Procrastinating?
Procrastination-to defer, delay, put off until another day
Do you return phone calls in a timely manner?
Are you late for appointments?
Are you keeping things tidy?
Do you pay your bills on time?
Is their something you should be doing that you’re avoiding?
Manana, manana, manana is soon enough for me
I know, I know, it’s nothing to sing about. All of this can be frustrating and upsetting.
The stress is, of course, exacerbated the longer we procrastinate. Often, we can feel overwhelmed or depressed as the chaos rises around us.
So how do we get from mounting anxiety to manageability?
Make a list Have you actually written a list, or do you have all this stuff floating around in your head? Write it down, it’s often not as bad as all that and it will give you something concrete to look at and check off.
Prioritize List the items in order of their importance or how long they will take.
Make appointments Put it in your date book or calendar. I’m talking about dates with yourself as well as others.
Keep the appointment! Once you’ve made the commitment don’t change it. Even if it’s a date with yourself to take a bath or read a book. Downtime is vital.
Just say no If it’s too much, if you feel too pressured. Don’t do it.
Bookend Ask a friend or relative if you can call them at the beginning and end of your project.
Tidy as you go Don’t put it down, put it away. Put things in their place as you’re finished using them.
Take baby steps You can’t do it all at once. Do a little at a time. Sometimes that’s all we can manage. But that’s OK. Doing something is better than doing nothing!
Still feeling like it’s all too much? Then start anywhere, but just start. Whatever you choose to focus on, however, try to complete it. That’s the ticket. Completing the task will give you a sense of accomplishment and the confidence to do more.
