“Someday is not a day of the week.” – Janet Dailey
From the outside looking in, I probably seem like a procrastinator. But, I’m not. I have a deliberate way of approaching projects that can sometimes seem a little like procrastination. I almost never rush into a project; I take my time.
One, I don’t like “re-dos,” and I like self-imposed “do-overs” even less. So, I take time to allow my expert intuition – the part of my brain that recognizes patterns and drives quick decisions – to take a knee until my strategic intuition takes hold and my brain to make the neural connections needed to fuel the insight necessary for an inspired approach.
Two, I perform better under pressure, and nothing spurs creativity like a lack of time. As a result, I tend to wait until I can feel a little pressure to kick a project into gear. When the pressure finally sets in, I have a plan, a timeline, and inspiration behind me. The end result always comes in before the deadline and is something that exceeds everyone’s expectations.
WHY WE PROCRASTINATE
The term “procrastination” derives from the Latin verb procrastinare – literally, to put off until tomorrow. Some of our greatest minds have warned against the dangers of procrastination. Martin Luther cautioned, “How soon not now, becomes never.” Charles Dickens referred to procrastination as the “thief of time.” Dwight D. Eisenhower compared it to prostrating yourself on the railroad tracks of history to wait for “the train of the future” to run you over.
In her 2013 book, Procrastination Busting Strategies for Perfectionists, Linda Sapadin – a psychologist and life coach who helps people overcome self-defeating patterns of behavior – identifies six types of procrastinators: worriers, perfectionists, over-doers, crisis-makers, dreamers, and defiers. Worriers, perfectionists, and over-doers are driven by some form of anxiety, while crisis-makers, dreamers, and defiers are motivated by boredom and frustration.
Worriers procrastinate out of fear of failure. The longer they delay a task, the longer they avoid the negative feelings associated with failure. That anxiety only delays the inevitable, however. The perfectionist procrastinates because they need for the task to be flawless upon completion. As such, they’ll delay starting a project until everything is perfect and organized, by which time it’s too late. The over-doer is driven by a fear of not living up to the expectations of others, so they will overcommit and overpromise. They take on too many tasks, can’t prioritize or organize, and ultimately fail to accomplish any task on time.
I’m a bit like the crisis-maker, someone who say they need the stress inherent to waiting until the last minute to complete a task, when they believe they’ll perform at their best. Unlike your stereotypical crisis-maker, however, I produce results. They don’t. Dreamers are fundamentally lazy; they don’t think they should have to work hard to get what they want, so they don’t. Big on ideas, small on results. Finally, the defier sees tasks as boring, mundane, or just not worth their time. So, they drag them out, throw garbage together at the last minute, and deflect blame on others.
HOW TO BEAT THE BELL
If you fall into the latter category with the crisis-makers, dreamers, and defiers, there isn’t much that anyone can do with you. You require a major attitude adjustment before you can tackle your procrastination issues. If you’re among the worriers, perfectionists, and over-doers, there’s some hope for you: a five-step method to get you on track, on time, and on task.
1. Have a plan.
Take the time to develop a plan: Figure out what “right looks like” when you’re done, set milestones to assess progress, and establish a timeline. What are the key tasks you have to accomplish? Where are the risks involved? What resources do you need to complete the project? What expertise is necessary? When are you expected to deliver a completed product? Getting those answers will take some time, but it’s time well spent.
2. Break it down.
The adage about eating an elephant one bite at a time applies. Break down tasks into more manageable “chunks.” Once you have a plan, subdivide the project down to the task-level, where execution is more manageable, and progress can be tracked more easily.
3. Gather relevant information.
When you’re taking on a major project or initiative, set aside the time to gather the relevant information before you execute. A little time spent up front saves a lot of time down the road.
4. Get the details right.
Time is money; take the time to ensure you’ve got every minute detail accounted for before you execute your plan. You won’t get a second chance to complete a task right.
5. Grow a thick skin.
Forget the naysayers. Execute your plan deliberately and only deviate from that plan if conditions change, not because someone else wants to go Leeroy Jenkins on you. Take your time and do it right the first time.
In the timeless words of master carpenter Norm Abram: “Measure twice, cut once.” But don’t procrastinate.
