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June 10, 2008

By Stephanie Houseman, DMD

Question: I'm envious of my friends and colleagues who just get things done. They seem so efficient. I'm always putting off what I need to do until the last minute, if I get it done at all. This habit creates too much stress in my life. Please help!

Answer: In their infinite wisdom, others will tell you to just do it. Yet, you can't, won't, or find it difficult. Yes, you have the disease: procrastination. It happens to most of us one time or another, or as you can attest to, sometimes too often. What is it? "Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday," said Napoleon Hill.

Procrastination leads to stress, deadline crises, loss of productivity at home and in the workplace, disapproval of others who are waiting on you to get things done, and feelings of guilt, laziness, or even stupidity. Who needs all that negativity? Besides which, it zaps your energy as you continually focus on the "to dos" in your life that aren't getting done.

Procrastination is so much more than time management skills. You could have all the time in the world to just get it done, and yet, you still procrastinate. Why?

• Anxiety around the task rears its ugly head and paralyzes you into inaction.

• You fear failure and, yes, you even fear success. It's better, then, not to even attempt a task because you won't be able to handle the results.

• You're a perfectionist, so if you can't do it perfectly, you'll drag your feet getting started.

• Some people do their best work under pressure and find a deadline to be a catalyst. Procrastination becomes second nature. That is not necessarily a bad thing, so if it works for you and doesn't cause undue stress, go for it.

• You can be overwhelmed with your life and feel that one more "to do" is too much. So you ignore it, waiting for a better time, which may or may not appear. That's OK unless the task is one that must be completed within a certain timeframe. On the other hand, ask yourself if you're taking on too much and how meaningful this new project is to you. Give yourself permission to say "no."

• You are faced with a task you don't enjoy doing, so "later" becomes the best time. (Does anyone enjoy cleaning out the garage?)

• You are too focused on, and/or scared of, the enormity of the big picture of the project. Where do you start? If you don't know, you won't.

Procrastinators, follow these tips to help get you into action:

• Uncover what is making you anxious or fearful about the task at hand. Are your fears realistic or are they stories you're telling yourself? "Feel the fear and do it anyway," says Susan Jeffers.

• Break down the big picture into small pictures. Focus on ONE task you can do right now to get started. When you have completed that, the next step is usually staring you in the face. Continue in this manner until all is completed.

• Change your self-talk by choosing your words differently. Drop "should," "must," "need to," and "have to" from your vocabulary. When you come from a place of "want to," you will get things done. "I choose to work on this today, at this time" is more powerful than "Gosh, I have to get this done."

• Realize that the task does not have to be done perfectly. How good is good enough? Good enough to get the job done! (Hint: Go back and reread The Mentor's Mind column titled "Miss Perfect.")

• Block your schedule. Carve out time for family, fun, exercise (all your personal priorities) so you don't feel you're missing out on anything, and then block out time to get the task completed. The latter then becomes another "want to do." Do hold yourself accountable for the day, though.

• Bribe yourself! Set the timer for one hour. If you work uninterrupted for that time, you get a reward — a snack, a quick check of e-mail, a walk around the block. Oftentimes, you'll find yourself working through the buzzer and two or three hours later, you can have that reward.

"The really happy people are those who have broken the chains of procrastination, those who find satisfaction in doing the job at hand. They're full of eagerness, zest, and productivity. You can be, too," said Norman Vincent Peale. I agree.

© 2008 Stephanie Houseman, DMD

Ask Dr. Houseman your question at: drszh@7steps2abalancedlife.com.

Stephanie Houseman, DMD, practiced dentistry in St. Louis for 25 years. She is married to a dentist, has two grown children, and understands all too well the demands we place on ourselves. She now works with dentists who want to simplify their lives so that they can enjoy themselves again. She is a graduate of the Coaches Training Institute, creator of the 7 Steps 2 A Balanced Life Program™, and author of "The Balance Beam," a weekly e-newsletter about balance and life. Reach Dr. Houseman at www.7steps2abalancedlife.com or (618) 639-5433.

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