The Power of Procrastination

I think we all have some areas where we procrastinate and I'm sure all of our reasons are different.  The habit of putting things off to the last possible minute can overwhelm and stress us, cause resentment and guilt and even cause missed opportunities...which of course causes the overwhelming, stress, resentment and guilt cycle to start all over again.

The behavior pattern of procrastination can be triggered in many different ways, so you won't always procrastinate for the same reason. Sometimes you'll procrastinate because you're overwhelmed with too much on your plate, and procrastination gives you an escape. Other times you'll feel tired and lazy, and you just can't get going.

I personally procrastinate when it comes to end of the month invoicing.  Crazy Right?  I mean it's not hard, it doesn't take a lot of time, but for whatever reason it overwhelms me and causes me some minor insecurities. 

I read a small little book recently titled, "Eat That Frog".  It's a short and sweet look at how to stop procrastinating and get more done in less time.  It gives 21 great tips on how to STOP PROCRASTINATING!!

Mark Twain once said that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that is probably the worst thing that is going to happen to you all day long.  Your "frog" is your biggest, most important task, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don't do something about it. 

There are 2 rules to frog eating: 
1.  If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first.
2.  If you have to eat a live frog at all, it doesn't pay to sit and look at it for very long.

Basically GET 'ER DONE people.  The key to reaching high levels of perfomance and productivity is to develop the lifelong habit of tackling your major task first thing each morning. 

"Do not wait; the time will never be "just right".  Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools willbe found as you go along."  Napoleon Hill

Biggest Loser

It's Tuesday evening...well Wednesday morning really and I'm working on my newsletter, updating contacts, placing the final touches on a couple of  Thanksgiving cards and catching up on tonights episode of The Biggest Loser.    What a far cry from this time last year where I was popping pepto tablets and worried about my job, finances, the future and I really did feel like a total loser.

It's one year later and I have my family traveling in from Virginia, my sister, 2 nephews and my precious little niece.  We're preparing the turkey and planning on hitting the Festival of Lights at our local zoo.  I have a fabulous small business that allows me to meet so many interesting and passionate people and enough money to pay the bills and enjoy my home.

When I think of giving thanks this Holiday season it is with deepest pleasure that I can say I truly am The Biggest Loser.  I've lost the stress, the worry, the aches and pains associated with drama and most of all I've lost the fear that paralyzes most people into inaction. 

Thanks so much to each of you who have helped me on my journey to becoming The Biggest Loser.  I would love to hear about your journey's as well.  Please feel free to let me know the things you have 'lost' this past year on your journey to becoming a better you.

Much love this Holiday Season,

Sarah

So Goals...What are my goals...Big goals, little goals, life changing goals...all of the above. Someone once drew me a picture of some stairs; They said put what you most want at the top of the stairs and then label all the steps that you will need to complete in order to make it to your final objective. (The top of the stairs).
Of course my first response was...I'll just be happy if I'm still breathing at the top of the stairs but ok....

Now that I'm older and wiser (by 1 week and 1 day) I can see the truth of the statement. Put my objective at the top of the stairs and then create small manageable goals to complete so that I can slowly make my way up the staircase.

So...What is my objective?  What am I going to put at the top of my staircase?  Do I center it around my own business?  My clients?  My personal goals?  It's the end of 2011 and I'm heading into 2012 do I focus on the New Year and what it's going to bring?

So many choices but at the end of the day I just need to put one thing at the top of the staircase.  So that's what I'm going to do.  I've put my goal at the top of the staircase and now I'm setting goals so I can make it up to the top.  What are you doing?   

Take a moment for yourself, set your objective, decide your goals and happy climbing!

What's Holding you Back...and How you Can Change!

Everyone’s got bad habits such as lateness or procrastination. But if you consistently act in ways that cause you to lose face, lose friends, or fail when a goal is within reach, your harmless personality quirks may have morphed into serious self-sabotage. “A bad habit becomes destructive when your behavior causes more than momentary regret and leaves you feeling disappointed in yourself,” says Pauline Wallin, PhD, author of Taming Your Inner Brat.

Why do we derail our own happiness? Experts attribute it to a variety of unconscious beliefs: nagging doubt about whether we really deserve what we’re striving for; apprehension that we won’t be able to handle increased expectations and responsibilities; even fear that our achievement may isolate us from our peers or family members.

 To overcome self-sabotage, you must first identify its origin and then take steps to interrupt the cycle. Here are five ways you might be tripping yourself up, and suggestions for how to (finally) get out of your own way.

Fatal Flaw #1: You procrastinate.    Tomorrow is soon enough. Besides, you excel under pressure.

The ugly truth: You’re secretly afraid your work won’t be perfect and you’ll be outed as a fraud. “Procrastinators tend to be very concerned about what other people think of them,” says Joseph Ferrari, PhD, a professor of psychology at DePaul University in Chicago. “If you worry that you will never perform as well as you have in the past, fear of failure may be halting your progress.” Putting off work provides a ready-made excuse: Instead of admitting failure, you can always blame your busy schedule and overbooked calendar. “That way, you can tell yourself the project would have been successful if only you’d had more time,” Ferrari explains.

The fix: Play the worst-case-scenario game. The next time your grasp on deadlines starts to slip — something even the worst procrastinator can recognize — take a moment to look inward for the source of your foot dragging. Ask yourself what’s the absolute worst that could happen. Then spin the consequences out to their most ludicrous degree: Would your family and friends disown you? Would you end up starving and homeless? Would the cat die? Once you’ve realized things aren’t so awful, you can get past the anxiety and focus on the work, says Ferrari.

Fatal Flaw #2: You binge when your goal weight is within sight.
You’ve earned some quality just-us girls time with your old pals Little Debbie, Mrs. Fields, and Sara Lee.

The ugly truth: You may not have been prepared for the male attention your new body brings, which can make you feel vulnerable. Or maybe your friends seem jealous of your success, and you’re uncomfortable with their scrutiny. Getting down to a healthy weight also means maintaining it, which is a tough task unto itself. Plus, when things don’t go your way– you get dumped or you don’t get the job you went after — you can’t use your “It’s because I’m fat” excuse. “Life often feels simpler without these issues, and it’s easier to eat a whole bag of potato chips and retreat to your fatter, safer world,” explains Connie Tyne, executive director of the Cooper Wellness Program in Dallas.
The fix: See yourself the way others do. It’s hard to stop thinking of yourself as overweight even after the pounds are gone. But improving your self-image can help ease the emotional transition into smaller sizes, says Linda Spangle, RN, author of 100 Days of Weight Loss. “Enroll in a public-speaking class to build self-esteem and increase your comfort level around people.” You can also get a boost by making a list of your greatest attributes, which is what most people notice anyway. “Describe what you’re like at your best,” Spangle suggests. “Maybe you’re energetic or you smile a lot or regale your friends with funny stories. Thinking in terms of confidence and strength makes you act in terms of confidence and strength.”

 

Fatal Flaw #4: You’re habitually late.
 It’s never your fault — your mom called, the dog got sick, traffic was brutal…
The ugly truth: Being late could be your passive-aggressive way of getting back at those who force you to adhere to their timetable. “Blaming your tardiness on a hectic schedule is easier than admitting you’re resentful about constraints being placed on your time,” says Spangle. Your chronic lateness may also be a sign that you’re subconsciously trying to undermine the situation, lash out at a friend or, in the case of work, get fired. If you’re late for something that is a big taboo, like a job interview, it may show your ambivalence about whether you really want the gig. “Rather than risk a poor showing in the new position, you ensure that the opportunity never arises,” says Rebecca Curtis, PhD, professor of psychology at Adelphi University.
The fix: Make up your mind. Be clear about what you want. “If it’s a career issue, ask yourself if your interest in your job is waning,” says Kathryn Cramer, PhD, author of Change the Way You See Everything Through Asset-Based Thinking. “Being late is a way of disconnecting. This can be a warning that it’s time to take stock and either recommit yourself or make a change.” Bonus hint: Be proactive and adjust your actions or attitude rather than wait to get canned. You’re always better off controlling events instead of waiting for them to control you.

TO SEE THIS FULL ARTICLE:  Please click on this LINK:  http://shine.yahoo.com/event/poweryourfuture/5-habits-holding-you-back-and-how-to-change-them-2515577/