Procrastination is something that we are all guilty of at some point in time. It usually occurs when we are distracted, or there is a task that we are trying to avoid and we can often find excuses for other tasks that may seem to be a higher priority.
If the following statements seem a little familiar, then you too may be occasionally struggling with that old procrastination chestnut;
- “I can always do it tomorrow (or next week, next month, next year).”
- “The deadline is kind of flexible.”
- “I’ll do it soon.”
- “The due date isn’t for ages…”
- “It doesn’t matter if I’m a little bit late.”
- “I don’t want anyone to micromanage my time.”
So how can we avoid getting into the web of procrastination and start to master that elusive time?
- Each and every one of us has a brain that is wired differently
We are all unique and don’t always march to the beat of the same drum. As humans, we are wired differently and when it comes to our relationships with our work and with others, we will look at it at varying levels and this includes our relationship with time. It is important to recognise that your expectations of time and how to control it may be different to someone else’s.
- Track yourself
If I were to ask you how long an average task would take, would you be able to answer it with certainty? We don’t often know how long something takes, which can lead to the statements like, “Oh, is it that time already?” A time log can assist in working out where that time goes, you might also like to have a stopwatch on your desk and time yourself to check.
- You are human
Life will not always go according to plan even with the best intentions and it is wise to allow space for the unexpected.
Learning the art of delegation and trusting your fellow teammates can also assist in saving you time and allowing you to focus on those dollar productive activities and the tasks that you really enjoy.
