Procrastination- The Killer of Great Ideas

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Procrastination is the biggest killer of great ideas.  You know this, don’t you?

Have you ever stopped to consider how much time you’re wasting?

Does the effort of succeeding at something wear you out?

What would it look like if you were to actually stay focused and prioritized your goals?

Would you like to stop procrastinating now?

We all know this don’t we? We have a project to complete and we think we’ll get to it later. We have a deadline looming and yet we still find something else to do that stops us from completing the task. We tell ourselves we have plenty of time, but in truth, we don’t have any time because we’ve been putting off the inevitable for too long.

Procrastination occurs on a sliding scale. From a minor inconvenience to full blown avoidance techniques, it is the most damaging of behaviors that stop you from achieving all you want.  How much is it costing you?

We pay a price for putting things off.  It may not be immediately clear, but in the long run, you find yourself not accomplishing the things you want.  You have all kinds of excuses as to why you can’t succeed, and many times it’s the fear of failure that gets in the way.

Breaking News:  There is only one failure.  The failure to try.  Everything else is about failing your way to success.

How much do you procrastinate? On a scale of 1-10 what level is your procrastination?  How much would you like to change your behavior so you can get different results?

(Thanks to Dr. Bill Knaus for his questionnaire.)

1. Procrastination comes naturally to me.
2. I have responsibilities that I’m not doing.
3. I have plans that stay on the drawing board.
4. I divert from uncomfortable priorities.
5. I tell myself that later is the time to begin.
6. I start things that I don’t finish.
7. I have a habit of showing up late.
8. I delay acting to meet a deadline.
9. I find ways to extend deadlines.
10. I come up with excuses to explain delays.
11. I put off hard decisions.
12. When I’m not sure, I’ll avoid the situation.
13. I put off making a needed lifestyle change.
14. My pessimism prompts delays.
15. My emotions affect what I do.
16. My intimate relationship is going nowhere.
17. I avoid what frustrates me.
18. I get side-tracked by conflicts.
19. My doubts and fears inhibit my actions.
20. When I feel anxious, I’ll avoid what I fear.

If you scored high on the questions, perhaps it’s time to take yourself seriously and ask what’s getting in the way. Procrastination doesn’t have to be a problem.  Get out of your own way by refusing to chase bright shiny objects.  Set priorities for what must be done, and remove all the distractions. Figure out what is getting in the way of procrastination and if you can’t seek help.  Coaching is one of the best ways to stay on task and be held accountable for results. Procrastination is a bad habit. Teach yourself new habits.  Stop procrastinating.  Just do it!

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Tagged as: Failure