The Art of Procrastination

The Art of Procrastination
By Vickie J. Scanlon

Everyone knows what procrastination is right? If not, here’s a quick definition “to put off for another day”. When you are first starting out, it’s easy to not procrastinate, but as your business moves forward you may find yourself with a case of procrastination.

I have to treat “procrastination” as a self-employed illness that must be dealt with. And no, you can’t take medicine for it. If you’re not sure how to identify procrastination let me share some thoughts:

1. Your intent for the day is to write an article-and you know you have to do a little research. You stare aimlessly at the computer screen for a few minutes-contemplating the task. (The few minutes extend to a half-hour as you organize your desk.)

2. Back to your article. Let the research begin. But yet that inner voice may say: “Let’s look at your stats, it will only take a few minutes.” And that is what you do. (Eventually you may repeatedly look at your stats throughout the day. No reason, other than that they are there.)

3. After completing your stats look up, you are now ready for your research. But your thoughts intrude once again with: “Gee, I guess I’ll get a cup of coffee, that might energize me.” You’re gone again.

4. After getting your coffee, you are again, back at your computer. Slowly you sip at your coffee, when an email arrives. Got to read it. Do you read just the one email? Of course not, you read all of the emails, even the ones you’ve read before.

This can go on for the full day, if you do not recognize the symptoms. So what do you do, or what can you do. If you need to get a task accomplished on that day, you will need to either:

1) Reward yourself if you accomplish the task, or;

2) Threaten yourself with: If you don’t get it done now, you will have to work late into the night –with constant interruptions from your spouse, your children or your neighbors. (I have to admit, this reality check does hit home.)

There have been times when my husband will sit in a chair and talk to me while I’m trying to write. Or he will ask me to look up things on the computer. I usually find myself doing the Whoopi Goldberg comment in “Ghost” of “I will,” with much emphasis.

If you do not need to get the task done today, admit defeat and take the day off and come back tomorrow refreshed.

Though these quick suggestions may not be perfect, it can give you an idea of what you can do to get yourself back on track. Now, let me see, oh yeah, I need to look at my stats again.

About the Author:
Vickie J Scanlon -- Visit her site at: http://www.myaffiliateplace.biz
for tools, ebook reviews, computers, security software and products for business, and how to info for the Affiliate Marketer/Internet Marketer. Catch all her articles on her blog- My Affiliate Place Blog.