According to famed psychologist, Dr. Albert Ellis, who is whispered to be in contention for a Nobel Prize, there is one very good way to lick procrastination. It is to do what you hate, right away. If you can tackle that, everything else suddenly becomes easy, by comparison. Youll then be floating on air, effortlessly completing one task after the next. And Ellis has a clever way of inducing us to cut out the distractions, excuses, rationalizations, and other things that prevent us from confronting our major obstacle. He tells his patients and his readers to: (1) Either do the thing they hate, something that really needs to be done, anyway, and that will benefit them; or (2) Do something they hate even more, from which theyll get no benefit, and which will even cost them a substantial amount. For example, lets say you need to get into your back yard, prepare the soil, and plant some grass seed. Its a messy job, and its physically taxing, too. No wonder you want to put it off! But youre thinking of renting or selling your home rather soon, and this is the cheapest and best way to make the yard appear to be appealing. So, the clock is ticking, and if you wait too long, youll be out of luck. Ellis suggests for every day you stall, after your ideal planting date, you write a check for $100, or $250, or even $500 to a cause or to a group you utterly despise. If you zealously support animal rights, youd send your hard earned dough to a group that advocates euthanasia for stray animals, instead of adoptions. Thats harsh, isnt it? You might even consider it awful. And thats exactly Ellis point. The more hated action has to be dramatic enough for you to recognize that it is a lot easier and more rewarding to do what you should do, yet you have been putting off. There are milder forms of this behavior therapy. You could deny yourself a minor pleasure until you get your homework done, or scrub the toilet, or groom your dog. That can work. But with the big objects of your procrastination, its better to have bigger penalties! |
