Procrastination
Procrastination
is thief of time. But many times it is very helpful in making one’s mind and
take deliberate decision.
I have a
coaching client, who is doing very well but she procrastinates and completes
her work at the last minute and meets the deadline. I advised her that you
procrastinate may be probably to think and get new ideas or research on the
subject. But there is one big disadvantage, to which she agreed, is that during
the period of procrastination “the Monkey Remains on your shoulder” which of course
gives tension, spoils your weekend plans and also has adverse impact of the
next task/plan and ultimately on the career.
I gave her
an example of an officer when he was a student at the Defence Services Staff
College (DSSC), Wellington (India) and later when he was DS (Directing Staff:
Instructor) at the DSSC. His examples on both occasions are worth emulating to
overcome procrastination.
When he was
a student, generally the written assignments were given on Fridays afternoon to
be submitted by 0900 hrs on Monday. These assignments involved lengthy written
work based on discussions carried out during the week.
As a
student when he got the assignment on Fridays, he took a break, played squash
for about an hour, showered, took light diner and sat down to work on his
assignment. Those were the days of submitting written assignments by writing in
his own hand. It took 3-4 hours continuous working to complete the assignment
in all respect. He filed these pages, wrote the minute sheet and kept the file
in the drawer, which he opened on Monday morning when it was slid into the
locker of the DS.
By
following this method, he had entire Saturday and Sunday at his disposal to spend
quality time with his wife and young son. The monkey was off his shoulder on
Friday night itself. What he did was that he made his own dead-line. He changed
the deadline from Monday morning to Friday night. He was one of the most
successful student and later he returned to the DSSC as a DS.
His method
of overcoming procrastination as DS was a bit different. He picked Golf and
played Golf almost daily by his meticulous time management. As DS one was
responsible for 10 to 12 student officers. These 12 students submitted their
written assignment almost every week. DS were given three weeks to correct and
submit to the SI (Senior Instructor). What he did was on the very first day in the
evening he corrected the assignment at least one student. Generally correcting
the first one took three to four hours. The next day he corrected two and next
day three and so on. So he had corrected all the 12 in 4 or 5 days. And on the
7th day, another set of assignments were ready for correction. The
cycle went on. Again, if you examine, he set his own deadlines and pace of
completing the correction, he got rid of Monkey from his shoulder in 5 days instead
of carrying the monkey for 21 days. He played his Golf regularly. He spent
quality time with his children who, by then were studying in the Lawrence
School, Lovedale.
To sum up,
to overcome procrastination, set your own deadlines. Commence research/reading/investigative
work (if required) as soon as possible (ASAP), complete/ achieve your assignment/goal
by your own set deadlines. This will ensure that monkey in not on your shoulder
causing unnecessary tensions. Will enjoy sports, will ensure you have quality
time with your family and friends.
The buzz
words are “SET YOUR OWN DEADLINES”
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