Tip of the Week – May 25, 2011
Our society has become less about working toward goals, and more driven toward immediate gratification. The great loss in this shift is the elation that comes at the end of successfully toiling away at a worthwhile endeavor.
Adding a personal battle with procrastination to the equation only makes the dull tasks that much easier to push to the back burner in your business.
But why do we procrastinate?
My theory doesn’t involve poor time management or laziness, but centers around the reality that if you don’t regularly have something to look forward to, a “reward” for a job well done, then what’s the impetus to actually doing it?
As a solopreneur, it’s easy to get caught up in an “all work, no play” existence when you are responsible for getting everything done all the time. Justifying time off can become a game you play with yourself. But when you don’t take the time to rest, refresh and have some fun every once in a while, the urge to procrastinate can become even stronger.
Your mind and body are incapable of producing 24/7/365, and crave time off. The more you stay in tune with your needs, and plan for activities that take care of you, the less of a battle you will have with yourself over gutting through the undesirable to-do’s of life.
So I challenge you to decide how you will reward yourself today after you complete something that you’ve been pushing to the back burner. I can guarantee that getting it done will be a lot less of a chore when you know there’s something fabulous waiting for you. Please share your plans in the comments below.
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4 Comments
Lol, I just commented on your other post with a comment about a quote on procrastination, and now I’ve found this page. You are definitely right about your mind craving time off!
Hi Nicky! So glad you like the posts and I appreciate you sharing your comments. 🙂 The mind definitely craves a break no and again, but we have the tendency to push it to the point that we are no longer productive with our time. Procrastination is a big warning sign. Thanks for reading!
I understand what you are saying and agree with it, Shannon. But we should not overlook the fact that the relief of finishing an unpleasant task can sometimes be reward enough. The stress that is instantly lifted from your mind and body once that last “i” is dotted and that last “t” is crossed can even create a sense of euphoria if the burden lifted was especially heavy. If that’s the only fabulous-ness that we can fit into our schedule at present, then we should run with it! We can – and should – plan to do something special a bit later if we can’t do it now.
As for me, I love going out to dinner with my husband and enjoying a glass of champagne when I/we have accomplished something that we’ve delayed doing for one reason or another. French chocolates are another top reward that we both appreciate!
Best,
Monique
You are correct, Monique. Too many entrepreneurs have completely lost sight of the relationship between self-care and business success. There can be and is great reward in working through an undesirable task, but that should never take the place of regularly scheduled time to refresh and renew. The example you offered is a perfect example of taking “ME” time. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!!