The easiest ways to procrastinate

We all have jobs and things we know need doing. But most of the time, it's really easy to find other things to do instead. However, we can feel a little guilty when we use this technique (structured procrastination) which basically means doing #7 on the to do list instead of #1 for example.

So how do you get rid of the guilt thing and not have to worry about a lack of motivation? One of the easiest way of getting away with not doing the important stuff is *drum roll* make sure you can't find it.

* Don't put anything away
* Don't file anything
* Stack your books instead of putting them on shelves where you can read the spine labels
* Don't sort your clothes, even better if you can leave them all over the floor instead of hanging them up or putting them into drawers - that way you don't know what's clean or dirty.

Are you bristling indignantly at my facetious comments yet?

In truth, a lot of people do live their lives like that. They use things and then leave them wherever they land after they have finished with them or move on to the next shiny object. If you have kids you will understand only too well what I mean...most kids don't seem to understand the concept of putting things away. Thankfully most of them do grow out of it.

However, most of us do this without really thinking about it. And before you say - I take offence at your comment - Then answer me this:

* Do you have a filing tray filled with stuff that does need filing / sorting / throwing away?
* What does your desk look like? I've just covered mine with the remnants of 2 filing trays. I needed my laptop back so I could do all the electronic filing / entries first (tax time coming up you see) - however, I am the first to admit that my laptop has actually been back now a couple of weeks - so yes even I can be guilty of procrastination over filing now and again. I am also in dire need of a new desk, new filing cabinet and a couple of new bookshelves as I have outgrown my space.
* Do you have cupboards and drawers jammed with stuff you've been meaning to go through
* Does your wardrobe have clothes you've never worn / can't get into

But what has this got to do with motivation and overcoming the procrastination habit?

Well a good example - around tax time every year, most people will have a mad sort out of those in-trays, filing baskets and shoe boxes filled with receipts. They sort, they tidy, they vow NEVER to let things get into that state again - they visit their accountant and file the tax return....and then they go back to doing exactly the same as they had always done. You see, motivation sometimes only happens when there is an outside force or deadline. It's much easier to get through things if you know there will be ramifications for not doing so:

* Failed grades instead of passed ones for not handing in your work on time
* A meeting that needs your time and preparation so you burn the midnight oil getting ready
* The tax return that needs sorting out before the tax department gets antsy and fines you for not getting your paperwork in on time

We've spoken about artificial deadlines before now, and they can sometimes work - but we can also find ourselves unable to pick up the pace when the real deadlines hit.

So is there any answer to any of this?

Not really - I can't stand over you and tell you to put your stuff away and do your homework - maybe I should just record it so you can download it .... but its hardly motivation - more like nagging
Because - Only you can decide how to live your life and what that life is going to look like ...

I'll leave you with the final word from Ann Morrow Lindbergh

"it is not merely the trivial which clutters our lives but the important as well"

With many thoughts
Elle

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Motivational Tip: Goal Setting means deciding what you want
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When I think about goal setting I am often reminded of this particular piece from Alice in Wonderland. If you don't know what you want, or where you want to go, then you are like Alice ....

"Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to" said the Cat
"I don't much care where " said Alice
"Then it doesn't matter which you go" said the cat