Sep '23 in General discussion
Help For Procrastinators
Fred Smith writes as a professional procrastinator who has learned to get it done.
By Fred Smith
There is a professional society in which I could go far if I ever got around to joining.. It is a very large, recognized group. I have qualified but not affiliated… "one day I will." It is the professional procrastinators.
I've hesitated to write about procrastination. I am plagued with it daily. I keep waiting to make that call or write that letter. "I know I should do a better job of planning, and I will… next year." Or, "I really do need to get moving on my personal development plan before it is too late, but on the other hand."
Someday I'm going to figure out why perfectly capable individuals procrastinate. Maybe figuring it out will salve my conscience while I delay the simple things that I can and should do.
I see several reasons for procrastination. I will touch briefly on them.
1) resentment of authority — those too sensitive to authority may think of discipline as tyranny rather than the road to freedom. Actually, self-discipline is the only safe escape from outside authority.
2) fear — often a very conscientious person procrastinates out of fear of not being able to perform as well as he wants to. Fear makes waiting a very real temptation. By waiting, we hope we can do better. Waiting to do better certainly can't be criticized we reason, so we wait.
3) desire to avoid judgment and evaluation - opening up an idea or project to evaluation is often disconcerting, so we avoid through delay.
4)potential versus reality — often in a creative person's mind is the fear that the idea or concept may not be as good in reality as in the abstract. Like a wild rose, the bud may be prettier than the full-blown flower.
5)privacy — often the procrastinator is a very private person. When dealing with an idea it is like a baby in the mother's womb. To bring it forth it to turn loose of it and see it handled, even changed, by others. It becomes public, no longer private. The fear of dilution supports procrastination.
6) detail — procrastinators usually want to avoid, or more often delay, the laborious and menial part of the process. They enjoy the idea, the glamour of thinking what might and will be someday, but they have little stomach for the "nitty gritty" of detail.
Let's look at four positive ways to cancel the membership in the procrastinator's society.
1). Look on every opportunity as a challenge to our personal sense of responsibility. Very few individuals are actually motivated to any great extent by a pure sense of responsibility, but it was one of the great Puritan contributions. While lecturing at an Army Command School, I found the greatest reason soldiers stand under fire is their responsibility to their buddies.
2). Establish a reputation you want to maintain
A person will do much to uphold a reputation he wants to keep. It is better to have a reputation that is established by things that you like to do and are good at doing. This way you can enjoy the effort as well as the reputation. It is important to have a hand in establishing the reputation that you know will motivate you. The Puritans would term it, "accepting your calling by developing your gifts." Select a genuine reputation you want and try to uphold it… it decreases procrastination.
3).Set a schedule that must be met.
Most individuals work better under the gun facing a deadline. A deadline moves us. A heavy schedule is the best control of time. It forces us to be ready, with our homework done. Deadlines are said to "wonderfully concentrate the mind." I am strong for schedules because I find procrastinators will agree to do almost any good work if it is put far enough into the future. They somehow feel the future has infinite possibilities for doing great things which are not available in the present.
4). Stir up competition
Most of us hate to lose. Those too lazy to win and too proud to lose stay out of the game. Most procrastinators find extra stimulation by competition. Mayo Clinic cites studies of obese patients who had had minimal success with weight loss until they created a competitive situation. Competition for promotions, elections, or wooing spouses push the procrastinators. One who is serious about overcoming can create their own personal contests.
5). Get started
Procrastinators will trade off the reward to ward off potential failure. Call reluctance specialists refer to one group as "over-preparers." In Texas we call this "fixin' to." On my desk I have a sign with one word: START. If I start then I know that I can finish.
6). Just do it
Nike has made us into a culture of doers. But this points out the strength of will power. It is the best and often most successful substitute for motivation. Will power is available as one great distinction between man and beast. To paraphrase Kipling, "when nothing but your will says do
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