If you’ve been playing along after reading Procrastination Rationalization last week. I’m sure you will agree that to not use your top 3 mental justifications for TWO days was difficult.
Let’s use the Merriam-Webster online definition of rationalization: the act, process, or result of rationalizing: a way of describing, interpreting, or explaining something (such as bad behavior) that makes it seem proper, more attractive, etc.
Notice last week I didn’t tell you not to use any mental justifications (aka rationalizations), only to NOT use your top 3.
The crazy thing this did in my world was make me mindful that I was mentally justifying something – it ended up taking extra effort to NOT do something because I had to come up with a DIFFERENT mental justification… or just do the stupid thing I was trying to avoid!
Here are the other things I believe are worth noting.
Time Management
One thing I found for myself is it’s important to differentiate between GOOD time management and procrastination:
- When something comes up during a BURSTfocus® session that’s not related to the FOCUS I’m working on, setting it aside is the right choice.
- If you truly don’t have time to do even a sliver of something, scheduling appropriately isn’t procrastinating.
Needing Assistance
Another piece of my personal puzzle ended up being W A I T I N G (more impatiently in my case, than patiently).
I’ve uncovered that when I need someone else’s input, information, intelligence, etc. it’s critical that I include three things:
- A request for when they will get back with their piece – their response first and foremost lets me know they’ve received and heard/read my request.
- Answering the question for myself; what other parts of ______ can I complete without their “I”?
- If something needs to be set aside completely – do so physically, mentally, and emotionally – truly moving on to something ELSE.
The more I work on a mental justification – the more I know I’m ignoring SOMETHING
First, I’ll admit I am not sure I have the mental discipline to do this all the time, every day.
As I was forcing myself to not use my top 3 mental justifications, I realized there was SOMETHING I was ignoring by putting off each task. More often than not, I uncovered emotional discomfort / fear / loathing… you get the idea.
I’d suggest you add this question to your arsenal as well: What am I not facing about ____________ by procrastinating?
Chronic Procrastinator?
Here are a few resources if you chronically find yourself procrastinating
- How to Stop Procrastinating; Overcoming the Habit of Delaying Important Tasks from MindTools (there is a 2 min 22 sec video version there if you’d rather not read).
- Lifehack posted How to Stop Procrastinating: 11 Practical Ways for Procrastinators be warned, there is an assessment that will distract you when you click the link.
- Plus, Teach yourself to stop procrastinating with the ‘2-minute rule’ on Business Insider, which James Clear wrote back in 2015.
- Of course you may need more assistance with Emotional Intelligence, so go back to MindTools OR check out Colleen Stanley. Here is a link to her 22 min 52 second presentation at Sales Machine NYC; her book Emotional Intelligence for Sales Success.
Hopefully some of this has helped you as much as it helped me to figure it out for myself!
Yours in anticipation,
Lynn
ps: A little procrastination will probably not hurt you… but procrastinating on important things OR chronic procrastination will hurt. Drop me a note to schedule a conversation to uncover what you want to do if you’re having difficulty figuring it out on your own.
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