how do you overcome procrastination?

how do you overcome procrastination? I have problem with this issue. does anyone have useful advice?

I suffer from it on occasion. I take the advice of a friend, who says "Just do it".

Alot of times what causes my procrastination is not having the proper materials to do a job, or not having all of them at the time I want to do it. "Just doing it" gets you going even when the conditions aren't optimal.

I'll get back to you on that one (when I figure that one out).

I usually sleep on it and deal with procrastination tomorrow.

Make lists and post them in VERY obvious places.

Sue

The only problem with that is, you find that nothing on those lists is getting done and the lists are everywhere. You know you need to clean them up, but.................
((( )))

Angry midgets with cattleprods who blame you personally for the world sucking.

I go through periods when it seems like I can do little else but procrastinate. The only way I can break through it is to visualise completing the task and start on the project immediately, even if only in the smallest way. Once I finally get started, I'm all go.

ask the DW to reminde you. She won't get off your back untill it's done.

“Never put off ’til tomorrow what you can do day after tomorrow.”

Why do today what you can put off 'til tomorrow???

Do a google on David Allen and "getting things done" if the procrastination is due to the tasks seeming too numerous or too daunting. It is basically a system of "next action" - ie breaking a task down into what is the next, immediate action you have to do for the task and doing that. You'll feel better with the baby steps.

Good resources (IMO):

Getting Things Done (already mentioned above)
The Now Habit
Get Everything Done and Still Have Time to Play

It's important to recognise the procrastination, and identify the cause if possible. My most common causes are perfectionism (not 100% sure what to do, so not doing anything) and simply not wanting to do the thing in question.

For the former, I find it useful to separate decision-making and action (as per GTD). For the latter I find it useful to write down what I need to do, in the smallest possible steps, and then focus on it for short bursts of time (eg 10 minutes).

Sometimes when I procrastinate I realise I don't actually want or *need* to do that thing anyway, and eliminate the task.

eeph

You are going to have to do it anyway, just do it and move on to something else!

thanks for giving me the name, David allen. I will search for his name.

Procrastination is a complex topic and can be related to perfectionism, anxiety, need for love, need for exitment, low frustration tolerance, hostility, depression and so on. There are cognitive behavioral therapies to overcome this, based on disputing your irrational beliefs. I have Overcoming Procrastination by Albert Ellis, Ph. D. and William J. Knaus, Ed. d., but I keep on procrastinating about reading it thoroughly.

But for small things, like paying a bill, answering an email, doing chores, etc., Do it when you think of it is a useful mantra that helps me a litte bit. You do it as soon as you think of it and not one second later. It prevents the tasks from piling up and dealing with having to relocate the material, etc.

And don't put off putting together your BOB until it's time to actually bug-out cause it will be too late!

Good luck.

That’s a lot like my friend who said, “I have one of those books that helps increase your memory, but I forgot where I put it.”

Easy, just get yourself one of these:

If it's a sizable or important task (like getting my income tax filed by the 15th), for which I've been known to procrastinate, I promise myself a "reward" when I get it done, like say, a new Bark River knife or some such.

I just wait awhile and plan further ahead

I've found that a burst of activity, inspired by last-minute panic, has worked suprisingly well since grade school.

The Franklin Planner is a system where you use a 'notebook' to document and prioritize your daily activities.

Finally getting around to answering this...Mostly by making lists, using a day planner and reminder software. Modern life requires that we are responsible ( or not) for dozens of details -- not just paying the rent, but yearly check-ups, oil changes, meetings large and small, updating, fixing, etc. Lists, son, lists!

tro