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I've always been a little prone to procrastination, even as a kid. If given a task to complete or a deadline to meet, I could always invent a dozen reasons why I should put it off. Before the request was even finished, I was already thinking of a bunch of other things I might be doing instead. I was remarkably creative in figuring out ways to postpone---or even better, totally avoid---doing That Thing I Had To Do.
Part of that kind of behavior is rooted in perfectionism: fear that we will fail in our efforts, or not live up to external or self-imposed standards of perfection (and worse, that people will SEE us fail or suck at something). Part of it is simple defiant opposition: you can't tell ME what to do!
And part of it is inertia...we get comfortable doing what we do the way we do it, when we feel like doing it, basically. Being asked to do something else, in ways or according to schedules that we may not control, which may also require effort on our part and result in discomfort to boot?
Well, that doesn't seem like very much fun, now does it?
Of course we can't avoid everything all the time, forever (at least, I discovered that I can't!), and so most of us at least occasionally resign ourselves to doing stuff we aren't 100% sure about, never mind thrilled about. We might dawdle, or push the envelope when it comes to deadlines, but when we get to that "fish or cut bait" moment, we have to come up with a way to do That Thing We Don't Want To Do.
What worked for me then, and still works for me now sometimes, is to make a game out of it. Putting off chores? Challenge yourself to see how much you can get done before the next song on the radio is over. See? Now it's a game.
Or see how much of a task you can get done before the little egg timer you set dings. I've used this trick since I was a kid...it's always easier to think of doing something for 5 or 10 minutes than it is to contemplate the hours (or longer) that a big task can take. Turn the big task into a series of smaller challenges and it becomes bearable.
Pick a soundtrack and turn the chores into a dance party...the stuff gets done, eventually, and you get a good workout in the bargain.
Figure out the worst thing you have to do and do that first. Then the next-worst thing, and so on, counting down until you only have the easiest thing to do. Piece of cake!
You can turn the big giant task into a bunch of little mini-tasks, with a little reward for completing each of the steps. Make it something positive: a few minutes playing a game online, or reading a quick magazine article, that kind of thing. (If you're motivated by less-healthy rewards, moderation is key...each task gets you 5 M&Ms, not the whole bag, for example.)
Find someone else who is attempting to do something similar, and pair up to meet the challenges together, or turn it into a friendly competition if that's the kind of thing that motivates you. Sometimes it's easier to tackle something less-than-fun if you have company or a friendly rival.
These little tricks and invented games don't only apply to powering through the urge to procrastinate, either...they work pretty well when it comes to behavior modification efforts, everything from establishing a fitness program or changing your diet to quitting smoking. We are wired to enjoy predictable and frequent rewards, and we respond better to tasks that engage us or challenge us in positive ways, either by providing a sense of accomplishment, or by providing us with a competitive outlet. If the thing we're experiencing doesn't provide that for us, it's up to us to make sure they happen.
Do you have any tricks to share, or little games you've made up to help you get through less-than-fun things? What sort of games do you enjoy?
Hey! Thanks for rescuing me! Much appreciated. :-)
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