Last week I shared my strategies to interrupt and prevent procrastination 3 Steps to Stop Procrastinating.
I am not sure about you… I feel frustrated when I realize I am procrastinating – again! Like seriously – what is wrong with me that I keep coming back to this habit?
Recently I have been asking myself – “What can I do to change?” I find that this question moves me from frustration to curiosity. When I am curious, I am open to possibilities.
Side note – I am reading, Tiny Habits – The Small Changes That Change Everything by BJ Fogg. On page 2 he says – “In order to design successful habits and change your behaviors, you should do three things.” First on his list is “stop judging yourself.” I decided to take his advice.
Here is what I have come up with and it is working (this is week 3).
- Be realistic about how much time stuff takes! This has shifted me from a weekly/daily wish list to a list of 3-5 items to complete.
- Schedule a time block most afternoons I call “odds & ends”. This is when I checked those flagged emails and take care of them. I may also return phone calls or finish notes from a meeting.
- I leave about 30% of my working day as blank space (nothing scheduled). This gives me flexibility for unexpected tasks, calls, and emails. I generally can complete my priorities even if my time estimate was not accurate.
What do you do to prevent procrastination?
