Time Management - Marc Mancini
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46<br />
<strong>Time</strong> <strong>Management</strong><br />
What Are You Procrastinating About?<br />
So far, this discussion has been about general categories. It’s<br />
now time to get specific. What are you putting off right now?<br />
Make a list of business duties, personal responsibilities, and<br />
long-term goals that you’ve done nothing about (e.g., changing<br />
careers, getting married), short-term tasks (that complaint letter),<br />
telephone calls, a vacation—anything you can think of,<br />
large or small, that you should be doing but haven’t gotten<br />
around to.<br />
You may be surprised at the number of tasks backlogged in<br />
your mind. Out of sight, out of mind, right? One common subconscious<br />
method of procrastination involves simply putting<br />
certain chores or tasks out of your mind. Your first step in controlling<br />
your urge to procrastinate, then, is pushing these items<br />
back to the forefront of your consciousness, where they belong.<br />
The Eight Factors<br />
TEAMFLY<br />
For each item on your list, try to identify which of the eight procrastination<br />
causes from Figure 4-1 probably reflects the major<br />
reason you’re putting off this task. This will give you clues as to<br />
what must be cast off before you can take action. Some of the<br />
tasks may have more than one reason causing you to procrastinate.<br />
There are proven strategies that will allow you to surmount<br />
the barriers—and perhaps get you started on the very things<br />
you’ve been neglecting.<br />
1. The task seems unpleasant. Is this your single most important<br />
reason for not completing the tasks on your list? If so,<br />
you’re typical. This is, by far, the most commonly given reason<br />
for procrastination. After all, what could be easier to put off than<br />
reprimanding an employee, washing the dishes, preparing a<br />
speech, or making a dental appointment?<br />
Five strategies can help you take on a task that you avoid<br />
because it’s unpleasant: