Why Do It Today: The Procrastinator’s Guide to Success

Priorities..

To help in overcoming procrastination we should understand what procrastination is…Here, are a couple different definitions I found with online dictionaries:

“The act of procrastinating; putting off or delaying or deferring an action to a later time.”

“To postpone or delay needlessly.”

While there is no question that everyone procrastinates, it is important to find ways to make sure we procrastinate, less!  So, to help us procrastinate less, we will begin by defining our priorities.

Everyone will obviously define priorities, differently! Our priorities will change with age…our priorities will be different at age 40+, than they were at 18 years old… Certain priorities must be given more focus to groom them into what we want. You see, prioritizing is of utmost importance! Most of us can agree that there are 3 major priorities:

1. Family
2. Health
3. Religion

These should always be held in the highest esteem. Do not allow yourself to place these below any other priority.

Beginning a Routine

We can prioritize with different levels to help us determine what we should focus on during our day. If we place a label on each of these priorities, we can easily distinguish and create a routine for completing tasks in an orderly fashion.

1. Top Priority
2. High Priority
3. Medium Priority
4. Low Priority

We should focus on Top Priority and High Priority tasks. We should spend less of our time on the Medium and Low Priority tasks…One of the most effective ways to begin having more productive days while procrastinating less is to make a list. Write it down. Most of us have been given this same advice 100’s of times in our lives. If we can make a habit of writing things down and prioritizing our list, we will gradually become more productive with each day. So let’s look at ways we can get in a routine. Prior to going to bed each night, make a list of things you wish to get done the next day. We are working toward preventing ourselves from staying awake thinking of the things we must get done. They are written down, no need to stress. Our list can include anything from a doctor’s appointment, to watching a TV show that you don’t want to miss, to doing laundry…etc.  Now that you list is complete, place it by your bedside or on your refrigerator, or coffee maker…somewhere you will definitely look the next morning.