Procrastination: A “sure Ticket For Failure”
http://www.careerfeed.net/articles/11929/1/Procrastination-A-sure-Ticket-For-Failure/Page1.html
Chantel
Chantel is a regular contributor of career advice and jobs news for leading UK Job Board http://www.careersandjobsuk.com Link text By Chantel
Published on 02/25/2010
During the recession, employers had to cut costs in any way, shape or form to keep afloat As a result many employees were made redundant and their tasks were added to other workers’ trays
During the recession, employers had to cut costs in any way, shape or form to keep afloat. As a result many employees were made redundant and their tasks were added to other workers’ trays. Those of us lucky enough to have a job in 2010 will therefore need to work much harder to manage our workloads and meet deadlines. It is not the time to procrastinate or postpone any project, but what if you can’t help it?
Chantél du Plooy takes a look at what procrastination is, how it affects your success and what you can do to put a stop to it.
Procrastination and the reasons behind it
Procrastination is more than just postponing a task until tomorrow. It is delaying tasks regularly.
It could be a new project or even an old one, but somehow you just can’t seem to sit down and finish it. Why is that?
In Procrastination: Why You Do It, What To Do about It Now, Jane B. Burka and Lenora M. Yuen writes that the psychological causes of postponing tasks generally include anxiety, low self-esteem and a self-defeating mentality.
People sometimes put off starting a new project because it seems too daunting and they are insecure about where to begin. Others avoid the task because they fear they might fail and would therefore rather not try at all. Some even thrive on the last-minute rush, which they believe motivates and inspires them.
Most people prioritise their workload first and then start working. Procrastinators are also busy. They are chatting to colleagues, nipping out for a quick smoke or running an errand. However, the most common vacuum of a procrastinator’s time is the internet.
According to BBC News, British workers spend an estimated 233 million work hours a month surfing social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. Wasting time on the internet is also the easiest to get away with because it appears as if a person is working. Ironically enough, procrastinators might even consider what they are doing to be work. Checking emails, sorting files and research are all part of a to-do list but they also keep you from starting or finishing more important tasks.
In the world of a procrastinator, there is no time for double-checking or putting in extra effort on projects. It is all about last-minute running around and delivering rushed results. Regrettably, most procrastinators actually believe that this slap-dash approach works for them.
How it affects success
Procrastination is often confused with laziness, a loss of ambition or a lack of willpower, but it is actually more severe than that. Chronic procrastination could even be a sign of an underlying psychological disorder.
A lifestyle based on constant rescheduling isn’t pleasant either. According to the University of Cambridge Counselling Service, procrastinators are frequently overwhelmed by feelings of guilt, inadequacy, self-disgust, stress and depression.
Sarah (45) a sales manager from London can immediately spot procrastinators in her team.
“In sales, putting off tasks could lead to a lost deal and that is why I struggle to rely on someone who delays following-up on clients,” she says. “To me, procrastination is damaging to a person’s career and a sure ticket for failure.”
How to overcome procrastination
Nick (28) a marketing consultant from Manchester, believes it is possible to kick your postponing habits.
“I use to be the king of delaying stuff,” he admits. “I always felt the urge to push back certain tasks I don’t like or projects that seemed too large.”
Now, Nick forces himself to complete the jobs he doesn’t enjoy first and breaks it up in manageable sections.
If you struggle with procrastination like Nick, here are five tips to helping you overcome it:
1. Break it up: Instead of seeing the project as one big task, break it up into manageable portions.
2. Identify your time vacuum: Find out what you tend to do instead of working. If it is checking emails or surfing the internet, log-off during the period you spend on a project and set time aside to respond to all your emails at once.
3. Invest in the right equipment: Make sure you have enough user-friendly stationery like a proper diary, pens, pencils and note pads etc.
4. Prioritise your time and tasks: Although prioritising is a procrastinator’s nightmare it is a lack of structure that is allowing you to think you have all the time in the world.
5. Reward yourself: Competing with your first nature is hard work, treat yourself to something enjoyable to help motivate you to complete a task at hand.
In a year where employers will expect more from you, rise to the occasion. If you are able to impress your bosses at a time when they need you most, you can be sure to benefit from it later.
Chantél du Plooy takes a look at what procrastination is, how it affects your success and what you can do to put a stop to it.
Procrastination and the reasons behind it
Procrastination is more than just postponing a task until tomorrow. It is delaying tasks regularly.
It could be a new project or even an old one, but somehow you just can’t seem to sit down and finish it. Why is that?
In Procrastination: Why You Do It, What To Do about It Now, Jane B. Burka and Lenora M. Yuen writes that the psychological causes of postponing tasks generally include anxiety, low self-esteem and a self-defeating mentality.
People sometimes put off starting a new project because it seems too daunting and they are insecure about where to begin. Others avoid the task because they fear they might fail and would therefore rather not try at all. Some even thrive on the last-minute rush, which they believe motivates and inspires them.
Most people prioritise their workload first and then start working. Procrastinators are also busy. They are chatting to colleagues, nipping out for a quick smoke or running an errand. However, the most common vacuum of a procrastinator’s time is the internet.
According to BBC News, British workers spend an estimated 233 million work hours a month surfing social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace. Wasting time on the internet is also the easiest to get away with because it appears as if a person is working. Ironically enough, procrastinators might even consider what they are doing to be work. Checking emails, sorting files and research are all part of a to-do list but they also keep you from starting or finishing more important tasks.
In the world of a procrastinator, there is no time for double-checking or putting in extra effort on projects. It is all about last-minute running around and delivering rushed results. Regrettably, most procrastinators actually believe that this slap-dash approach works for them.
How it affects success
Procrastination is often confused with laziness, a loss of ambition or a lack of willpower, but it is actually more severe than that. Chronic procrastination could even be a sign of an underlying psychological disorder.
A lifestyle based on constant rescheduling isn’t pleasant either. According to the University of Cambridge Counselling Service, procrastinators are frequently overwhelmed by feelings of guilt, inadequacy, self-disgust, stress and depression.
Sarah (45) a sales manager from London can immediately spot procrastinators in her team.
“In sales, putting off tasks could lead to a lost deal and that is why I struggle to rely on someone who delays following-up on clients,” she says. “To me, procrastination is damaging to a person’s career and a sure ticket for failure.”
How to overcome procrastination
Nick (28) a marketing consultant from Manchester, believes it is possible to kick your postponing habits.
“I use to be the king of delaying stuff,” he admits. “I always felt the urge to push back certain tasks I don’t like or projects that seemed too large.”
Now, Nick forces himself to complete the jobs he doesn’t enjoy first and breaks it up in manageable sections.
If you struggle with procrastination like Nick, here are five tips to helping you overcome it:
1. Break it up: Instead of seeing the project as one big task, break it up into manageable portions.
2. Identify your time vacuum: Find out what you tend to do instead of working. If it is checking emails or surfing the internet, log-off during the period you spend on a project and set time aside to respond to all your emails at once.
3. Invest in the right equipment: Make sure you have enough user-friendly stationery like a proper diary, pens, pencils and note pads etc.
4. Prioritise your time and tasks: Although prioritising is a procrastinator’s nightmare it is a lack of structure that is allowing you to think you have all the time in the world.
5. Reward yourself: Competing with your first nature is hard work, treat yourself to something enjoyable to help motivate you to complete a task at hand.
In a year where employers will expect more from you, rise to the occasion. If you are able to impress your bosses at a time when they need you most, you can be sure to benefit from it later.