by Joseph Wardy

Created on: February 22, 2007   Last Updated: May 11, 2007

Procrastination is the assassination of success. Here are seven techniques to consider to manage procrastination:

* Benefits Analysis- Draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper. On one side write " Consequences". On the other write " Benefits". Analyze the task connected to your procrastination. Fill in the benefits of doing the task and the consequences of not doing it. If the task has both benefits and consequences, it has top priority. If the task has either a benefit or consequence, it is important. If it has no benefit or consequence, let it go.

* Avoid perfectionism- Dr. David Burns, in his best selling book " Feeling Good" shows the difference between perfectionism and excellence. Example: Excellence recognizes success and moves forward. Perfectionism remains stuck in failure. Some of the greatest procrastinators are perfectionists. Rather than risk imperfection,they rationalize their commitment to take action. A wise quote states: " If you seek perfection, remember, its a moving target".

* Good tired vs. Bad Tired- What is a bad tired? It is how you feel after agonizing over an undone task. A good tired is how we feel five minutes before we finish an unpleasant task. Getting started is the key to motivation.

* Positive psychology- At times, the pain of not doing it is greater than the pain of doing it. Example: a cluttered garage. When we keep looking at the mess, our head gets messed.

* Conduct a values inventory- Is the procrastinated task related to our values and beliefs? If yes, do it as it connects to your passions. Example: See a lawyer and get a will if family is a critical value to you.

* Break it down- At times, we are overwhelmed by the immensity of a task. The key is to to break it down into small parts and then allocate the time to do it. Time management experts contend that more than 45 minutes on a task is a project. Motivation increases as we get closer to completing the dreaded task.

Why not pick one or two of these techniques that can work in your work environment?

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