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How to Beat Procrastination - 30 November 2009
The document discusses procrastination and provides tips to overcome it. It begins by defining procrastination as postponing or delaying action needlessly. It then notes that a high percentage of people procrastinate and lists common tasks and projects people procrastinate over like chores, writing, and new projects. Some reasons for procrastinating include fear of failure or being imperfect and being overwhelmed. Procrastination can negatively impact work by making it difficult for others, reducing quality, and causing missed deadlines. However, procrastination may sometimes aid creativity. The document concludes by offering tips for starting tasks like using a timer, brainstorming with a friend, and celebrating successes.
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How to Beat Procrastination - 30 November 2009
- 1. Trent Mankelow Iwas gonna do a talk on procrastination but I decided to put it off
- 2. What is procrastination?Source: http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/082609/start-being-more-productive.gif
- 3. Procrastination – The act of postponing or delaying an action needlessly Source: http://www.blurburger.com/shoebox/toons/albums/toons/toon_procrastinator.gif
- 4. What percentage ofpeople procrastinate?
- 5. What percentage ofpeople procrastinate?
- 6. What do youprocrastinate over? Me: Chores e.g. Cleaning the shower Thinking tasks e.g. Writing our newsletter Big projects e.g account management New projects e.g. hiring a board of directors
- 7. Why do weprocrastinate? We are afraid of failure We are afraid of being imperfect We are overwhelmed
- 8. Why should wecare? What impact does procrastination have? Makes it difficult for others to get their job done The quality of your work may suffer (especially if it’s done at the last minute) You can miss deadlines It can add to your stress levels (and your guilt levels), and affect your life outside work
- 9. Is procrastination alwaysbad? Sometimes procrastination = percolation
- 10.
- 11. Sometimes starting isthe hardest thing
- 12. Ironically, “the actof starting reveals the real work you have to do” – The NOW Habit, p111
- 13. How to start:Sprints
- 14. How to start:Sprints Choose a task to be accomplished Set the Pomodoro to 25 minutes (the Pomodoro is the timer) Work on the task until the Pomodoro rings, then put a check on your sheet of paper Take a short break (5 minutes is OK) Every 4 Pomodoros take a longer break Check out www.pomodorotechnique.com www.focusboosterapp.com
- 15. Spend five minutesthinking about the outcome
- 16. Take a breakfirst
- 17. How to start:Brainstorming Source: http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/042406/inside-the-riaa.gif
- 18. Get a friendto help Source: http://www.teachingauthors.com/2009_07_01_archive.html
- 19. As part ofthe brainstorm I make sure I have a concrete, next action to start with
- 20. Use a penand paper
- 21. Start the dayright
- 22. Decide on aMost Important Task before you leave work each day
- 23. Park on adownhill slope Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/DunedinBaldwinStreet_Parked_Car.jpg
- 24. Avoid e-mail forthe first hour of every day. You heard me.
- 25.
- 26. Do “shitty firstdrafts”
- 27. Write in bulletpoints
- 28. Consider only givingyourself a certain number of revisions
- 29.
- 30. Say No Source:http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3658/3361349018_5d1caa4a1c.jpg
- 31. Plan play Source:http://www.toothpastefordinner.com/120304/go-outside-and-play-with-your-utah.gif
- 32. “ We aremore likely to work productively when we can anticipate pleasure and success” – The NOW Habit, page 75
- 33.
- 34. List your anxietiesWhat is the worst that could happen? What would I do if the worst really happened? How would I lessen the pain and get on with as much happiness as possible if the worst did occur? What alternatives would I have? What can I do now to lessen the probability of this dreaded event occurring? Is there anything I can do now to increase my chances of achieving my goal? From The Now Habit, p 99
- 35. What other ideasdo you have? How do you break through procrastination?
- 36.