The Perils of Procrastination

By: Ken Keis

"What may be done at any time will be done at no time."
-Scottish Proverb

The Perils of Procrastination!

Procrastination: to habitually put off something that should/could be done now.

Have you ever put off until tomorrow what you could have started or done today? Of course each of us has procrastinated or delayed activities for another day -- and sometimes we never get to them at all!

We’ve all heard these procrastination statements:

1. I’ll go on my diet tomorrow, after this piece of birthday cake.

2. Once the weather improves, I’ll begin my new fitness program.

3. I’d like to visit my uncle, but we are very busy right now.

4. We’ll go on that extended holiday next year.

5. I’ll talk to my kids about drugs soon, but not right now.

6. I’d like to take that college class, but it might be better to delay that until.

7. When the kids leave home, my wife and I will have time to go out on dates again.

8. When I get a pay raise, I’ll start saving.

9. When they start acting nice, I will, too.

10. Don’t worry; I’ll make a Will soon and encourage my parents to do the same.

11. We’ll launch our marketing program once sales increase.

12. I’ll write that book next year, when I’ll have more time.

13. I’ll call my friends next week, once school is out.

14. And so on . . .

What has your lack of action (procrastination) cost you in lost opportunities and/or experiences? For most of us, the price is far greater than we expect and, in many cases, the desired action is never started, engaged, or completed. Let’s go back to some of the examples listed above:

- You never did go on that diet and now your weight is a serious health risk.

- Your uncle passed away suddenly, before you had a chance to visit him.

- The extended holiday simply never materialized.

- The police call to say your child is in serious condition in hospital, due to a drug overdose.

- You never did take that college course and, as a result, have been stuck for the past decade in a job you hate.

- Because you rarely spent any quality time with your spouse, he/she left you before the kids did.

- You retired broke because you felt you never had enough money to save.

- You wish Dad and Mom had made a Will. Most of their assets were wasted on lawyers and probate court. It took you over a year to get your youngest sister back from the Public Guardian and Trustee because no guardian was named for her.

- Your business went bankrupt because you never got the marketing program launched.

Just Do It. Now! Why? Without being morbid, let’s pretend you have one year to live and that you will be healthy during that year. But make no mistake! At the end of the year, your contribution to this world will end.

Will you do anything differently?

What things have you put off that you no longer should avoid doing?

Another factor that creates a freeze-point for many people is the all-or-nothing mindset. If I can’t do my entire list, I won’t do any of it. How silly is that! Individuals may focus on what they can’t do rather than what they can do. That limits their success and increases their level of procrastination.

1. Make a list (in writing) of all the items you have put off to a later date. By the way, do this now, not later! Hint! Hint! The list should include things you wanted to do both personally and professionally -- things you wanted to own (material stuff) and relationships you wanted to have or improve.

2. Once you have completed the list, review it to determine whether you seriously desire those items. We all change. What once was important may no longer be so. Revise and fine-tune your list to reflect your current goals and wishes.

3. Separate your list into three categories.
a. Things you want to do or accomplish
b. Things you want to have
c. Relationships you want to build or enrich

4. Once you have created the categories, prioritize each list. This is a very important step so that you don’t start feeling overwhelmed. Taking one real step is much better than thinking about taking 10 steps.

5. Pick an item you have been procrastinating about and just do it! I suggest you do whatever it takes to begin. Motion begets motion; action begets action.

6. Enjoy the journey of enjoying the journey. We can be so focused on achieving the objective; we miss the enjoyment of the process of doing.

7. Get support and help if you need it. Many people are willing to help if you ask.

Many of your choices will not require much (or any) money. On the other hand, some will involve fiscal resources and that might result in a conflict of your core beliefs.

Let me explain. Let’s say you have money saved for your retirement but don’t have enough for an item or event you want to do now. What do you do? The experts say you should save your money and leave it alone until you retire. In wealth-building, compound interest creates momentum. But what do you do when that plan is in conflict with a more immediate priority?

First, I am not your fiscal advisor so ultimately, you must choose what is right for you. But I will share with you how you might manage choices that seem to be in conflict.

Rule One: Don’t put off things that cannot be achieved or repeated at a future date -- or delay anything that would have long-term, detrimental ramifications.

Rule Two: If you feel confident that you have the means and ability to replace your savings and resources at a future date, make your decision based on your mortality, not your longevity.

Example: During the past years, I have personally invested both time and monetary resources into the transformation and growth of my business. That means personal financial resources are being redirected into business development. I can afford to do this because over the years, we have practiced the discipline of saving first. But now we have a family project on the table that requires capital resources. The question is: should we procrastinate on our project and wait for more financial resources or use our saved capital to play now?

Applying Rule One means doing it now. There is no benefit or value to procrastinating on this item. This experience cannot be duplicated later. That means we must act NOW.

Applying Rule Two means that we replace those resources later through our business and investment options. Yes, that will work.

The next step is to take action on this priority and stop procrastinating.

I am not suggesting that you create obligations beyond your ability to pay or that you live beyond your means. Those two rules are guidelines to help you make decisions. Best you can, embrace all that life has to offer NOW! And if your resources are contributing to your procrastination, look at the source of your problem -- your limited resources.

Your year of life is almost up now. You look back on the past months as a satisfied, content, fulfilled, and happy individual. What did you do with your time? Did you change your approach and your choices from the way you had been doing them before your diagnosis?

I encourage you to fully engage your life. Don’t delay the important things.

Don’t be mistaken: procrastination has cost us all dearly. It’s a matter of how much we can limit the damage.

Taking no action is to procrastinate.

'Most of us go through life as failures because we are waiting for the "time to be right" to start doing something worthwhile. Don’t wait. The time will never be "just right."' - Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich

Reprinted from: Communication Skills Articles.

Ken Keis, MBA, CPC, is an internationally known author, speaker, and consultant. He is President and CEO of CRG Consulting Resource Group International, Inc., Many professionals herald CRG as the Number One global resource center for Personal and Professional Development.

For information on CRG Resources, please visit crgleader.com

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated

Additional Articles From - Home | Self Development | Goal Setting