Do Tomorrow 📅 Not Never
David at Raptitude blogs about ‘getting better at being human.’ He goes over techniques and strategies to get things done — things that tend to be put off until later. Here, the trick is to set a done by date and hold yourself to that. 👍
All you have to do is say exactly when it will be done because a definite time holds you to account — it makes you responsible!
Working through life's ‘to-do’ lists with the time available is the responsibility of all grown ups — who knew!? Otherwise, you may wake up and there won't be any more time to do the things you've always wanted/needed to do — do it now — or tomorrow at the latest!
David calls this particular antidote to procrastination ‘The Art of Doing Things Tomorrow.’ The danger (if there is one) is always that you'll say the same thing tomorrow (which, long term, can ruin a life). But to make sure you really do accomplish it the next day do what he calls ‘red-carpeting’ …
This is where you decide what task you'll do tomorrow on the condition that, today, you set up a red carpet style walkway to doing that thing i.e., doing all/any required prep work — writing everything out — getting sorted!
This includes making a checklist — a detailed sequence of very clear steps that remove as much ambiguity as possible from exactly what it is that needs doing tomorrow. Also, note down the step that's likely to be the hardest and it's this consideration leads to the penultimate step — tidying up the place where you will do i.e., complete the required thing.
Nothing signals ’ready to work’ like a tidy office … the procrastinator typically uses that knowledge to delay the real work at the last second [this way] you can’t use it as an excuse tomorrow. David, Raptitude.
Finally, put the list of well-defined to-do steps in the centre of your clean and clear workspace. So, you'll have no excuse to not do the thing required (the alternative is to give up) and that thing is getting closer to being behind you — even the thing you identified as likely being the ‘hardest’ to do.
… for almost every intimidating task, the truly hard part is very small. It often comes down to a single moment of confronting your nerves … once that's over, the rest of the day is cake. David, Raptitude.
Let's hope so! 😀
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