 How quickly the last month went for me - Birthday, Easter, trips, etc! I have put a short video on my website to introduce myself to you in a more personal way.
Any of these sound familiar? "I'll think about later." "I'll do it when I have more time." "I'll start next week." Whether it's starting a fitness routine, cleaning the shed, starting a diet, planning for life in retirement or starting a project, it's easy to put off doing things.
So why do we procrastinate & find all sorts of excuses and distractions to avoid doing what we need to do? For me it has been getting this month's newsletter up & running. "I can't think what to write about." So I go off & do something else. After a few days of side-stepping the problem, inevitably the end of the week has arrived and now I have to do it! What better topic to share with you for this month, than PROCRASTINATION.
An interesting fact I came across a few years ago, is that only about 10% of people who attend a personal development course, actually put what they have learnt into practice. What stops people putting into practice new ideas? Why do we make New Year resolutions so enthusiastically and not carry them out?
There are 3 main reasons, I believe, why people put off taking action:-
1. Avoiding discomfort - Worrying about the 'pain' of taking action leads to delay. eg. Having to deal with a conflict situation. Hoping it will go away or sort itself out. Delaying the inevitable, can end up making the situation harder to deal with. Bite the bullet now!
2.Fear of Failure - The prospect of not succeeding can be enough to put you off starting. Are you saying things to yourself like - "What if it doesn't work?" "What if I make a fool of myself?" Change your self-talk to - "What is the worst thing that could happen?" For me personally, this statement, has helped me move forward in different situations. eg. When I was living in Melb years ago, I remember standing at the bustop, preparing to go to my first Toastmasters meeting. I was saying to myself things like - "What if I don't like it." "What if I don't like the people in the club?" etc. getting to the point of not even wanting to get on the bus & just turn around and go home. Then, I did the CYT/CYT that I spoke about in the April newsletter & said - 'What's the worst thing that could happen?" If I really don't like it, I won't go back, but at least I tried it. Anyway, it worked out really well - great group & I became a member for 8yrs before I moved away. Ever since then I have used that technique when I feel fear about a new situation. 'Feel the fear and do it anyway.'
3.Action Illusion - This is a form of procrastination I think is used a lot by governments. They give the impression they have done a lot, but actually not doing what really needs to be done. Spending more time, energy & money not doing the work, than it would actually take to get the job done properly in the first place.
If there is something you have been procrastinating about, ask yourself - "What is the worst thing that could happen?" Give it a go. Perhaps the activity you are procrastinating about, may seem overwhelming. Break it down into bite-sized pieces & take it a step at a time, patting yourself on the back with each bit of success. Good luck!
Remember to have a look at my video clip. Any feedback is helpful for improving my website. Best to use this email address: info@evabennett.com.au as my other one expires at the end of May. | 