“If you want to make an easy job mighty hard, just put off doing it” Olin Miller

 

 

This Blog post is 1 day late. Why? Because I’m a procrastinator. I really have no excuse. Monday doesn’t come as a surprise. In fact, Monday comes once every 7 days, in fact. So why didn’t I prep my blog post so that it would be ready for that day following Sunday? Procrastination.

 

Well, it’s now Tuesday morning and here I am proclaiming to the World Wide Web that I have what I believe everyone else in the world also has- procrastination.  Yes, I called you a procrastinator, but before you stop reading and walk away from your screen calling me names, please hear me out. While some people may be chronic procrastinators who are in thrall to procrastination with every deadline, some of us are able to live productive lives void of the symptoms of procrastination. You’ve likely just learned how to conquer it or you ensure that it doesn’t affect the vital aspects of your life by allowing yourself to procrastinate with the insignificant stuff. Either way, everyone procrastinates. It’s just a matter of how you do it.

 

According to Dr. Joseph Ferrari (who happens to be an expert in the matter), there are three types of procrastination:

 

1-      Thrill Seaker – Enjoys the feeling of working hard against a deadline

2-      The Avoider– Uses procrastination to avoid being judged

3-      Indecisice – Perfectionists who procrastinate to shift responsibility from themselves

 

If you’re unsure of what type of procrastinator you are, you can check out Dr. Ferrari’s simple flow chart here.

 

 If you’re anything like me, you think Dr. Ferrari is wrong. According to his flow chart I procrastinate for the thrill of it. Personally, I think I’m just lazy. Are you with me? Well, if so below are 5 simple steps to stave off any of the 4 types of procrastination:

 

1-      Break your project into smaller steps– Break the work down into tiny steps and keep your eye on the small step at hand. Don’t overwhelm yourself. Since you’re not procrastinating you’ll have time to assess the big picture at the end.  

2-      There is no perfect time- You may be over-complicating it. There is no perfect time or place for some tasks. Toughen up and get it done. Don’t overthink it.  

3-     Change your settings- Set yourself up for success by ensuring that you feel comfortable in the environment that you’re expecting yourself to be productive in. I find that I need designated areas for certain types of tasks.

4-      Pick your friends wisely- Surround yourself by people who are knowledgeable about your goals and push you to complete them. The right people will also facilitate by keeping distraction at bay while you’re working your way to the finish line.

5-      Take the first step- Starting is the hardest part. Set yourself up for success by writing the first line, walking through the door, opening the book, turning on the computer, etc. The rest will fall into place if you’ve followed the above 4 tips and tricks.

 

If you care to watch a comedic yet painfully accurate TED talk about the matter, click here to watch Tim Urban talk about the woes of procrastination.

 

Below are pictures completely unrelated to the above post, but totally beautiful and share-worthy. Ranch life is alright!

PHOTO CREDIT FOR THE ABOVE PICTURE GOES TO ANDY JONES- THANKS FOR LETTING ME SHARE IT!

PHOTO CREDIT FOR THE ABOVE PICTURE GOES TO ALI BRIGGS- THANKS FOR LETTING ME SHARE IT!

PHOTO CREDIT FOR THE ABOVE PICTURE GOES TO CLARA MILLER- THANKS FOR LETTING ME SHARE IT!