Overcoming procrastination tips - stop putting off those unpleasant but important things

Overcoming procrastination of usually involves having to ‘bite the bullet’ and do those important things that you either find unpleasant or uninteresting. Consider the scenario:

John knows that he must confront Melissa, a colleague who is in the habit of getting to work 10 to 15 minutes late every day. Melissa’s tardiness is a poor example for other members of the office. John has been putting off having a talk with Melissa about her habit of being late, and now other members of the office are following Melissa’s bad example.

What is going on here? It looks as though John is procrastinating about having a ‘difficult’ talk with Melissa about her tardiness and the problem is still unresolved.

There are few people who enjoy personal confrontation and in the example above, John is procrastinating over this unpleasant task. The same goes with uninteresting tasks, which have a habit of being put off.

Can you think of any unpleasant or uninteresting tasks that you have put off today or in the past? Have you spent time on unimportant tasks to avoid those more important unpleasant or uninteresting tasks?

Overcoming procrastinating first involves looking at why you are procrastinating. If you are procrastinating because the task is unpleasant or uninteresting, then here are a few solutions for you:

• Draw up a pro’s and con’s list of the unpleasant task. Often an unpleasant task is something that you are emotionally caught up in and want to avoid. By drawing up a pro’s and con’s list you to look at the unpleasant/uninteresting task in a more objective manner and reduce your stress.
• Set a high priority for the unpleasant task in your to do list. By setting a high priority, the task is more difficult to avoid and will get done in your most productive time.
• Try to schedule the task early in the day. This way you won’t spend too much time thinking about the unpleasant task.
• Schedule the task in a way that is difficult to get out of. For example, John could set up a meeting with Melissa – that way John commits to the action of doing the unpleasant task.
• Delegate the task. It may be possible to delegate the task. What you find unpleasant other people may enjoy!
• Consider the consequences of doing the task. Know that the unpleasant task is generally not as bad as you thought it would be, and that a sense of relief will come from doing the task. This may be enough reward for in overcoming procrastination.

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