1. Tool #3: Stop Procrastinating - Now! Copyright Harriet Meyerson 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Employee Success Toolkit

2. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Why Do You Put Things Off to the Last Minute? Procrastination is an automatic habit pattern used to avoid tension.

3. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Habit Patterns  Habit patterns are the barriers to overcoming procrastination.  Understanding your habit patterns is the key to overcoming procrastination.  The habit is kicked off by discomfort such as feeling uncertain or insecure about the task.

4. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com What Situations Do You Avoid?  Have you taken on too many projects?  Are you afraid of a project?  Is it too large or outside your field of expertise?  Are you too detail oriented?  Do you spend too much time on unnecessary details?  Are you avoiding a boring task?  Do you need a last minute deadline to motivate you?

5. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Three Barriers to Overcoming Procrastination  Mental diversions  Action diversions  Emotional diversions

6. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Mental Diversions  Manana Diversion - Thinking, “Later will be better because I’ll be better prepared.”  Thinking, “I’m too tired.”  Thinking, “ I’m not alert enough.”

7. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Action Diversions Anything Seems Better than Facing the Task  Doodling  Working on your computer  Cleaning out your desk  Calling someone on the phone

8. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Emotional Diversions Some tasks are drudgery.  Are you overwhelmed?  Do you have a negative attitude about the task?  Are you waiting to be inspired?

9. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Corrective Measures  Don’t worry about being perfect.  Make “Just do it!” your motto.  Delegate some tasks to others.  Prioritize tasks in order of importance.

10. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com The “Crystal Ball” Approach Visualize Two Paths 1.Diversion - which is certain to lead to procrastination 2.Tackling your unpleasant task even though the outcome is unclear

11. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com The Five Minute System  Commit to your unpleasant task for only five minutes.  Then, decide whether you will commit for another five minutes, etc.  These decisions will keep you moving forward.

12. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Plan In Reverse Visualize your outcome first, then work back from it.  Visualize your goal as your target.  Imagine the arrow in the center of the target.  Imagine the arrow headed toward the target.  Imagine holding the bow and releasing the arrow.

13. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Break Your Goal into Small Parts  Where do you want to end up?  What do you do just before that?  And, what do you do just before that, etc.?

14. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Build Frustration Tolerance  Tackle challenging tasks with persistence until they are done.  Congratulate yourself for living through any frustrations.  Realize you have control over yourself, and can succeed, in spite of your discomfort.

15. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com “Doing reasonable things, in a reasonable way, within a reasonable time, gets things done, and that way you’ll end up doing rather than stewing.” William Knaus, Ed.D., Author of The Procrastination Workbook

16. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Stop Procrastinating - Now! Quiz & Discussion Questions

17. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Question 1 What are some of the reasons people procrastinate?

18. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Question 2 What can an overachiever do to overcome procrastination?

19. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Question 3 How should you deal with a boring task?

20. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Question 4 What should you do if a problem is complex?

21. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Question 5 Name three types of diversions people use to prevent them from overcoming procrastination.

22. Stop Procrastinating - Now! © Harriet Meyerson, 2008 www.ConfidenceCenter.com Set Your Goals What are your three main goals to stop procrastinating?