Just Do It! Getting Past Procrastination

Dawnita NillesNDSU Extension Agent/Family Resource

CoordinatorNDSU Extension Service, Grand Forks

County/Region IV, CSCCServing families from the counties of Grand Forks, Nelson,

Pembina & Walsh

Webster Says…Procrastination is:“To put off intentionally and habitually the doing of something that should be done.”

The Society for Creative Procrastinators

http://www.black-schaffer.org/scp/– “Dedicated to the pursuit of

entertainment through creative and unorthodox methods” 1998

• When doing a search for the word “procrastination” I found more than 30 sites dedicated to the subject

Why DO We Procrastinate?

Confusion

Lack of interest

Fear

Why DO We Procrastinate?Disorganization– Work area– Poor distinction between urgency

& priority– Distractibility– Forgetfulness– “lumping” or “chunking”

Why DO We Procrastinate? Perfectionism– 3 characteristics

•Do things yourself because others can’t do them as well

•Won’t start something is you can’t do it well

•Need for closureThe perfectionist delays the

project to avoid the discomfort of it not being perfect

Why DO We Procrastinate?Other emotional factors and personality characteristics– Crisis makers

– Overdoers

– Pleasure seekers

– Angry

SO… Why do

Procrastinate?YOU

Getting Past Procrastination…

Motivate yourself

Eliminate confusion–Make molehills out of mountains

Getting Past Procrastination…

Get organized– Use the ABC method

•Priority A: MUST do•Priority B: SHOULD do

•Priority C: NICE to do

Getting Past Procrastination…

Assess personal and emotional issues– Fear – learn to relish risk– Perfectionism – adopt a “good enough”

attitude– Crisis makers – pace yourself– Angry – deal with it– Pleasure seekers – stop having so much

fun– Overdoers – redefine yourself

Seven Day Procrastination Plan

Settle it now

Make it meaningful

Take it apart

Write an intention statement

Find a reward Say NO!

Tell everyone

With All This Information on How to Avoid

Procrastination…

JUST DO IT!