As a child you may have been taught “the more you practice, the better you become” or something along those lines. Well this same principle also applies to activities in adulthood. The more often we do something, the more ingrained it is, eventually forming a habit … in other words becoming second nature. Whilst this is good for skills, hobbies and positive behaviour it does not produce the greatest outcome for unhelpful behaviours. One of those being procrastination!
Procrastination can be described as the art of putting things off, repeatedly. Of course not putting things
off completely (or so we like to tell ourselves) but just deciding to action that task another time … unfortunately another time becomes anytime which ends up being no-time! Or possibly the so-close-to-the-deadline-time!! In former years I was a serial procrastinator, I would write my pretty lists, use bullet points, even colour code my tasks … and yet still not do them at the time I intended to. I can’t be the only one who this happened to, but there were so many other seemingly more interesting things to do, watch or get involved with. When I was completing my MA in coaching and mentoring several years ago, I was that student who would spend the whole day thinking about editing and finalising my assignment; stress about it, get distracted with menial tasks, and then at 11.45pm panic and work like a crazy woman to meet the 11.59pm deadline!
This scene was repeated over and over again in many areas of my life, and the result was often panic, stress and frustration. It was not good. Developing an understanding, however as to why I procrastinated and having a game plan to change my mind-set and my behaviour was a game changer. Fast forward to today and I work in a productive and meaningful way as procrastination is no longer a default mode.
You see procrastination is an opposing force to us progressing in both the small and big areas of our lives. I do not have the time to detail all the varied psychological factors of why we possibly procrastinate, however I would like to share three simple strategies you can implement if you are ready to break the pattern of putting things off.
1. Understand your circadian rhythm. We all operate differently in a 24-hour period, some would consider themselves night owls, others early birds. Reflect and take note of when during the day you are the most energetic or focussed, then schedule tasks for that window of time. (Assuming of course it’s not at 2am and the task is calling customers!)
2. Schedule tasks from your to-do-list in your diary / calendar. Be super specific, and identify at what time on what day will you write that report, send that email, spend 30 mins researching etc. Don’t over commit, so if you know it will take you an hour to complete a task, give yourself an hour and not add additional things in that time slot.
3. Accountability may already be built into some tasks you have to complete especially if they involve other people such as a manager. But for the tasks that are yours alone to do, particularly linked to 
personal growth and development find an accountability buddy. Someone that will call, message or email to check in on your progress and whether you are on track.
Can I encourage you to start by implementing one strategy and start this week. Imagine how you would feel if in the next 3 months you procrastinated less, became more productive and actually achieved everything you set out to. Pretty good, right? After all, as a reformed serial procrastinator I know it is possible to change and that you too can do it.
By Francesca McDowall