Random Wisdom (or DUH)

If you’re a procrastination junkie like me, you search the web for information and tips on how to get started on important tasks. Maybe that’s even what brought you here. While it’s good to find ways to get you started, I think it’s equally important to know when and how to stop.

You see, to me procrastination doesn’t mean you’re not doing anything. I would guess that you do a lot during the day. Just maybe not the things that you feel you should be doing. Now before you can start doing what you should be doing, you have to stop doing the other stuff. Simple right? Well yes, it actually is simple, but procrastinators can’t seem to find the off button. Part of the reason is that people feel guilty if they’re not doing anything and they have a task waiting. They feel less guilty when they at least do something else, which is silly, since the task still doesn’t get done.

Also, as long as you’re busy with something else, you won’t be able to start something new. Contrary to what some people believe, people are not good multitaskers. Maybe you can skip from task to task, but you always stop one before you start the other.

Now, to acquire any skill you need to practise, so I want you to practise stopping. And by that I mean you should stop deliberately. It should be a clear decision on your part. Checking your Facebook profile? Stop! Going through Google Reader? Stop! It helps to have a small ritual, like clapping your hands, saying “stop”, standing up or a combination of things. If you make it physical it will put you in a different state, ready for action.

Whenever you feel you’re busy procrastinating, stop deliberately. The worst that can happen is that you end up doing nothing. And that’s still a better place to start from if you want to get started on those important tasks.

Ok, I’m done. So you can stop reading now. Stop! Now!