20 Procrastination Hacks I want to share with glp...

lol!

sorry, my um google was... um... broken.






I’m going to take a wild leap and suggest that procrastination is a problem that plagues even the best of us. Yes, even Scott Young must procrastinate once in awhile. I surely do.

But even though I procrastinate, I find ways to get a lot done. I am the epitome of what Scott calls “productively lazy”.

This post, for example, was written as a means of putting off a more urgent article that I need to write by the end of today. But by procrastinating on that, I’ve written this, which I hope will be helpful for all procrastinators everywhere — and that means you.

Please note that I do not suggest that you do all of these — that’s an overwhelming task that would certainly be pushed back endlessly. Instead, choose one and try it. It will probably work for a little while. Then, when it stops working, choose another, and give that a go. With a palate of great procrastination hacks, you can never go wrong. And often, a combination of these will work fantastically.

1. Form a Do It Now habit. Procrastination, like many things, is simply a bad habit. By replacing it with a positive habit — the Do It Now (DIFN) habit — you will kick procrastination’s butt. This will require concentrated effort for 30 days, but after that, it should be on autopilot. I put up a sign on my computer that says “DO IT NOW” and every time I feel like procrastinating, I look at the sign and get to work.
2. Do Your MIT first. I have a rule that before I check my email or read my feeds, I have to do my Most Important Task first. I do it first thing in the morning, and then no matter what happens after that, I’ve done something very productive today. If you’ve been procrastinating on a very important task for some time, I suggest you do that first. Don’t allow yourself to do anything else until it’s done!
3. 10-minute rule. If a task seems overwhelming, tell yourself that you’re only going to do it for 10 minutes. There’s nothing intimidating about 10 minutes. And more often than not, you end up doing more than 10 minutes after that initial hurdle of getting started is overcome.
4. Break it down. Got an overwhelming task to handle? Break it up into much tinier tasks. I mean really tiny. Have a paper to write? Just write the headline. Or just do 10 minutes of the outline. Or just write the first sentence. That’s a task you can accomplish, and when you’re done, you feel great. Use that feeling of success to carry you to the next tiny task (”Write 2nd sentence”) and keep going from there.
5. Love your work. Why do we procrastinate. Sometimes it’s because we don’t like what we’re doing. If that’s the case for you, you might want to consider a different job or a different line of work. But in any case, as much as possible, seek to do things you love, even within your current job. Not feeling like doing that task right now? Find another that’s more fun (not video games).
6. 30-10. This is one of my favorites. I set a timer for 30 minutes, and then work like mad until the timer goes off. Then I set the timer for 10 minutes, and do something that I really want to do (email and feeds for me, maybe Twitter or Digg for you). Repeat as often as necessary. The key is sticking to your timer — don’t stop while the 30 minutes is still going, and don’t go beyond your 10-minute break.
7. Set a deadline. Deadlines, for me and for many people, are one of the best tools for getting things done. If you set a deadline for a task, you are more likely to actually do it. For some, the pressure of a deadline isn’t felt until after the deadline has passed, but still. It has its uses.
8. Put public pressure on yourself. The power of the deadline is best when combined with public pressure. If your boss, or a group of people, want something in by a certain date or time, you are more likely to bust your butt getting it done. If there isn’t any public pressure on a task, create it — email someone and promise to have it done by a certain time, and ask him or her to check on it at that time just to make sure you do it.
9. Reward yourself. This has two benefits: 1) it makes you look forward to completing the task, so you can get your reward, and 2) it makes the process more enjoyable. It’s important to make the process pleasurable and fun, so you’re more likely to do it.
10. Consider not doing it. If it’s something you’re really dreading, perhaps it’s something you shouldn’t do. This is not always an option, but sometimes I get requests to do stuff that eventually it turns out the requester didn’t really want too badly in the first place. Sometimes when I put something off, it’s no longer necessary by the time I am really ready to do it.
11. Change to an “abundance mentality”. Instead of thinking about the problems and difficulty and obstacles, think about the possibilities and opportunities presented by this task or project. By thinking of it in this way, you are more likely to want to do something, knowing the reward and benefits that come from actually getting it done.
12. Clear away distractions. Procrastination is much easier with games and IM and email being right there, ready to access. Turn off email notifications, clear away all other web pages, turn off games and other distractions on your computer, and clear off your desk. In fact, if you can disconnect the Internet, that’s best.
13. (10+2)*5. Merlin Mann’s famous hack. Basically similar to the 30-10 hack, but shorter. 10 minutes of work, followed by a 2-minute break, and repeat. It works great.
14. Procrastination dash. This is just a short burst of focused work — as short as a minute. It’s designed to get you out of procrastination mode.
15. Track your time. Want to see just how much time you’re wasting? Track it. Just do a time log, even for one day. It will be enlightening, and it will make you much more aware of what you’re actually doing and what your time-wasters are. This is a sure way to get your procrastination under control.
16. Prepare yourself. Often tasks are much easier, and we’re much more likely to get started, if we prepare for them first. Get the research done, get the tools ready, clear away distractions, get your coffee ready, and get going.
17. Overcome your fears. What fears are blocking you from doing this task? Fear of failure? Fear of not being good enough? First imagine the worst thing that can happen. How bad is that? Often, if you give some thought to what can actually happen, you can get a handle on your fears, and you can find ways to overcome them.
18. Get a task-master. Having trouble getting yourself going? Get someone else to push you and make sure you stop procrastinating. Enlist the help of a co-worker or family member. Make sure your task-master isn’t as forgiving as my wife is.
19. Schedule it last-minute. Have an absolute deadline for a task that will take one hour? Schedule it so you don’t actually start on it until about an hour before deadline (well, give yourself a 30-minute cushion). Will a project take 2 days to complete? Schedule it 2 days before deadline. If you have absolutely no padded time in your schedule, you will have no choice but to get a move on.
20. Structured procrastination. This is a beautiful idea — put your most important task at the top of your list (but make it something where the deadline can actually be pushed back), and put other important tasks right under that task. Well, in order to procrastinate on the top item, you’ll do the ones underneath it. That way you’ll get a lot done while procrastinating. The good thing is, if other more important tasks come along, they get added to the top, so the task that was formerly at the top will eventually get done.

Bonus hack: Procrascipline. A good list is even better if you throw in a bonus. This is an excellent one as well. From the Slacker Manager, the first rule of procrascipline is that you cannot ignore the task. The second rule is that you must put it on a list that you actually look at throughout the day. The third rule is that you must communicate your progress to others — whether you’ve actually made any progress or not (and if not, why not). These three rules actually work. Don’t procrastinate in doing the third step, though.

GREAT POST thank you very much!

A day for firm decisions!
Or is it?

I tend to procrastinate when implementing my anti-procrastination techniques. One helpful thing for me-- NO SHAME. I think shame is actually counter-productive for procrastinators. Embrace your procrastination. Stop fighting it. Then the shame no longer controls you and you can get done what needs to get done.

If at first you don't succeed, give up, no use being a damn fool.

I will read the OP's post later.

It's been so long that I don't even look down your street anymore.

I'll read it later.

Honestly? I haven't read it either. I did bookmark it though.

Great stuff!

Thanks OP!

Strategies for Effective Time Management

An entry in Vivien’s Group Writing Project at Inspiration Bit

A reader paid me a very lovely compliment recently. What intrigued me was the question that accompanied the remark (I’m paraphrasing): How do you write such high quality articles on so many blogs with all that you have going on in your life?

My time management system is based upon four overriding principles:

1. Prioritize
2. Remain Flexible
3. Resist the Urge to Procrastinate
4. Work Quickly and Efficiently

Requisite Tools

You cannot manage your time effectively without the proper tools. All of the successful people I know have a personalized system that they have developed and honed over time through a process of trial and error, sticking with the techniques that are most effective for them, abandoning those that are inefficient.

I used to employ traditional, numbered “to do” lists — professional and personal. However, in recent months I have been using mind maps and find them extremely handy for keeping track of tasks I must complete, as well as conceptualizing, organizing, and drafting documents and articles. I can’t believe that I ever actually outlined. Mind maps are fluid and allow you to organize your ideas in a nonlinear fashion that fosters and inspires creativity.

I usually maintain one mind map for each week’s schedule, along with an individual mind map associated with every specific project I am working on, using the most adaptable of many available formats.

My computers have calendaring systems, of course, as does my Blackberry, but I am old fashioned — and cautious. If I do not have computer access, I want to be able to reference my organizational tools. So I keep a physical calendar with me in order to visualize the week and month ahead by referencing the full-month and two-page per week views. I use a 5.5″ by 8″ refillable style with pockets in the front and back where I keep mind maps that I can pull out to add notes. It fits perfectly into my purse for those times when I do not have my briefcase with me.

Each morning, I review my weekly mind map and calendar to make sure that I do not miss a deadline, meeting, conference call or any other item(s) that needs my attention. I usually do that first thing while taking my vitamins and checking e-mail. With that review in mind, I refine my plans for the day while I am in the shower and dressing. By the time I’m backing the car out of the garage, I am a woman on a mission.
Prioritize

Each day, there are certain projects that I must work on or complete, meetings to attend, phone calls to return, e-mails to read and respond to, etc. My organizational system is simple and workable. All tasks are designated as belonging in one of four categories:

1. Today — The task or project must be completed that day.
2. Looming — A due date is looming, so all items in this category are presented in order of the approaching associated deadlines.
3. Work Toward — Tasks in this category must be completed within a nonspecific time frame. This is where long-range projects, such as lengthy writing assignments that either won’t be completed for a significant period of time or for which no firm date for completion has been established are listed.
4. Whenever — As you can imagine, there are few items in this category!

Remain Flexible

Priorities shift, frequently due to factors beyond one’s control. So when I establish my “game plan” for each day, I always keep one word in mind: Tentative.

I learned years ago to view virtually every plan as “tentative” until such time as the event in question actually takes place, approval for a project or event is received, etc. In business, there is frequently no follow-through on what seemed like a great idea, a suggested process or policy is never implemented, the planning for a proposed event never completed so it does not take place, etc. That’s just how things work out, so it is imperative that I always remain open to a different approach, a new plan, a change of schedule.

In what color do I make most of my calendar entries? Pencil. I am frequently asked to “hold the date” pending approval, travel arrangements, etc. which means that my calendar has a lot of erasure marks as things shift from one date to another. If I were going to write everything in ink and take a dogmatic approach to scheduling work and events, I would have a calendar full of white-out, never accomplish anything — and be very unpopular.
Resist the Urge to Procrastinate

I am a natural procrastinator. If the deadline is 5:00 p.m. and I estimate that I can complete the assignment in three hours, my innate tendency is to start work at 1:30 p.m., giving myself about 30 minutes leeway.

Not a successful strategy.

Deadlines get moved up when other persons’ priorities change, crucial information is not received timely . . . all sorts of unforeseen obstacles can impact the tentative schedule I establish for completing tasks.

When I first graduated from law school, I learned to calendar real deadlines, but also artificial ones, and adopt a policy of completing work in conformity with the earlier date. That approach serve me well.

For instance, when I was in private practice litigating full time, my secretary never put real deadlines for filing documents with the court on my calendar. She always entered the deadline on my calendar at least one full business day prior to the actual “drop dead” date and time, preferably two. We sometimes experienced momentary panic when something when wrong. But then we’d stop and remind ourselves that the date we were working toward wasn’t the true deadline. We would double-checke the calendar, recalculate the deadline and realize that, in reality, we had one more day to, for exmaple, get overdue information or documents from the client that were critical to completion of a brief, pleading or motion.

Waiting until the last moment is never a good approach. It is akin to playing Russian roulette. Sooner or later, the bullet is going to be in the chamber when you pull the trigger and your days of leading a charmed life will come to a very messy end. A graphic, but apt, analogy.
Work Quickly and Efficiently

I am a firm believer in not “reinvesting the wheel” or pouring more energy into a project than is necessary in order to complete it efficiently. So I always seek effective shortcuts such as generating documents from basic templates or utilizing forms to communicate mundane but necessary information.

One of the smartest things my mother ever did was to insist that my sister and learn to type. I have been unable to convince my kids to learn to type with their hands properly positioned. They both type quickly, but I can beat them. Being able to type extremely fast and accurately constitutes a huge step toward working efficiently.

I avoid and eliminate keystrokes whenever I can. Setting up e-mail software with contact lists, folders, rules for handling incoming mail, and signatures saves an enormous amount of time, as can configuring your browser and utilizing add-ons. I use Bloglines (I did not like the Beta version) to keep up with my daily reading and have been experimenting with Netvibes, but I do not think I am going to utilize it fully. Although you can import your e-mail account on the front page using a widget to see if you have any new messages, in order to actually read or respond, you have to open another browser tab and log into your webmail account. So that pretty much defeats the purpose, in my estimation, of using the service. But there are a lot of other great features and many bloggers are posting about how delighted they are with them.

I strive to make the most of every minute of every day — I hate to sleep because time spent sleeping is, in my opinion, time wasted.