Are you familiar with the six stages of a project?
Enthusiasm. Disillusionment. Panic. Search for the guilty. Punishment of the innocent. Leading finally to praise and honors for the non-participants.
Funny. And kind of true.
We all like that first stage, but when disillusionment sets in, it can get downright painful. We start to procrastinate. Then real panic sets in.
Welcome to procrastination purgatory, where what you do next will determine where you end up.
Here is my survival guide of simple truths from my own frequent journeys through procrastination purgatory:
- You can either decide it needs to get done, or release yourself entirely from doing it. Don’t vacillate. Decide now. Which is it? Get on with it.
- If it needs to get done–and you’re the one to do it–waiting any longer to act will only make matters worse. It will not bring out your best. Get on with it.
- It doesn’t need to be perfect. Excellent is fine, and the longer you wait, the less excellent it will be. Get on with it.
- You are capable to do the very thing you’re resisting. Get on with it.
- No one is judging you as harshly as you are. Get on with it.
- You have volition and can choose to steward your time and gifts wisely. Get on with it.
- Your future choices can be different than the ones you’ve made in the past. Get on with it.
- Momentum increases motivation. The first mile is always the hardest. Get on with it and enjoyment will follow.
- You have everything you need to do the next thing. Get on with it.
- Opportunities expire. If you don’t act now, you may not get another chance. Get on with it.
Procrastination purgatory is a painful place to be. I’ve lived there too often; often enough to earn the nickname Last-Minute Leary for pulling too many rabbits out of last-minute hats.
I’d like to give you a cure-all for procrastination, but it comes down to this: You can choose to engage in your work, or not. The more you ignore it, the louder the voice of shame, and that’s when procrastination purgatory truly leads to procrastination hell. So, get on with it.
Comment below: What other truths are helpful to remember when you’re procrastinating?
How very profound, how very true! And after I read it I told myself….this is good stuff….I will pop an email or comment to Leary and tell him….and I’ll do it right after I get the the 3 things done that I’ve been procrastinating getting done until a quiet Saturday morning catch up time. But nope, I did now. Get on with it!