a colleague to review it. Hate to exercise? Walk with a friend.
5. Habit habit habit. Take control of the situation, think about it, make an effort to do the job. Focus. Creating new patterns helps us move away from the mind games we play. True accomplishment is much more rewarding than even a neat desk.
Now, get to work. Open that e-mail you've been avoiding. Get working on that budget. Then pat yourself on the back.
How do YOU handle procrastination? Do you celebrate it? Or have you conquered it?
