A
Anonymous
Guest
GTD has really helped me BUT, I still procrastinate on particular NAs. Any tips guys?
Procrastination! A barrier for many of us.
To begin, what do you say to yourself about those particular NAs when you see them on your list?
1. Not important
2. Takes too much time
3. Don't know where to start
4. Don't feel like doing this today
5. Don't have the tools
6. Can't do this until . . .
7. Or any other "negative" of your choosing
There isn't one solution. There are many, depending on your reason for procrastinating. Tell us your reason(s), and maybe we can provide some solutions.
Carolyn
To begin, what do you say to yourself about those particular NAs when you see them on your list?
1. Not important
2. Takes too much time
3. Don't know where to start
4. Don't feel like doing this today
5. Don't have the tools
6. Can't do this until . . .
7. Or any other "negative" of your choosing
There isn't one solution. There are many, depending on your reason for procrastinating. Tell us your reason(s), and maybe we can provide some solutions.
Carolyn
A
Anonymous
Guest
Stand up. Then start.
Walter upstate
Registered
This is not my thought, but I like it:
Never put off to tomorrow what you can do today; you might like it and you can do it again tomorrow.
Never put off to tomorrow what you can do today; you might like it and you can do it again tomorrow.
didn't want to start a new thread for this, but here's a funny clip regarding procrastination.
http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=7240
I really do feel like this somedays!
http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=7240
I really do feel like this somedays!
J
jddqr
Guest
I've found that staying as plain vanilla as you can get in terms of your implementation, then the more likely you'll say, "well, I have nothing else to tweak... I might as well nail a NA or two" 
Seriously, one of the biggest barriers I've noticed to doing stuff is the urge to tweak (and to post on this board instead of doing NAs... hmmmm)
Seriously, one of the biggest barriers I've noticed to doing stuff is the urge to tweak (and to post on this board instead of doing NAs... hmmmm)
C
Claire
Guest
Hi Neil
I just posted a reply to your other topic (http://www.davidco.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1749). One of the advantages for me of the system I describe is that it helps to impose an urgency on tasks for people like us who work within an unstructured week. Procrastination is still possible :wink: but not so prevalent, I find.
Claire.
I just posted a reply to your other topic (http://www.davidco.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1749). One of the advantages for me of the system I describe is that it helps to impose an urgency on tasks for people like us who work within an unstructured week. Procrastination is still possible :wink: but not so prevalent, I find.
Claire.
J
jmarkey
Guest
remyc88 said:
Oh my, this clip is hilarious! I laughed so hard it hurt (I just had an impacted wisdom tooth removed).
T
terence7
Guest
My suggestion is very simple:
Make your Next Action smaller.
Even smaller than it currently is.
Make your Next Action smaller.
Even smaller than it currently is.
M
Mindi007
Guest
smaller NA
That is very true. So many times, I find the NA I'm procrastinating on are the ones that I have some negative feeling about and therefore skip over no matter what my discretionary time and energy level is.
My personal example is phone calls. I hate making phone calls. I find that having "Call so and so" on my NA list almost never results in the call being made until crisis time. However, having the less threatening "Get so and so's number" on my NA list usually helps me get it done. Since I don't find looking up the number stressful, I start the ball rolling by pulling up the number and then I end up making the call right after because I have forward momentum on the project for which the phone call is needed.
terence7 said:
That is very true. So many times, I find the NA I'm procrastinating on are the ones that I have some negative feeling about and therefore skip over no matter what my discretionary time and energy level is.
My personal example is phone calls. I hate making phone calls. I find that having "Call so and so" on my NA list almost never results in the call being made until crisis time. However, having the less threatening "Get so and so's number" on my NA list usually helps me get it done. Since I don't find looking up the number stressful, I start the ball rolling by pulling up the number and then I end up making the call right after because I have forward momentum on the project for which the phone call is needed.
Re: Procratinating
I recommend a throught reading of The Now Habit:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0874775043/
neil0007 said:
I recommend a throught reading of The Now Habit:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0874775043/
T
trishacupra
Guest
I hate making phone calls too!
Hi,
I hate making phone calls and have put some off for ages in the past.
I realised that the reason I hate making them is because I'm afraid my mind will go blank, I'll forget what I needed to say, I'll sound stupid, and I'll be put on the spot.
So before I make a phone call, I list everything I need to ask/say, in best order, and use the list while I'm on the phone. I think through what words to use.
I don't really need the list when I make the phone call, and it always turns out fine, but it helps me prepare and be more confident. In a way, it's my crutch.
So, sometimes you need to figure out exactly why you're procrastinating, and then figure out what 'crutch' will help you overcome it (or at least work around it!).
Hope this helps,
Trisha Cupra, Life Coach
Hi,
I hate making phone calls and have put some off for ages in the past.
I realised that the reason I hate making them is because I'm afraid my mind will go blank, I'll forget what I needed to say, I'll sound stupid, and I'll be put on the spot.
So before I make a phone call, I list everything I need to ask/say, in best order, and use the list while I'm on the phone. I think through what words to use.
I don't really need the list when I make the phone call, and it always turns out fine, but it helps me prepare and be more confident. In a way, it's my crutch.
So, sometimes you need to figure out exactly why you're procrastinating, and then figure out what 'crutch' will help you overcome it (or at least work around it!).
Hope this helps,
Trisha Cupra, Life Coach
When I come across a task or action I just don't want to do, I can't always clearly tell you why I don't want to do it. Yes, it is probably too big a chunk and I should break it down, but I don't want to. (OK, a bit of a rebel sometimes.)
But I can do almost anything for 10 minutes.
So if the next action is something I just want to do, I'll set a timer for 10 minutes and just do it for 10 minutes.
--K2
But I can do almost anything for 10 minutes.
So if the next action is something I just want to do, I'll set a timer for 10 minutes and just do it for 10 minutes.
--K2
T
trishacupra
Guest
Lazy?
Perhaps you're not really that lazy - after all, you've managed to read a whole book, which beats all those people staring at some lame line-up of TV shows night after night...
Trisha
Perhaps you're not really that lazy - after all, you've managed to read a whole book, which beats all those people staring at some lame line-up of TV shows night after night...
Trisha
K
kay
Guest
Laziness is often a good character trait to have - the desire to avoid unnecessary effort has lead to many of the greatest inventions in history!
T
trishacupra
Guest
True
True.
I've been called lazy before, but I've always insisted I was conserving energy.
So there.
If there's an easier, better, faster way - why not find it?
Trisha
True.
I've been called lazy before, but I've always insisted I was conserving energy.
So there.
If there's an easier, better, faster way - why not find it?
Trisha