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I spent yesterday at a conference, which was primarily focused on Dr. Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. While I don’t proclaim to be an expert in this area, I thought I at least sort of had it together. However, according to the class, I have a long, long way to go. Lovely. That was just the pat on the back that I needed.
It is no secret that I am a procrastinator. However, I am technically classified as a perfectionist procrastinator, which is decidedly the worst kind. In short, this means that I have to wait until the conditions are perfect to start anything. Then, I push myself to achieve perfect results, yet waiting until the last minute to start. The facilitator kept talking about the stress level that creates on an individual. I was too busy frantically arranging my mental notes and antagonizing about not being prepared for the three-hour lecture I had to give my class that same night. Seriously. Maybe I should be their poster child.
Another trait I apparently have is refraining from proclaiming my goals and projects to others, lest they actually hold me accountable to them. If I keep them in my head, I can procrastinate as long as I choose and not run the risk of public failure. All I could think of is the fact that I have not admitted to many people I know that I am taking this test on Friday. Why? Well, because I am likely not going to pass thankyouverymuch. But, I was too busy stressing about that to listen to what he was saying about accountability. Maybe I could write their jingle.
The facilitator recommended finding a friend or resource to confide goals and deadlines to. However, he cautioned to find someone who could hold you accountable and would not be the person that would say, “Screw that project; let’s go have a margarita.” Well, that pretty much eliminates the majority of people I know.
As far as the test, I am still horrifically unprepared. I will spend tonight and tomorrow night studying. Otherwise, I am hoping that a combination of astute multiple-choice selection, common sense, and luck serve me well. I will possibly place these books under my pillow tonight in hopes that I will learn by osmosis.
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We'll hold you accountable! (I'm volunteering the whole of the blogosphere here...) You can have the margherita once you've done the test, how's that for a compromise? Good luck!! :)
Hmm... A "perfectionist procrastinator"... that sounds like a good description of myself. It's all about the cost-benefit analysis for me, though: The cost of spending the amount of time needed to do something right, versus the cost of procrastinating, then doing that something at the last minute. The benefit of putting it off is that should it not turn out so well, I can always say, oh well I didn't have that much time to spend on it, since I was "busy" with other things. ;-)
I love your blog!
My sister gave me a copy of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff a few years ago when I was in a similar tizzy. I was sooo disapointed to realize that not sweating the small stuff requires making major character upgrades.
Turns out it easier to just perspire over the minutiae.
Oh...I would for sure be the one to say let's go get a drink, as there's always tomorrow! But, I am getting a little better, while trying to live in the moment and NOT anticipate tomorrow! I hope you learned about using the planner in your seminar?! I love my planner and while I don't use it exactly as prescribed by blocking out time for the most important things...it contains my life, appointments, hopes and dreams, inspirational quotes, etc. Wishing you the best on your test, and overcoming your tendency to be a perfectionist and procrastinator! Blessings, Lisa
Word Verification: dospedy
Definition: the opposite of procrastination
Used in Sentence: She gave up her tendency to procrastinate in favor of becoming a dospedy and had fewer worries as a result! LOL!
Perfectionist procrastinator? I think that might be me. I'll have to think about it. And tweek it a little. Until it's just right. What's the rush?
There should be a program to help people who insist on telling the rest of us what we're doing wrong! If they don't like your procrastination, tell them to shove it ... tomorrow.
I procrastinate a lot myself. I've read the book "Personality Plus" days ago. It helped me a lot in a way. I am sure you are an accountable person. Just do what you want and what you need to do and you'll get there.
Now is not the time to be so hard on yourself or to examine the things that might not be serving you well, or maybe they do. Either way, give yourself a break. Do your best on the test and next week think about all the stuff you heard today. I think some of he stuff we do is just who we are and all the books, all the semenars on how to be someone else is good information to have but doesn't mean we can recreate ourselves completely. So, think about it over margaritas and feel better.
Good luck!!!!
For several years, I made weekly accountability posts on a blog. Outlined my plan for the week as well as reviewed what I had completed the previous week. It worked well. Last year, I did not do this. What a mess. So this year I'm back at it and so far it's going really well.
I'm a major procrastinator but also hate admitting failure, much like you. My accountability posts have made a big difference for me, even if nobody is reading them.
Best of luck on that exam. It sounds like a doozy.
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