The Perils of Procrastination!
Procrastination: to habitually put off something that should/could be done now
Have you ever put off until tomorrow what you could have started or done today? Of course each of us has procrastinated or delayed activities for another day—and sometimes we never get to them at all!
We’ve all heard these procrastination statements.
- I’ll go on my diet tomorrow, after this piece of birthday cake.
- Once the weather improves, I’ll begin my new fitness program.
- I’d like to visit my uncle, but we are very busy right now.
- We’ll go on that extended holiday next year.
- I’ll talk to my kids about drugs soon, but not right now.
- I’d like to take that college class, but it might better to delay that until . . .
- When the kids leave home, my wife and I will have time to go out on dates again.
- When I get a pay raise, I’ll start saving.
- When they start acting nice, I will, too.
- Don’t worry; I’ll make a Will soon and encourage my parents to do the same.
- We’ll launch our marketing program once sales increase.
- I’ll write that book next year, when I’ll have more time.
- I’ll call my friends next week, once school is out.
- And so on . . .
What has your lack of action (procrastination) cost you in lost opportunities and/or experiences? For most of us, the price is far greater than we expect and, in many cases, the desired action is never started, engaged, or completed. Let’s go back to some of the examples listed above.
- You never did go on that diet and now your weight is a serious health risk.
- Your uncle passed away suddenly, before you had a chance to visit him.
- The extended holiday simply never materialized.
- The police call to say your child is in serious condition in hospital, due to a drug overdose.
- You never did take that college course and, as a result, have been stuck for the past decade in a job you hate.
- Because you rarely spent any quality time with your spouse, he/she left you before the kids did.
- You retired broke because you felt you never had enough money to save.
- You wish Dad and Mom had made a Will. Most of their assets were wasted on lawyers and probate court. It took you over a year to get your youngest sister back from the Public Guardian and Trustee because no guardian was named for her.
- Your business went bankrupt because you never got the marketing program launched.
- And so on.
Just Do It. Now! Why? In the past 6 months, three of my friends/colleagues have passed away from cancer―less than eight weeks after their diagnoses. Without being morbid, let’s pretend you have one year to live and that you will be healthy during that year. But make no mistake―at the end of the year, your contribution to this world will end.
Will you do anything differently?
What things have you put off that you no longer should avoid doing?
Another factor that creates a freezepoint for many people is the all-or-nothing mindset. If I can’t do my entire list, I won’t do any of it. How silly is that! Individuals may focus on what they can’t do rather than what they can do. That limits their success and increases their level of procrastination.
- Make a list (in writing) of all the items you have put off to a later date. By the way, do this now, not later! Hint! Hint! The list should include things you wanted to do both personally and professionally―things you wanted to own (material stuff) and relationships you wanted to have or improve.
- Once you have completed the list, review it to determine whether you seriously desire those items. We all change. What once was important may no longer be so. Revise and fine-tune your list to reflect your current goals and wishes.
- Separate your list into three categories.
- Things you want to do or accomplish
- Things you want to have
- Relationships you want to build or enrich
- Once you have created the categories, prioritize each list. This is a very important step so that you don’t start feeling overwhelmed. Taking one real step is much better than thinking about taking 10 steps.
- Pick an item you have been procrastinating about and just do it! I suggest you do whatever it takes to begin. Motion begets motion; action begets action.
- Enjoy the journey of enjoying the journey. We can be so focused on achieving the objective, we miss the enjoyment of the process of doing.
- Get support and help if you need it. Many people are willing to help if you ask.
Many of your choices will not require much (or any) money. On the other hand, some will involve fiscal resources and that might result in a conflict of your core beliefs.
Let me explain. Let’s say you have money saved for your retirement but don’t have enough for an item or event you want to do now. What do you do? The experts say you should save your money and leave it alone until you retire. In wealth-building, compound interest creates momentum. But what do you do when that plan is in conflict with a more immediate priority?
First, I am not your fiscal advisor so, ultimately, you must choose what is right for you. But I will share with you how you might manage choices that seem to be in conflict.
Rule One: Don’t put off things that cannot be achieved or repeated at a future date—or delay anything that would have long-term, detrimental ramifications.
Rule Two: If you feel confident that you have the means and ability to replace your savings and resources at a future date, make your decision based on your mortality, not your longevity.
Example: During the past three years, I have personally invested both time and monetary resources into the transformation and growth of CRG. That means personal fiscal resources are being redirected into business development. I can afford to do this because over the years, we have practiced the discipline of saving first. But now we have a family project on the table that requires capital resources. The question is: should we procrastinate on our project and wait for more fiscal resources or use our saved capital to play now?
Here’s the situation. We want to travel with our children ages 9 and 10 throughout the region on motorcycles. To procrastinate here is to reduce the opportunity to do this with our children, who are keen and interested NOW. At best, we have three years to fulfill this goal before their other interests (and their physical size) hinder this activity.
Applying Rule One means doing it now. There is no benefit or value to procrastinating on this item. This experience cannot be duplicated later. That means we must act NOW.
Applying Rule Two means that we replace those resources later through our business and investment options. Yes, that will work.
The next step is to take action on this priority and stop procrastinating.
I am not suggesting that you create obligations beyond your ability to pay or that you live beyond your means. Those two rules are guidelines to help you make decisions. Best you can, embrace all that life has to offer NOW! And if your resources are contributing to your procrastination, look at the source of your problem—your limited resources.
Your year of life is almost up now. You look back on the past months as a satisfied, content, fulfilled, and happy individual. What did you do with your time? Did you change your approach and your choices from the way you had been doing them before your diagnosis?
I encourage you to fully engage your life. Don’t delay the important things.
Don’t be mistaken: procrastination has cost us all dearly. It’s a matter of how much we can limit the damage.
To help you on the road to being more pro-active and deliberate about your life, I will recommend a couple of resources for you. The Personal Style Indicator, Values Preference Indicator, and the Self Worth Inventory will assist you to be clearer about yourself so you can be premeditated and intentional with your choices and decisions.
Taking no action is to procrastinate.
| Most of us go through life as failures because we are waiting for the “time to be right” to start doing something worthwhile. Don’t wait. The time will never be “just right.” |
Napoleon Hill
Think and Grow Rich |
The Perils of Procrastination!
- Make a list (in writing) of all the items you have put off until a later date. This list should include things you wanted to do both personally and professionally, things you wanted to own (stuff) and relationships you wanted to have and build. Do it now!
- Once you have completed this list, review it to determine you seriously desire those items. We all change. What once was important may no longer be so. Revise and fine-tune your list to reflect you current goals and wishes.
- Separate your list into three categories.
- Things you want to do or accomplish
- Things you want to have
- Relationships you want to build or enrich
- Once you have created the categories, prioritize each list. This is a very important step so that you don’t start feeling overwhelmed. Taking one actual step is much better than merely thinking about taking 10 steps.
- Equip yourself with the personal knowledge and awareness to intentionally reduce your procrastination with confidence; complete the Personal Style Indicator, Values Preference Indicator, and the Self Worth Inventory.
- Look at your list to discover why you have procrastinated. Next, outline what your procrastination is costing you. Finally, project into the future that you have succeeded in achieving, doing, or being the things you have listed. How do you feel? Great, right?!
- Pick an item you have been procrastinating about and just do it! Do whatever it takes to begin. Motion begets motion.
- Get support and help if you need it. Many people are willing to help if you just ask. Don’t procrastinate on doing that, either.
- Release any guilt you might have regarding your procrastination; guilt will contribute to your delays.
- Celebrate your successes. Nothing reduces procrastination more than an On Purpose person in motion.
- To decrease my own procrastination, I have a special favor to ask you this issue. Immediately download our new Secrets of Success Journal. Once you are comfortable and familiar with the content, please pass the file on to everyone you know who would benefit. Or you can send this link to your contacts http://www.crgleader.com/downloads/magalog.php?&partner= so that CRG can continue to reach others and help even more individuals start Living on Purpose.
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Until next time, keep Living On Purpose!
Ken Keis
For information on CRG Resources, please visit http://crgleader.com.
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