Time Management Tune-up - Manage Procrastination With Let's Make A Deal

Time Management Tune-up - Part 2

When I was growing up, one of my favorite game shows was Let's Make a Deal - and it's still on! One of the aspects of that show I loved was the ability to makes choices that would determine the destiny of the contestant  - Door #1 - Door #2  or Door #3...oh the mystery of it all!

Sometimes, in certain areas of our lives, playing games to get things done is a useful alternative to "throwing the whip".  The area of overcoming procrastination is one of them.  So let's employ the game show theme of "let's make a deal' to this common time management challenge.

If you're finding yourself stuck rather than go negative by trying to force yourself to do something, (this by the way is trying to overcome your own resistance - not very pleasant) try the alternative of "let's make a deal."  

Here's how it would go:  Make a deal with yourself in this way. Tell yourself that you only have to do something related to the unpleasant activity for 1 minute.  Now 1 minute does not sound like a very long time, but honestly it is.  It's a useful period of time when you want to jump start your motivation with minimal resistance.

So...decide exactly what small (micro) action you're going to take, set a timer for 1 minute and go at it.  Here's what you'll probably discover:

• 1 minute was longer than you thought.
• You'll say to yourself, "That wasn't so bad."
• You'll actually have gotten something done.
• Your negative energy will have probably shifted and you now may be feeling positive or least neutral.
• And ultimately, you'll be willing to give yourself another "let's make a deal minute" to take another step forward turning that motivation into sustainable momentum.

That, in fact, is the value to this tip - moving yourself from resistance to momentum via a fun and incremental way. You can even promise yourself a reward! 

Look, I know we're all adults here, but sometimes we have to employ a child-like self-coaching tactic to get r' done.  Have fun with this one and share the idea with others!  This is a great time management strategy!  (It's also a great technique for getting the kids to do unpleasant tasks as well.)

If you need more help and ideas to tune-up your time management, you'll want to get: Organizational Strategies for the Overwhelmed - how to manage your time, space, & priorities, to work smart, get results & be happy -  Kindle - The Book - Nook - Audio Book -  The Seminar