Via Lifehack, here’s a list of reasons you’re procrastinating. I spent some time thinking about this one:
The inability to make decisions also contributes to procrastination.
I don’t have trouble making decisions. (Although, if you’ve ever seen me order from a menu at a restaurant, you might think otherwise.) But I do sometimes have trouble trying to get things "right". So, over the years, I’ve learned to build in opportunities to refine the work I do. I’d rather get it done and make improvements than never finish. I think my strategy comes from starting as a freelance writer. If I’d learned to get every word right in my head before setting out to draft something, I never would have got anywhere. Instead, I just sit down and start writing. Likewise, when I’m doing a consulting project, I spend 10% of my time planning and then I just dive in. Of course, I make sure to revise things before I hand off the final report.
How do you deal with procrastination?
Man, you’re mean! I came here to procrastinate, and then you post this on the main page!
My most frequent way to procrastinate is to start working on another productive but less important project than the one I should be working on.
I recently read some words of wisdom somewhere, which remind me of what you wrote in this entry. “If you start something often enough, eventually it will be finished.” I often get overwhelmed when I think about having to FINISH a project, but if I can just keep on pecking at it on and off, then, eventually, it’ll be done! I use this phrase to help motivate me to keep on pecking.