Do I Procrastinate or Put Things Off?

When you put off doing a task, is it procrastination or just a wise choice of not doing something that is less important than the other items on your list?  That can be a tough question especially when rationalization kicks in.  The Random House definition for procrastination is, "To put off habitually till another day or time." 

One way to evaluate if you are a "habitual procrastinator" is to consider your intent.  What is your intent in putting something off?  Is it because you are feeling lazy and that you just don't want to do the task?  Or, is it because you have a long list of other things that are more important that you should get working on instead?  You know that you can't do it all...you have to pick and choose.

As you determine what you will and what you won't work on, consider your motives and your decision making process.  You might find that you are procrastinating some things that you shouldn't and that there are things that you should put off for another day so that you can work on what you should.  To do, or not to do, that is really the question!

Stop Delaying The Act!

An amazing act in your circus is about to spill out into one of your rings. The audience is cheering loudly in anticipation and the performers are thrilled to be part of the act. But nothing is happening.... Why? The ringmaster won't allow the act to start. What a shame.

You have probably done something very similar in the past-It's called procrastination. The next time you find yourself standing in the way of a great act in your lineup, try these tips:

• Let the positive emotion coming from your "audience" or "performers" move you forward. The best leaders understand the need to engage both their head AND their heart in their work.


• Ask yourself, "What's the worst thing that can happen if the act fails?" Most of the time the consequences are much smaller than we have made them out to be.


• Picture the value of completing the act. Imagine how you would feel. Think about the response of the audience when the act is over.


• Take one step toward completing the task. The momentum will propel you forward and you may find yourself all the way into the "ring" more quickly than you ever dreamed.

Don't Delay; Do It Today

There are so many opportunities for you to achieve great things in your lifetime. Don't find yourself approaching the end of your life saying to yourself, "I should have...If only I would have...I really could have..." Don't give in to mediocrity, be extraordinary.

How do you eat an elephant? You know the answer - one bite at a time. If that is the case, get out your fork and dig in. Do it today, where you sit, using what you have. Don't wait for the time to be just right. Seize today.

Setting The Elephant Aside

While the idea of "juggling elephants" is an overwhelming thought, setting the elephant aside is not the answer to the problem either. When you attempt to put it out of sight, it either grows in size (in the case of a project at work), increases in urgency (like a task with a deadline) or, pardon the analogy, withers away (consider building or rebuilding a relationship). You recognized it as an elephant because it is "big" for you, so why would you not want to tackle it in some way.

The next time you are tempted to set your elephant aside, remind yourself of the consequences of doing so. As the old saying goes, the pain of discipline and commitment is measured in ounces. The pain of disappointment and regret is measured in tons.

You Can Not Escape This Fact!

Recently a young man in suburban Chicago tried to escape during his trial, as he had seen done many times on television. While being led out of the courtroom, he burst free, ran across a walkway, and tried to leap through a window. But the bulletproof glass didn't break, and the man bounced off, landing on the floor where he was promptly rearrested, this time in worse trouble than ever.

In the same way you can not get away from the fact that time is limited. Failure to acknowledge that simple truth has been the result of more job frustration, strained relationships and failure to reach personal goals. And each day you try to "run away" from this reality you are placing all those things that are important to you in the prison of "I'll get to it tomorrow" or "someday."

For today, why not acknowledge that your time is limited and prioritize your day. Go so far as to do something that you have been putting off for a long time because you have kept saying, "I'll get to it." You might be surprised just how much "freedom" you experience.