FACS 56 life management decision making process procrastination

resources resources in relation to goals…limited (money, time, energy, etc..) how do resources affect your goals? how can we use the resources we do have most effectively?

decision making process some choices we make are better than others… our choices can be made even better if we are clear about our values, goals & standards scarce resources can be used to their fullest with good decision making skills

decision making process some have trouble accepting the idea of scarcity…endless ideas with no limits on using time, energy or money tend to be casual, easygoing, creative & holistic thinkers—great qualities but if taken to the extreme can be out of balance does this sound like you? may run out of resources like energy & money before most important goals are met

decision making process simple enough: 1.define the problem in light of your values, goals & standards 2.set a deadline for solution 3.identify alternatives 4.weigh alternatives 5.make a choice 6.make an action plan to implement and evaluate your choice

decision making process examples in your own life? step 1…helps us stay focused on problem; often mentions action intended “buy a different car that will be more reliable”

decision making process step 2…asks us to think about the time frame—how quickly is the solution needed? especially important if we have more than one problem or decision allows us to prioritize & direct our energy accordingly

decision making process step 3…brainstorming technique is ideal— looking for tentative solutions ask trusted individuals for opinions make lists; arrange sticky notes

decision making process step 4…temporarily stop production of ideas—begin evaluation most fun & most complex? gather information from knowledgeable sources about each alternative—add to your lists…include time, money & energy costs of each

decision making step 4…continued evaluate ideas…pros & cons, forecast the future—imagine the worst thing, the best thing, & the most likely thing that could happen with each particular choice discard alternatives along the way you may discover you need more info— move back & forth between steps 3 & 4

decision making process step 5…asks you to choose uncomfortable? ask yourself if you can change your mind later remember NOT making a decision is a decision

decision making process step 6…creating a plan to implement your decision be very clear about your goal or purpose— be SMART S—specific M—measurable A—achievable R—relevant T—time-framed

decision making process…practice 1.define the problem in light of your values, goals & standards 2.set a deadline for solution 3.identify alternatives 4.weigh alternatives 5.make a choice 6.make an action plan to implement and evaluate your choice examples in your own life?

procrastination

procrastination a strategy of delay—a signal that there is a conflict of some sort often results in last-minute rush, poor quality work, and unsatisfactory decisions

procrastination what is the conflict? major cause of procrastination is fear fear of failure…fear of loss of control— perfectionism is often the culprit in these instances— setting unrealistically high standards

procrastination fear of success—may begin the task but sabotage ourselves so we ultimately fail free ourselves from having to be responsible or successful in the future can we expect ourselves to refrain completely from procrastinating?

procrastination we can work to diminish our tendency— clear goals & realistic action plans help knowing what will motivate us & using those things as rewards for incremental progress…break job into little pieces

procrastination strategies: 5 minute plan…do something for 5 minutes & then free to stop do easy part first—like a warm-up do the hard part first —get it out of the way rewards along the way

homework: procrastination (refer to pg. 38 in text for specifics) over a period of several days, keep a record of every time you procrastinate—at work, home, school…etc… what might you be afraid of in relation to the activities you postponed?