We have all been in the situation where we are up to the last hour, back is against a deadline, and you are scrambling to pump out a final product that is respectable and well put together. Based on what we do for a living, for some of us this happens more frequently than others. Procrastination, if done successfully, typically does not involve a situation like the one above.
Some people find that they work best under pressure and this is a reason they procrastinate. This thought process can become a slippery slope. When unexpected projects pop up and you have procrastinated, the result can be less than desirable.
While many people see procrastination as laziness and unproductive there are benefits of it. If you are given a project and you jump right in without putting together a plan, or making sure you understand the full scope of the project, the first solution may not be the best one. If possible, take a little bit of time some time to think about the project, draft an outline of tasks that must be completed and this may lead to a better outcomes and deliverables.
There are techniques for procrastinating which may help you to be more successful.
- Work in small doses. Doing work in small doses will help to break up the project, often times making it seem less daunting. Generally at the beginning of the day when you are fresh, that’s a great time to block off your calendar. Give yourself breaks in-between work flow allowing for creativity to improve the quality of your work.
- Find a stopping point. This is key to working in small doses. You want to find a logical point where you can stop and will easily be able to pick back up at a later time to finish the project. Stopping mid thought or sentence will force you to try to remember your thought process when you were working on it. This goes back to the planning phase to identify where those stopping points are so you can also schedule your project work into your calendar.
- Make time for the projects. Learn to block your calendar and turn off your email. Try to prepare blocks of a project at a scheduled time and allow for revisions and feedback once the project is complete.
Procrastination can be managed successfully, and can help you to be more creative and efficient if done properly. Leave yourself ample time to complete the work and plan for unexpected interruptions and delays.
About the author: Autumn Edmiston is the CEO and owner of the Edmiston Group. The Edmiston Group is a multifaceted Pittsburgh based marketing consulting firm providing senior level marketing management services to businesses and non-profit organizations on a short or long term basis. Core areas of service are business development, marketing, strategic planning and public relations. The Edmiston Group has consistently delivered and implemented real-world, proven business marketing ideas and strategies for business growth.