Why leaving tasks until the last minute can sabotage your success
I had a hard time writing this column. I’m not sure if it was fatigue or laziness, but I procrastinated even sitting down at the computer until almost the last minute.
I had excuses, distractions, a nap and a few squirrels to chase on social media.
I even saw something that said Bill Gates, or was it Steve Jobs (I’m too lazy to verify this, and it may even be fake news), liked to hire lazy employees because they found easier ways of doing difficult tasks.
Unfortunately, while I felt lazy, I couldn’t dodge the fact that the clock was ticking, I had to get this column written and there was no easy way to accomplish it. Procrastination was no longer an option.
As a business coach, I run into clients who tell me they were too busy to finish the tasks they had promised to complete before our meetings. As I’m well aware, running an organization, department, or family has demands that can be all-encompassing and time-consuming. Urgent meetings, interruptions, and challenges take our time and constantly pull us down.
 Photo by Magnet.me |
| Related Stories |
| How subtle nonverbal cues can damage your team’s morale
|
| How to create a business that can survive a century
|
| Collaborative leadership from A to Z
|
However, if we continuously allow day-to-day distractions to hold us back from actually fulfilling our commitments, whether in the workplace, with our family or to our self-improvement, we will be disappointed and discouraged.
When I work with clients who never seem to be able to get their actions completed, I wonder if they are really serious about achieving their stated targets or if I’ve pushed them too hard.
In some cases, to achieve the most mutually beneficial results, I have to fire them.
Sometimes, it’s our ability to dodge work that can lead to success. I recently met a man in a larger organization who skipped meetings. He told me that the meetings were a waste of time and that he felt he could accomplish more if he concentrated on his work while others on his team were talking about working.
Some advisers in the financial industry banks focus on the top 20 percent of their clients who provide 80 percent of their income because they want to avoid the work associated with supporting the bulk of their customers. This probably makes sense – unless you’re in the 80 percent of people who now require automated financial services.
Dodging work can be an art that benefits your business. However, you probably need some criteria to be successful. You might ask yourself which of your daily tasks are redundant or unnecessary. What activities or chores could you delegate to someone else? Are there processes or activities that are no longer valuable or enjoyable?
Often, when we take the time to critically break down our days, weeks and months into tasks and time frames, we see inefficiencies and work that we should be dodging.
Procrastination is not uncommon in business and everyday life, and leaving tasks until the last possible minute can have some benefits:
- feeling more focused when we actually start working on our task because we know we have no time left for distractions;
- leaving tasks to the last minute provides a boost of energy as the fight or flight response sets in;
- if we’re prone to low stress (not sure this is possible in the current age), procrastinating can raise our stress level enough to ensure we get things done.
Procrastination adds stress to our already stressful lives when we don’t set aside the appropriate amount of time to fulfill tasks and promises.
A better approach is to block our time and schedule projects to ensure we achieve our goals for the day, week or month.
I’m all in favour of procrastinating if it works for you.
And I can see dodging work that doesn’t create value or support the needs of your organization, community or the world.
However, we need to consider carefully whether always taking the easiest route, the laziest approach, or leaving things to the last minute is the best possible approach to success.
Need help overcoming procrastination? Here’s my cheat sheet:
- Identify the root cause
- Fear of failure? Focus on progress, not perfection.
- Overwhelm? Break tasks into smaller steps.
- Lack of motivation? Find your “why” or the purpose behind the task.
- Use the 5-minute rule
- Commit to working on a task for just five minutes. Starting is often the hardest part, which can help overcome inertia.
- Set clear, achievable goals
- SMART Goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
- Break large goals into smaller, actionable steps.
- Prioritize tasks
- Use the Eisenhower Matrix:
- Urgent and important: Do it now.
- Important, not urgent: Schedule it.
- Urgent, not important: Delegate if possible.
- Neither: Eliminate or postpone.
- Use time blocking
- Dedicate specific time slots to tasks. Use a timer (e.g., Pomodoro technique: 25 minutes of work, five-minute break).
- Remove distractions
- Eliminate or minimize distractions (e.g., turn off notifications, close unnecessary tabs).
- Use apps that block distracting websites (e.g., Focus@Will, Freedom).
- Practice self-compassion
- Don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone procrastinates sometimes.
- Forgive yourself for past procrastination and refocus on the present task.
- Reward yourself
- After completing a task or a time block, reward yourself (e.g., a short break, snack, or something you enjoy).
- Accountability
- Share your goals with a friend or colleague.
- Consider finding an accountability partner who checks in on your progress.
- Reflect and adjust
- At the end of each day or week, reflect on your productivity.
- Adjust strategies based on what worked or didn’t.
By consistently applying these strategies, you’ll build better habits and reduce procrastination over time.
David Fuller is a Commercial and Business Realtor with a strong reputation as an award-winning business coach and author. He has extensive experience helping businesses grow and succeed, providing guidance on various aspects of business management, strategy, and development. His work as a business coach and author has earned him recognition in the industry, making him a respected figure in both real estate and business coaching.
For interview requests, click here.
The opinions expressed by our columnists and contributors are theirs alone and do not inherently or expressly reflect the views of our publication.
© Troy Media
Troy Media is an editorial content provider to media outlets and its own hosted community news outlets across Canada.
