Procrastination
Wednesday December 5th 2007, 12:32 pm
I have always considered myself a procrastinator, but I didn't think of it as a major problem until recently friends started to complain that I spend too much time working. I was talking to a colleague at work and he suggested that I keep a diary for a few days so I can see how productively my time is spent. After looking through it, out of the 14 hours a day I tell myself I work, around 6 hours each day are wasted. So, if I could learn to "work smart" then I could either accomplish twice as much or regain my social life, happy days!
People assume that procrastinators do nothing when infact it's the exact oposite, I'm busy doing something all the time. The problem lies with prioritising, instead of doing import work I do marginally useful smaller bits of work because they are a way of putting off the more important jobs, the imortant jobs then become urgent, and working under pressure and to tight deadlines has always been a productive for me. It's all about finding a motivator.
Recently I've been trying to make procrastination work for me by making lists, it required a certain amount of self deception, I recognise and commit myself to tasks with inflated importance and tight deadlines, but I tell myself they are important and urgent. It may sound crazy but it appears to be working so far, I guess self deceptive skills came hand in hand with procrastination, after all I'd fooled myself into thinking I was flat out working for 14 hours a day!
The last thing I do every day is make a list of what I need to do the next day on paper. Why paper? Because highlighting each task as it's been done gives me a sense of accomplishment, it makes me want to move onto the next thing. The list includes everything I have to work on, I start the day with the less important tasks that can be easily accomplished, marking things off the list as done seems to really help. Here was my list for yesterday:
Check and Reply to Emails (20 mins)
Stats / Analytics (10 mins)
Entrecard Drops (30 mins)
Illustration for VI brochures (120 mins)
LG Article - New Questions for JC (20 mins)
PDF Layouts for RM (60 mins)
Finish Pop Collector for MG (180 mins)
Call Florida Police (10 mins)
Send invoices to freelance customers (15 mins)
LG Article - I Love London Girls (60 mins)
Monitor LG Forums (10 mins)
Spend time with friends / family (180 mins)
Check and Reply to Emails (20 mins)
Stats / Analytics (10 mins)
Write New List For Tomorrow (15 mins)
I managed to get through the list, and I'm writing this article now because it's on todays list, so far so good! You'll notice that surfing Youtube, chatting on MSN to friends, sketching and playing computer games aren't on the list, that alone gives me hours of my day back!
Leave A Comment
Showing 11 out of (11) Comments
Posted by Mark Dykeman, at 23:45 on Mon, Jan 7th
I'm sure there was probably something important that I was supposed to be doing right now, but your article was a great way to avoid doing it!
Paradoxically, though, I made a point of commenting immediately - before I could put it off.
Posted by black.pixie, at 03:34 on Fri, Dec 28th
Ooh, I'm a classic procrastinator. You are so right about the 'doing nothing' bit. I think I spend a couple of hours each day doing stuff - just not stuff I should be doing.
Posted by Toni, at 08:17 on Mon, Dec 17th
As most affiliates work with $ I'm going for the bucks :)
Posted by Pericles, at 03:39 on Mon, Dec 17th
I love your definition of procrastinators. Indeed we are always doing smth, just not the things we are supposed to be doing.
BTW I like your sites and your design. Good luck with the million (quids or bucks?)
Posted by bloggernoob, at 08:00 on Thu, Dec 13th
yeah timescaping usually works for me
Posted by Rob Schultz, at 19:13 on Tue, Dec 11th
Man, this article couldn't his closer to home. Like you I've realized how badly procrastination can affect you. It's so hard to work smart sometimes.
Posted by helen, at 10:58 on Tue, Dec 11th
I followed your Entrecard to your place here. Talking about procrastinator, you have one here too. Unlike you, I'm the non-productive procrastinator who is too lazy to do up a list and face the fact. lol
Posted by Shaun, at 11:35 on Fri, Dec 7th
Yeah it's a good idea, just not one that i've been really able to work with. I just can't seem to stick to a list
Posted by m, at 19:29 on Thu, Dec 6th
Great article. I'm a procrastinator too. You've described it perfectly. Paper lists really help me get things done. I make them for projects at work and sometimes at home too. My kids all know about the importances of mom's list if there's one up on Saturday morning. I have big white board at home. They happily check off their tasks for the day as they get them done. I feel better, things are cleaned up, I didn't put it off another day.
Posted by xicom, at 11:04 on Thu, Dec 6th
I completely agree with you that it's all about finding a motivator, I'm the same way. If I am motivated to do something, I can work all day on a task that would fry the minds of most; however, if I'm unmotivated I find it hard to do even the simplest of tasks. I'm trying to find a way to "control" my motivation because if I can harness that, I'll be able to get anything I want done.
Great post! I'll definitely be stopping back here. I came across this blog via EntreCard ;-)
Posted by ArahMan7, at 00:49 on Thu, Dec 6th
I'm a procrastinator too. Thanks for the tips. I'm going to follow it to the 'T'.
Greetings and lotta loves from Malaysia.
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