Procrastination Is A Habit Worth Breaking

Last week in this column, we shared about a book we'd had for 12 years before we read it. Once we opened it, we realized it was something worth reading after all.

A good number of people have since told us they ordered the book. Looks like we may have boosted sales of its used copies on amazon.com.

However, it was the interest sparked by our closing words alluding to the possibility of procrastination contributing to our long delay in reading the book that surprised us. Many readers said they struggle with procrastination. One called herself the Queen of Procrastination.

Actually, we ignored the book for so long simply because we didn't think we'd like its contents. If we were in the habit of procrastination, we'd never get anything written or send assignments well in advance of deadlines.

The fact is, we all procrastinate once in a while. It's when procrastination becomes a habit or a lifestyle that it has the ability to be extremely destructive.

Habitual procrastination can steal valuable opportunities, damage careers and demolish pride. It's even been known to destroy relationships. Time-Management-Guide.com says the basic definition of procrastination is, "Putting off the things that you should be doing now."

How does chronic procrastination start? Possibly by waiting for the right mood to do something - or, the right time. Some experts believe it stems from a lack of organization or clear-cut goals. Others mention the fear factor - fear of failure or fear of the responsibilities of success.

According to Peter Murphy, a peak performance expert, "People who procrastinate in excess are prone to feelings of guilt, anxiety and powerlessness. Procrastination is not something we should live with. When it occurs, nothing gets done. And when nothing gets done due to procrastination, that's when we feel down and worthless."

Undeveloped decision-making skills, a tendency toward perfectionism and underestimating the time required to complete tasks are all factors that can contribute to procrastination. Murphy suggests getting organized by prioritizing tasks and then breaking them into manageable units. He believes in setting personal goals and also finding positive motivation through encouraging quotes by successful people.

Oddly enough, this week's newsletter from bummedoutboomer.com begins, "Priority Before Pleasure - Are you a procrastinator?" Its author, Amy Sherman, offers four tips to help procrastinators control their time and handle life more efficiently.

She says to follow a realistic schedule and to make a to-do list in order of importance. Then, carry over to the next day anything that did not get done. She adds, "Remember to do your priorities before your leisure. It's truly a thrill to reward yourself with something enjoyable because you had such a productive day."

There are strategies that can break down the tendency to put things off. Plenty of advice can be found in books and in cyberspace on how to get back on track and prevent relying on a crisis to provide motivation.

Amy, the bummed out boomer, also says, "When you take control of your time, you reduce everyday chaos and build your sense of accomplishment, which is very empowering and fulfilling."

We must end this now. A crisis situation is mounting. Houseguests are due to arrive in less than three hours and cleaning has been low on our list of priorities for far too long. The encouraging anonymous quote we've been living by, "There will be no crisis this week. Our schedule is full," obviously doesn't apply.

Lyn and Bill live in Highlands Ridge. They're published authors, inspirational speakers, and have written articles for many national magazines. Visit their Web sites www.boomersandbeyondthecolum.com and www.thecaregiverscaregiver.com ©2007 Journey Publications