“Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today”.
Benjamin Franklin said that in the 1700s. Proof that procrastination isn’t something new. And has nothing to do with our busy lifestyles, the distractions of social media, etc. It’s just a human thing.
What are you procrastinating over today?
Because I’ll tell you what happened to me at the weekend.
I’m currently doing an online NLP (neuro linguistic programming) course. It’s part of my continuing professional development (CPD) as a LifeCoach. There are nine modules and there’s a test at the end of each one. My goal is to get the qualification by March/April and in order to do so I have to pass each end of module test. I’ve done four modules and passed four tests.. Having finished the 5th module last week, I set myself a mini goal of doing the end of module test at the weekend so that I could start Module 6 this week and stay on track with my goal. I’m really enjoying the learning. But I’ve never enjoyed being tested. So when Saturday came round, I procrastinated. And boy did I procrastinate. Having read my notes, highlighted the key points, read the highlights and then typed a summary of my notes, I cleaned the house. Then I did some laundry. Followed by some ironing. Anything to avoid having to take the test. I even decided to film and post a video about procrastination and commit – online - to doing the test before the end of the weekend. Because if I made a commitment online, I would have no way out. As I don’t like seeing myself on camera, I must have done over 100 takes. And after a while I realised that I was procrastinating again, that I could have spent that time revising or, better still, channelling the Nike slogan and just doing it. Just taking the test. That’s the thing about goals. In order to achieve them, sometimes we have to do things we don’t enjoy, things that make us nervous or things that are outside our comfort zone. We can break down the stumbling blocks, prepare, get support, remind ourselves that we’ve done it before so we can do it again, etc. But there comes a time when we have to ‘just do it’. That time came to me after I’d spent over an hour trying to make the short video. I turned off the camera, re-read my notes, my highlights and my notes of my notes, closed my books, did a short meditation, visualised a positive outcome and took the test. So what’s this procrastination all about? In my case there are two parts to it. First, I don’t like being tested. The pressure gets to me and my mind sometimes goes blank. We see it happen on BBCs Mastermind all the time. In my case it's silly because the only person putting me under pressure is myself. If I didn’t pass the end of Module 5 test, no-one would ever know. Except me, of course. And I could probably still qualify even if I failed one module. The other reason is what I imagine singers go through after they’ve had a number one hit song or album. The pressure to produce a second one must be immense. And the fear of not succeeding greater still. Which is how I felt having passed the first four end of module tests with high marks and a ‘distinction’. I had to do it again and was scared maybe I wouldn't be able to.
Long story short, I did pass the end of Module 5 test - and with a distinction. Phew! But as I’ve got another 4 modules to do, I’m going to figure out what I can do to avoid going through this every time. Maybe at the end of module six I'll try some of the NLP anchoring or circle of excellence techniques that I'm learning about.
Over to you now. What are you procrastinating over today and what can you do to get through it?
And which quote or slogan will you follow:
Oscar Wilde's: Never put off until tomorrow what I can do the day after.
Benjamin Franklin's: Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Nike's: Just do it
And if you think LifeCoaching could help you keep on track and moving forwards towards your goal, give me a shout. Or sign up for a free, introductory session here.
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