The 60 Second Procrastinator: Sixty Solid Techniques to Jump-Start Any Project and Get Your Life in Gear

160 Pages·2003·8.25 MB·English

by  Jeff Davidson

THE
60
SECOND
PROCRASTINATOR
Sixty Solid Techniques to Jump-Start
Any Project and Get Your Life in Gear!

JEFF DAVIDSON

ADAMS
MEDIA
Avon, MA
Copyright ©2004 by Jeff Davidson.
All rights reserved This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced
in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions
are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews.
Published by
Adams Media, an F+W Publications Company
57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322. U.S.A.
www. adamsmedia. com
ISBN: 1-58062-923-7
Printed in Canada.
JIHGFEDCBA
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Davidson, Jeffrey P. The 60 Second procrastinator / Jeff Davidson.
p cm
ISBN 1-58062-923-7
1. Procrastination. I. Title: Sixty-second procrastinator. II. Title.
BF637 P76D38 2003
155.2'32-dc21
2003004466
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to
the subject matter covered It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in
rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice If legal advice or other expert
assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.
-From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar
Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations
Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are
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aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.
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Contents
(page numbers correspond to hardcopy book)

Foreword…………………………………………………………………….. xi
Introduction…………………………………………………………………. xiii
Part One: Changing Your Mindset
1 Approach Your Task in a Different Way………………………………………. 2
2 Face Procrastination Head-On…………………………………………………. 4
3 Reframe the Challenge…………………………………………………………. 7
4 Relate the Meaning to Something Larger……………………………………… 9
5 Reflect on Past Successes…………………………………………………….. 10
6 Visualize Yourself Succeeding Gracefully……………………………………. 12
7 Feel the Fear and Proceed Anyway…………………………………………….15
8 Replace Limiting Language…………………………………………………… 17
9 Practice Creative Procrastination……………………………………………… 19
10 Employ Appropriate Self-Talk………………………………………………. 20
iv The 60 Second Procrastinator
Part Two: Setting Up
11 Review Your Priorities and Supporting Goals……………………………………. 24
12 Claim Ownership of a Task or Goal………………………………………………. 26
13 Get Organized…………………………………………………………………….. 28
14 Arrange Your Desk for Action……………………………………………………. 30
15 Align Your Desk for Decision…………………………………………………….. 32
16 Line Up Your Ducks………………………………………………………………. 34
17 Stay in the Zone…………………………………………………………………… 36
18 Minimize Distractions…………………………………………………………….. 38
19 Isolate Yourself…………………………………………………………………… 40
20 There Is No Perfect Time; Stop Waiting for It……………………………………. 42
Part Three: Giving Yourself an Edge
21 Tap the Power of Scents……………………………………………………………46
22 Listen to Motivating Cassettes or CDs……………………………………………. 49
23 Break Free of Too Much Information……………………………………………... 50
24 Ask Yourself, "Will It Be Any Easier Later?"…………………………………….. 54
Contents v
25 Accept That Wanting to Start on a Project Is
Different Than Deciding To…………………………………………………… 56
26 Find Someone Who Can Help You Get Started……………………………….. 57
27 Don't Wait Until You Are "In the Mood"……………………………………… 60
28 Benefit from a Jump-Start……………………………………………………... 62
29 Give Yourself a Preview………………………………………………………. 64
30 Handle the Hard Stuff First……………………………………………………..66
Part Four: Taking Key Steps
31 Choose to Begin Easily………………………………………………………… 68
32 Build In Time for Reflection…………………………………………………... 69
33 Establish a Reward System……………………………………………………. 71
34 Contract with Yourself………………………………………………………… 72
35 Plot a Course…………………………………………………………………… 74
36 Strike a Dynamic Bargain with Yourself……………………………………….77
37 Compute All the Costs…………………………………………………………. 78
38 Sleep Well and Eat Healthy……………………………………………………. 79
vi The 60 Second Procrastinator
39 Employ the Three-to-Five Method…………………………………………….. 82
40 Set Short Time Limits…………………………………………………………. 83
Part Five: Tackling the Harder Tasks
41 Staying Fit by Making It Fun…………………………………………………….. 86
42 Go Cold Turkey………………………………………………………………….. 88
43 Record Yourself………………………………………………………………….. 89
44 Partner Your Way to Success……………………………………………………. 91
45 Look to Delegate…………………………………………………………………. 92
46 Do One Thing at a Time…………………………………………………………. 95
47 Adopt the Heavy Half Mentality…………………………………………………. 97
48 Employ the Bigger and Badder Method…………………………………………. 99
49 Put Money in Escrow…………………………………………………………… 101
50 Visit a Counselor………………………………………………………………...102
Part Six: Continuing to Progress
51 Take Bite-Size Steps……………………………………………………………. 106
Contents vii
52 Hide the Clock………………………………………………………………... 107
53 Consider Others Affected…………………………………………………….. 109
54 Have Somebody Waiting for Your Work…………………………………….. 110
55 Harness the Power of Deadlines……………………………………………… 111
56 Eliminate Multitasking……………………………………………………….. 113
57 Post Your Challenge………………………………………………………….. 115
58 Minimize Break Time…………………………………………………………117
59 Work in Day Units…………………………………………………………….119
60 Forget about Age……………………………………………………………... 121
In Summary………………………………………………………………….. 123
Afterword…………………………………………………………………….. 129
Further Reading……………………………………………………………… 133
Glossary …………………………………………………………………….. 137
About the Author…………………………………………………………….. 141
Foreword

"Hitch your wagon to a star."

—RALPH WALDO EMERSON
THE DILEMMA FOR ANY AUTHOR who writes a book on procrasti-
nation is that readers who buy it, being committed procrastinators, may
not read it. If they do read the book, it may be a while before they get
around to applying its message. Recognizing these inherent paradoxes,
Jeff has structured The 60 Second Procrastinator so that each of the sixty
tips, one tip for each minute in an hour, can be absorbed in about a minute
or less.

Jeff contends, and after reading the manuscript I agree, that there is
no point in proceeding through this book cover-to-cover. Instead, use the
book as a resource. When you find yourself stymied, flip through its
pages and find three or four tips that appear helpful.

If you're that rare person who recognizes the procrastinator within
and is committed to taking proactive steps to minimize it, you might be
more inclined to read the book sequentially. To derive its full benefits,
however, keep this book nearby and flip through it as needed to protect
yourself from any procrastination attacks.

Jeff has divided The 60 Second Procrastinator into six sections:
Changing Your Mindset, Setting Up, Giving Yourself an Edge, Taking Key
Steps, Tackling the Harder Tasks, and Continuing to Progress. This
sequence follows a plan that someone who is thoroughly committed to
minimizing procrastination in his or her life might initiate. It's your option
to proceed sequentially or not. You may find that a single tip or two, or
three, will quickly enable you to overcome your current barriers.