When I was younger, I wanted to write books. When I got older, I gave up on that idea. Too difficult. Too much work. So many books out there already, what could mine add to the world? Then I created a course on procrastination. I made a course book for it. A practical document that could also be used as … Read More
Done is more fun than perfect
Of course I know the official slogan is ‘done is better than perfect’. But let’s face it: if you’re a perfectionist, you prefer perfect. Perfect IS better no matter what practical people try to tell you. But… We might be willing to admit that perfect isn’t fun. There comes a point when our effort to make something perfect becomes a … Read More
Conflicting promises
Too often we promise ourselves things that conflict, without noticing it. “I’m going to take better care of myself this week”. Combined with “Nothing is more important now than reaching this deadline” Guess who gets beaten up in the fight between these promises? Often it’s you. You’ll blame yourself for not reaching one goal, or the other. Which conflicting promises … Read More
Positive psychology against procrastination
Oh, I’m excited! I’ve just read about new scientific proof that positive psychology works against procrastination. Or, to be more precise: elements of positive psychology can be really effective in dealing with procrastination. Tested on students who procrastinated on studying. Are you still with me? It’s good news, especially for people who doubt they’ll ever be able to deal with … Read More
How to tame your procrastination monster
The next Get it Done Week, starting September 7th, is called “Tame your procrastination monster”. I wondered what would happen if you apply the wisdom of taming dogs to procrastination. Here’s the result, with thanks to http://www.wikihow.com/Tame-a-Dog. There’s some serious wisdom in there. It’s natural and healthy for procrastination monsters to be energetic and alert. It’s not natural for them … Read More
Pair up with somebody who gets things done
People who procrastinate tend to want to hide it. Many people are ashamed of their non-productive behaviour, and don’t want other people to know about it. Which is very understandable. Unfortunately, it doesn’t help. It might even make it worse. Nobody likes to hide in shame, so the feeling invites distracting activities. Like watching funny clips on Facebook. Or checking your e-mail … Read More
Procrastination is (not) a habit
Often when you read about procrastination, the writer will say it’s a habit. I tend to disagree. I believe the tendency to procrastinate is (partly) innate. The part of giving in to the tendency, THAT’s the habit. Procrastination often functions as a flight mechanism. It takes us away from things we don’t like or things we (unknowingly) fear. An unpleasant task lights up the same part … Read More
My most boring tip against procrastination
Are you ready for the most boring anti-procrastination tip I can give? Here it comes…. Get enough sleep! It won’t help against ALL forms of procrastination. But it helps against the type of procrastination when both your body and your mind tell you they want you to take it easy. This type of procrastination is often disguised as task aversiveness: not wanting … Read More
Self love against procrastination
“Underlying unmet needs are the motivators for the actions we take.” Tamara Laporte talks about shame and guilt, and how these emotions are harmful instead of helpful. She’s not talking about procrastination, but all procrastinators know something about shame and guilt. Usually more than they care for. Low self esteem is a well known contributor to procrastination. It makes people … Read More
The Next “Get it Done Week” starts 4th May 2015
Join Get It Done Week at Procrastination Coach. Learn how to get unstuck and get yourself into gear. Fab reviews at the bottom of this post:) From Monday to Friday, the daily tasks will help you get your things done AND learn how to deal with procrastination at the same time. We’ll be searching for what works for YOU, there are no … Read More
Is it easy to forget your goals?
Coaches and trainers work with goals a lot. They ask their clients to: choose goals define them positively make them SMART link them to their personal values Until two hours ago, I thought that all that work on goals would make them difficult to forget. It’s what YOU choose, it’s what YOU want, it’s what YOU put energy into to … Read More
Procrastination is (not) funny
I put a wink in the title of my new workshop. I did. And it made me WORRY. Luckily I had a deadline and I had to decide quickly. Otherwise, I could’ve spent hours making the decision. Revising it. Making it again. And revising it again. Decision making is my number 1 procrastination thing at the moment. I’m afraid to … Read More
The History of Procrastination Coach
I just giggled a lot. My web designer posted my struggle from a black and white website to what I have now, with a slide show of things we said ‘no’ to. As a former historian I totally love this 🙂 www.nakedwebsite.co.uk
I’ll do anything to avoid planning
This week I have public accountability going on with a lovely visitor of my Facebook page. We were talking about how difficult it can be to keep the focus, and how planning helps. But that it can be SO difficult to keep to your planning. So we agreed to observe ourselves, to find out what was going on at the moments … Read More
My first newsletter, what do you think?
Sometimes the hard part about controlling procrastination is that you don’t even know you’re doing it… I’ve just returned from a walk outside, on a beautiful, sunny and cold winter day. I’m really proud of myself that I did it before I started my working day. I tend to procrastinate on self care: work first, me later. I know this, … Read More
The scary Pay What You Want model
I’ve been practically yelling at online friends “Don’t do it” if they suggested they wanted to try out the Pay What You Want model. I’ve heard so many disappointing stories about it, of people who hardly made any money, felt seriously undervalued, or both. Then I read this blogpost by Tom Morkes. He made me curious… So I got thinking. … Read More
How do you design accountability?
I promised myself… Accountability basically means that somebody does what they are supposed to do. In coaching, that something is a promise that people made to themselves: this is what I will do. You don’t need a coach to have an accountability relationship. It can be anybody, provided they are interested in your well being and willing to work with you. How … Read More
Even procrastination coaches procrastinate
Oh yes, we do. I guess that’s what makes us good at procrastination coaching. We know procrastination first hand. And second hand too 🙂 Making videos – take 1 My most desperate case of procrastination has been creating videos. It started well. I did two, inspired by a course on creating a blooming business. Actually, the first one was just … Read More
I’m proud to be a coach
The word coaching gets a lot of rolling eyeballs. And yawns. At network meetings people politely don’t sigh. “A coach? How interesting. I just met 5 other coaches.” The term coaching is used so broadly that you probably can get clip your toenails coaching these days. Yet, I’m proud to be a coach. I think I was in secondary school … Read More
I used to tell myself I didn’t care
I’ve been working with procrastination for a few years now, but I keep making new discoveries. About procrastination, but also about me. I just had a Eureka moment. I’ve been fooling myself for a long time. Nice and dusty? I used to tell myself I don’t mind a dusty house. I was convinced it was true, until we hired a … Read More