Stop Procrastinating

Benjamin Franklin captured the essence of his era when he said, “In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.” Now, more than 200 years later, we can modernize his famous quote by simply adding procrastination to that list of certainties.

While we’re striving to maintain a healthy work/life balance, it seems there just isn’t enough time to get everything on the “to do” list done. Yours may look something like this:

• Finish backyard landscaping project.
• Conduct crisis training for frontline personnel.
• Lose 10 pounds.
• Address concerns about aging office equipment.
• Talk with employees about time management issues.
• Schedule a physical and recommended health screening tests.

Each task left undone may not evolve into a crisis, but eventually you’ll be faced with a professional, personal or medical situation that could have been avoided.

• Delaying a crucial conversation with one person often negatively affects the entire team’s morale.
• Postponing extensive initial training to meet a tight deadline can hinder long-term productivity.
• Skipping medical exams might delay detection of a chronic condition.

I believe the key to success is maintaining focus to accomplish the most important tasks first. The business books are ripe with ideas, including:

• Put First Things First: Stephen Covey’s Habit 3 (from The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) gives a great visual reminder that our personal “buckets” only can hold all the little rocks if they’re added after the big ones.

• Eat That Frog: The title comes from on the old saying “If the first thing you do each morning is eat a live frog, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing it’s probably the worst thing you’ll do all day.” Readers enjoy 21 practical steps for personal time management.

Take the first step. Review your “to do” list, open your calendar and schedule time to get things done. You’ll enjoy increased productivity and have more time to focus on your personal and professional goals.