Procrastination-Station.
If you have ever taken a standard personality test and your results came back showing a high “I”, chances are that this article is for you. If you have no idea what I am referring to but feel a tinge of guilt at the mere mention of ‘procrastination’ then this article is also for you!
Having a high “I” indicates a trait simply explained as: “Easily attracted to shiny objects”. I’d sum that up as simply being easily distracted.
On the positive side, the trait does help one to be flexible and able to ‘go-with-the-flow’ however the negative side can really cause havoc in your life.
Regardless, we all have those certain tasks that we continue to put off and put off…
Because I am a ‘High I’ individual I have been doing a lot of research and putting into practice ways to curb my traits of distraction, procrastination and time wasting. There are a plethora of podcasts and clinical information to draw from but none of the information is worth much unless you acknowledge that you are a procrastinator and then decide to do something about it.
The Never-Ending To-Do List
I finally had enough of running out of time and decided to get to the bottom of why. I very quickly realized how much time in my day I was wasting and was shocked by the number of extremely important tasks were still sitting on my ‘to do list’ from months ago!
Tony Robbins’ podcast on time management pointed out that writing endless lists of things to get done as simply that: lists. If you aren’t getting that task done it simply isn’t important enough to you. There is no meaning behind why you feel you need to do it.
That hit a nerve. If it is not meaningful to you then of course it’s simply not important. So then why do so many of us still have important things on those lists that we never get done? What is holding us back? Why the procrastination?
Could it be a negative meaning to you? A fear that holds you back? A fear of failure or incompetence? I know that when it comes to Estate Planning, for example, it is so often put off because people feel uncomfortable accepting their mortality and avoid awkward questions and decisions around death.
The Why? Rule
The turning point for me in tackling procrastination has been a simple action. When I look at that task, I start by asking 1 simply question: “Why???”.
Here are my top tips to check in with yourself and catch procrastination in its tracks:
- Why am I doing this task right now? (i.e. what is the purpose of this task?)
- Is this ‘busy’ work or real work?
- What value will I derive by doing this?
- What lesson will I learn?
- How will this make me feel once it is done?
This is how we give the task meaning. When you know your ‘why’ you will immediately be able to establish how important it is, and it will be prioritized.
If there has ever been a motivational quote to leave you with it’s this:
“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to DIE having left UNDONE”.
--- Unknown.
Have I got you thinking? The kids are back at school, the time is now!
Make an appointment today for an in-depth consultation with top-rated Las Vegas Estate Planning Attorney Tiffany Ballenger Floyd, or shoot us a call at 702-997-5701.
- By Jodie Sacco, © 2019, Phillips Ballenger, PLLC
Photo by Thomas Bormans on Unsplash