Overcoming Mañana Mentality

“Someday is not a day of the week.” ~Author Unknown

Procrastination – I am as guilty of it as the next person. We look for distractions, even if subconsciously. Just since starting this blog, I have checked my email, updated my Facebook, sent out a few tweets, stopped to eat breakfast, talked to a few friends, and checked a few college football scores. It’s very easy to get sidetracked in our busy lives.

We know what we have to do, we have our time lines; however, we often wait until the eleventh hour to begin. Why is it so hard to start things? We know the satisfaction we feel once we have completed something, so why is it so hard to get going in the first place? Oftentimes procrastinators sabotage themselves by creating their own obstacles – or at least those who are labeled “chronic procrastinators,” who make up about 20% of the population. They wait until April 14th to start working on their taxes, they don’t pay their bills on time, or they wait until Christmas Eve to begin their Christmas shopping. Procrastinators fool themselves into thinking they perform better under pressure.

According to two of the world’s leading experts on procrastination – Joseph Ferrari, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at De Paul University in Chicago, and Timothy Pychyl, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, there are three types of procrastinators:

(1) Thrill seekers – they get a rush of coming through at the last minute (ok, so this one may sometimes be me!)
(2) Avoiders – those who either have a fear of failure or a fear of success; worried about what others think of them, and
(3) Decisional procrastinators – they feel if they don’t make a decision, they won’t have to be held accountable with any potential outcome.

Notice how people boast when they start spouting off all they’ve done that day? Being productive is a great achievement, especially when you’re doing something that improves your life, but it’s not always just about you. Procrastination affects others outside of you, and often your decision to not do something creates a downward turn in your close relationships – both personal and in the workplace. If you’re not doing your part, the entire work of the team is negatively impacted, leaving others resenting you for your lack of participation.

While being a procrastinator delays projects or sometimes sabotages the outcome, have you also thought about what it does to your health? Studies have shown a negative impact on the immune system. We all know what stress does to the immune system – it weakens it, making us more susceptible to illness. What does a procrastinator do when he or she feels bad? They procrastinate on going to the doctor, and they begin to feel worse and worse – creating a vicious cycle.

If you find yourself procrastinating on basic mundane chores, or on something that’s not very interesting to you, try the following:

• Write down what you are procrastinating about.
• Write down all the reasons why you aren’t doing what you need to do.
• Most of the time, this exercise will help you realize how ridiculous some of your excuses really are.
• Tell yourself “This isn’t that hard.” “I can do it.” “If I’m not sure how to do it, I will learn while I am in the process.”
• Tell someone else what you are doing and what your timeline is and ask them to help you be accountable.
• Put on your favorite music – it helps distract you from the task at hand
• Implement the five minute rule: Ask yourself if you can handle the task for five minutes. There aren’t too many reasons why you can’t do something for five minutes.
• Think of something that you can reward yourself with once the task is complete.
• As you’re going along, conduct a mini-negotiation with yourself. “Can I do this for another five minutes?” Before too long, the task is complete, and you’re feeling great about what you’ve accomplished.
• Reward yourself

If you find yourself saying, “I’ll do it mañana (tomorrow)” then at least get a jump start on it today. Chances are five minutes into it, you’ll want to continue and get it done. What are you procrastinating on today? Try out these tips and let me know how it works out for you. Hopefully very soon your “to do” list will become a “ta da!”

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