So there I was just over a year ago, at an amazing event, meeting all sorts of interesting people. I came home with a stack of business cards, dropped them on my desk and told myself that I’d follow up with them tomorrow.
A day went by, then a week and then a year. At that point, follow-up was pointless. Despite making some terrific connections, the opportunities slipped through my fingers. We can all relate to examples like this. No doubt I was busy, but I managed to get many other things done. If I’m honest, I know that I was procrastinating. Other urgent stuff kept getting in the way and it was simply easier to put it off.
Thankfully, I know that I am in good company. Ninety-five percent of the population procrastinates. If you are part of the five percent, you can stop reading right now. The rest of need some strategies to nip procrastination in the bud when it starts to rear its ugly head. Dealing with procrastination requires a good ol’ root cause analysis. Once we know why we are procrastinating, it is easier to act on it. On that note, here is the ACT formula for overcoming procrastination: 1. Attainable 2. Confidence 3. Timeline So there you have it: the ACT approach to tackling procrastination. Just last week, I found myself practicing what I preach. I went to the same annual event but this time I had a renewed plan. After connecting with three different people, I told them each that I would follow-up with them by Friday. Then I did it. Done. No more procrastinating. What a great feeling.
Sometimes a task feels so big and overwhelming that we don’t know where to start. At times like this we need to break the task down into smaller chunks and tackle one small piece. Then tackle the next piece. As a profound Chinese proverb says “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”.
Some of the most successful people out there struggle with their confidence from time to time. For whatever reason, the task ignites a sense of fear or self-doubt. When this happens, it helps to remind yourself of your ability to break things down and get through almost anything. You might also consider partnering with someone (even just to get the ball rolling) or seeking input from a trusted colleague. Remember, progress (not perfection) is the goal.
When a task doesn’t have a looming deadline, it is easy to put it off. There are always countless other things beckoning for our attention. But nothing drives productivity like a deadline. So when no deadline exists, we need to take matters into our own hands. Book a meeting to review the work or tell someone that you’ll have it done by Friday. Hold yourself accountable to someone else and you’ll quickly find that procrastination fades away.
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