Find Time to Address Procrastination Using a Template!

The Time Finder with Paula Eder

The way you use your time is the way you live your life.

Find Time to Address Procrastination Using a Template!

Posted on September 18, 2009, under Finding Time E-zine Articles, Time Management Skills.

Finding Time to address the challenge of procrastination head on will boost your productivity and reduce your stress in one fell swoop!

This Friday we are sharing another adapted article from our Finding Time E-zine. It offers 3 practical questions for getting a handle on procrastination – and finding time for what matters most!

Having templates for ongoing or seasonal activities is one of the biggest time savers you can possibly institute for yourself. But, what if you are a procrastinator?

Then, even if you created a template, you might find it hard to use it effectively. You may read your list and review your template, but if you don’t complete tasks in the time allotted, your list and template become sources of stress themselves.

So let’s look at a template for fighting procrastination!

First, recognize when you are procrastinating about a task. One clue is noticing that there is one task on your To Do List that you immediately and continually move past. This task is probably the one you keep transferring from one day’s list to the next. If you find yourself doing this three times, circle that task. Then on the fourth day, when you see that circled task, begin to prepare yourself to stop procrastinating.

Start by transferring that single circled task to a blank piece of paper. Then, underneath that task, list questions to ask yourself that will enable you to identify why you are procrastinating. These questions become your ‘Stop Procrastinating Template’.

You’ll probably develop your own questions, but here are 3 to get your template started. Be sure to answer each question in writing so that you’ll have a framework for moving toward completion of the task.

“What am I waiting for?” Take some time to think about this question. Then, being as honest with yourself as possible, write your answer. Read it over. Write down anything else that comes to mind.
“When will be the right time for me to do this task?” (“Never!” is not an acceptable response.) Again, think carefully and then write your answer.
“How will I know when it’s the right time?” This is the most important question. Before answering it, go back to read your answers to questions 1 and 2. Once you have answered question 3 you should know how to get past your procrastination.

Make a commitment to yourself to complete the task. Set a doable date for completion. And let me know what happens - I’d love to hear!

What if you could find another hour every day? You can! You are invited to sign up and download The New Finding Time Boundary Template. It’s FREE, and when you sign up you will also receive (if you don’t already) my FREE, weekly Finding Time Tips and my FREE, monthly Award-Winning Finding Time E-zine!

Let’s explore time together …

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