Productive Procrastination Book

 It’s officially summer, at least in the northern hemisphere, and for many of us there’s a sense that procrastination is a little more acceptable during the summer season.  What I’d like you to know is that what you think of as procrastination is actually a better strategy more often than you think. 

 

     In the article below I talk about one category of productive procrastination, or what I call “procrastivity”, the definition of which is “significantly enhanced productivity achieved through intelligently and creatively applying intentional procrastination”.  The other categories of procrastivity are outlined in my book, Productive Procrastination - Make it Work For You, Not Against You (available at Procrastivity.com orAmazon.com).

 

      And to celebrate the season and the concept of procrastivity, I’m giving away a PDF copy of the book.  See the article below for instructions on entering the drawing.  At the beginning of August I’ll pull one winning name from the list of those that respond.   

 

     Congratulations to Marié Julsing, of South Africa, winner of last month’s drawing.  Marié won the “Where Has The Time Gone Worksheet”, part ofThe Procrastination Solutions Kit.

 

     For those of you who are following my doctoral study progress, I  submitted my dissertation proposal and internal review board application to conduct my research - a big jump, in less than three weeks after I’d submitted my literature review.  Keep your fingers crossed for me that my proposal will be accepted with minimal changes, please!

 

     Enough about me!  How are you doing?  Honestly, I’d love to hear from you. Is there a subject or question you have in the area of self-leadership, productivity, and effectiveness?  Let me know - it may be featured in upcoming newsletters.  

 

   Wishing you a fabulous July and, as always, optimal procrastivity,

Kerul 

  

Kerul Kassel, Author of Productive Procrastination - Make It Work For You, Not Against You and the award-winning Stop Procrastinating Now - Five Radical Procrastination Strategies To Set You Free, both available at www.Procrastivity.com

 

 

Procrastinate When You Aren’t Sure

 

      Below is an updated version of an article I wrote a few years ago about the wisdom of *not* taking action when you are fuzzy about what action to take.

      This month I’m offering a drawing in which a reader (randomly chosen from a list of those who request to be entered into the drawing simply by emailing me at Kerul@NewLeafSystems.com) will receive a PDF version of my book Productive Procrastination - Make it Work For You, Not Against You.  The subject of this book is how to know when *not* doing something you think you “should” be doing is a better strategy than either kicking yourself for not taking action or doing something possibly misguided because you haven’t taken the time to allow the idea, the situation, your own mind or development to ripen .  The book, btw, is available atAmazon.com . 

 

      Here’s my advice: procrastinate when you aren’t sure. Wait… should you put something off just because you don’t have crystal clarity? Shouldn’t you be doing something - anything to create forward movement?  Shouldn’t we at least feel guilty for procrastinating?

 

     Usually, the answer is no.  Not all procrastination is created equal.  Just because you’re not doing what looks like real action toward a decision or goal doesn’t mean that: a) no action is happening, or b) action is appropriate at this moment.

 

     Make no mistake - I do *NOT* mean that you should put off action if you are about to lose something you value, if there are outside (not just internal) forces or deadlines that you must comply with, or if others are sincerely being put at a disadvantage because of your lack of action.  That would be irresponsible, insensitive, or inconsiderate, and that isn’t what I’m suggesting you do.  

 

     I have led many workshops in which participants were involved in developing a more in-depth picture of what they wanted their futures to look like, including their business or career goals, financial profile, personal aspirations, relationships, home life, etc. Participants usually hope to leave with a clear and thorough idea of what was next for them. Despite the exercises and discussion in the workshop, it sometimes doesn’t happen during the workshop.

 

     There are certainly things you can do to help the process along, from discussing your ideas with colleagues, friends, or family (or a trained coach!), mind-mapping and journaling.  More creative techniques include dream-boarding and meditating. Sometimes the most effective technique for defining your vision is to sit alone on a deserted beach or take a solitary hike in the woods.

 

     If you’ve played with those exercises and the vision is still vague, here’s my expert recommendation: wait. You read it right. Wait for the fuzziness to come into better focus. 

 

     To take action simply for the sake of taking action when ideas for forward movement are not yet clear usually results in frustration or regret. Instead, focus on other goals and activities in the meantime. You never know, engaging in them instead might lead to meeting someone, reading something, hearing or seeing an idea, resource, or event that is the stimulus forward, that connects you to the next steps or removes the veil in front of what you’d like your future to look like. 

 

     Sometimes waiting (what can feel like procrastinating) requires you to sit tight and be patient.  It also requires faith and trust, as well as self-confidence; faith that the information you need will come to you in time, trust that you’re not missing opportunities or shooting yourself in the foot while you wait, and self-confidence that you’re not being stupid, woo-woo, lazy, or using bad judgment. It’s not effortless to sustain that patience in the face of those internal critics, but it is possible. As you experience more positive outcomes it will get easier. 

 

     I’d love to hear about what you’ve waited for clarity about before you’ve taken action, and what your results were. Email me atkerul@newleafsystems.com. 

 

     Want help with understanding and transforming the way you use your energy, attention, effort, time, and other resources? I have room for just 1 new client in July.  Email or call right away if you’re interested.  

 

 

 INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

 

“Life was always a matter of waiting for the right moment to act.” 

~ Paulo Coelho ~ 

 

““Between the wish and the thing life lies waiting.”  ~ Author unknown ~

 

“Patience is waiting. Not passively waiting. That is laziness. But to keep going when the going is hard and slow - that is patience.” ~ Author unknown ~

 

 

A NOTE FROM THE PROCRASTIVITY NICHEPERT

    Holy cow!  Can you believe the year is almost half over?  Time does fly by, and the older I get the faster it goes.  Is it the same for you?  

 

     It’s a good time to ask: How are you doing on your goals for this year?  Are you going gang-busters or could your progress be better?  If the former, fabulous!  If the latter, maybe I can help.  Will you be the lucky one to win some free assistance?

 

      Many of you know that I’m always tweaking and enhancing my productivity practices, learning, developing, and using new tools.  It’s part of my obligation to you as your source for inspiring information to help you reach your optimal potential.  Recently, I found myself going back to a tool I developed a number of years ago. It’s one of the tools found in my Procrastination Solutions Kit and is a worksheet to help you track and design your life so as to get the best out of your goals, energy, and time.  The “Where Has The Time Gone Worksheet” has once again helped me bump up my self-management, and one of you readers will get the tool for free.  Simply email me telling me to enter you in the drawing, and I’ll pull one winning name from the list of those that respond.   All you have to do is email me to enter (Kerul@newleafsystems.com). 

 

     Please see the article below for more help on maximizing your potential by becoming more aware of how you spend your time.

 

     For those of you who are following my doctoral study progress, I’ve just submitted my literature review for feedback and will probably submit my dissertation proposal for review by the end of this month, about 27 months into the program.

 

     Enough about me!  How are you doing?  If you’d like to go beyond effectiveness, or if struggle and procrastination still dog you, consider the Procrastination Solutions Kit and my books Stop Procrastinating Now and Productive Procrastination, you’re just a few clicks away from rethinking your approach to better circumstances and more satisfaction.  Remember that doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.  You may just need an outside perspective, some brainstorming, and a few good tools to make fast progress toward your objectives.

 

   Wishing you a fabulous June, as always, optimal procrastivity,

Kerul 

  

Kerul Kassel, Author of Productive Procrastination - Make It Work For You, Not Against You and the award-winning Stop Procrastinating Now - Five Radical Procrastination Strategies To Set You Free, both available at www.Procrastivity.com

 

 

Where Did Your Time Go?

 

      Do you sometimes wonder at the end of the day, or the week, or even the month, where the time went, and feel dismayed because you’re not much closer to your professional or personal goals?

      This month I’m offering a drawing in which a reader (randomly chosen from a list of those who request to be entered into the drawing simply by emailing me at Kerul@NewLeafSystems.com) will get free access to a productivity tool.  The “Where Has The Time Gone Worksheet”, a piece of my Procrastination Solutions Kit (available at StopProcrastinatingNow.com) is designed to help you think about not only on the “this and that” of what you did, but also how you’re applying your time resource to the different aspects of your life. 

 

    You may be making real headway with your professional goals, but how are you doing with your health and fitness, or friendships, or home and family life, or favorite activities?  If I were to ask you to think about how much time per week you spent on each of these (and other) areas of your life, would you know how your time breaks out?  Over and over, I’ve found that when clients do this exercise (and when I do it myself!) that their top-of-the-head estimates are actually way off when they spend 15 or 20 minutes comparing them with their actual calendar.  That is, if they even use a calendar/diary/schedule. 

  

      Over and over, my clients have found that planning and tracking using a calendar/diary/schedule helps immensely, and those who initially resist it the most end up the finding the biggest benefit.

 

     In his book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey suggests you use the roles you play in your life (your professional role, as a parent, child, friend, neighbor, volunteer, homeowner, etc.) to examine how you’re conducting your life.  It’s a great lens to look through, so to speak.  Another lens, one that is a little simpler, is to look at the categories of time use, such as work, obligations, personal care, and play.  The idea is to make yourself aware of how you allocate your attention and energy (just as you might periodically track how much money you spend, it’s always just shocking!), and to help you use that awareness to recalibrate, and to build some intention and support around how you’d like your professional and personal life to look.

 

     Want help with understanding and transforming the way you use your energy, attention, effort, time, and other resources? I have room for just 2 new clients in June.  Email or call right away if you’re interested.  

 

     Also, you may also want to check out a bunch of Top Ten productivity tips amassed by my colleague, Meggin McIntosh, at www.TopTenProductivityTips.com. 

 

 INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

 

“The swiftness of time is infinite, as is still more evident when we look back on the past.” ~ Seneca ~ 

 

“The more business a man has to do, the more he is able to accomplish, for he learns to economize his time.  ~ Sir Matthew Hale ~

 

“He who know most grieves most for wasted time.” ~ Dante ~

    Do you find yourself struggle to juggle a number of tasks, obligations, responsibilities, and to-do’s? That’s where one of my anticrastination strategies can be a powerful aid to reducing overload, stress, and missed deadlines: Don’t Take Yes For An Answer. 

 

     Last night, while in a board meeting, I witnessed the board almost taking a step before having really considered what we were getting ourselves into.  That could have led to a decision that came back to bite us later, either because it overextended us financially or was too difficult to turn the idea into reality.  I see clients grapple with this same type of motivation in their own lives.  Please see the article below for how to recognize and stop yourself before you take on something that seems like a good idea but you might end up regretting soon after.     

 

     In the last few days I’ve gone from the frying pan into the ice bucket.  We had a gorgeous April in Florida, then on the first of May the hot (over 90F or over 33C) wiltingly humid weather began.  Just as we were getting two or three degrees of relief my schedule took me to the US Northeast where temperatures plummeted into the freezing zone.  Even so, the warblers have arrived and are singing, and the Phoebes are again nesting on our porch as they have done for many years.  

 

     For those of you who are curious about how my puppy, Darla, is doing after her total hip replacement a couple of months ago, she is back on full activity and is healthy, happy, and seems healed. A big thank you to all of you who wrote with good wishes and prayers.  We also adopted a new horse, Kody, when our neighbor couldn’t afford to keep him anymore.  Kody, who lost an eye about 6 months ago after surgery to remove a growth resulted in infection, is settling in with our herd.  In spite of having only one eye he can (and does) go for trail rides and is better adjusted than many fully-sighted horses I’ve seen.

 

     Enough about me!  How are you doing?  If you’d like to go beyond effectiveness, or if struggle and procrastination still dog you, consider the Procrastination Solutions Kit and my books Stop Procrastinating Now and Productive Procrastination, you’re just a few clicks away from rethinking your approach to better circumstances and more satisfaction.  Remember, discipline and will-power only take you so far - you’ve got to have a lot more arrows in your quiver than just them.

 

   Wishing you a delightful May, as always, optimal procrastivity,

Kerul 

  

Kerul Kassel, Author of Productive Procrastination - Make It Work For You, Not Against You and the award-winning Stop Procrastinating Now - Five Radical Procrastination Strategies To Set You Free, both available at www.Procrastivity.com

 

 

Don’t Take Yes For An Answer

 

      Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed with all your to-do’s, have difficulty managing your time well, or have trouble getting things done on time?  One reason could be because you’ve taken “yes” as an answer.

      This month I’m sharing a bit about Strategy #4 from my book Stop Procrastinating Now . Most of the time when we add something to our responsibilities or to-do list, we don’t really give much thought to whether it’s something that we really need to do or not, how we might accomplish it or whether we’re really committed to doing so.

 

     Before you include anything on your to-do list, it needs a brief examination. Could it be you’re just telling yourself you’ll do something without real intent and strategy to follow through? Don’t bother. You know what happens: You say you’ll do it, and then you ignore it, deny it, say you’ll do it just after you finish reading the paper, your e-mail, or the television show is over. You believe you have good intentions. And for the most part, you do, especially when you create the intention! But are your intentions serious and realistic?

 

     Stop just intending. Intention without action is like a car without wheels; you may have a vehicle, but it’s really hard to get anywhere.

 

     Have you evaluated this new activity or obligation in light of all the other things on your plate?  Where does it fit?  Is it more or less important that other things?  Is there anything you can remove, stop, delegate, or simplify to make room for this new intention?  If not, and if you already have too may plates spinning, so to speak, stop yourself before saying yes.  For now, just say “maybe” (perhaps even “no!”) before you make a challenging situation more so.

 

     Want help with understanding and transforming the obstacles on your path? I have room for just 1 new client in May.  Email or call right away if you’re interested.  

 

     Also, you may also want to check out a bunch of Top Ten productivity tips amassed by my colleague, Meggin McIntosh, at www.TopTenProductivityTips.com. 

 

 INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

 

““If we don’t see a failure as a challenge to modify our approach, but rather as a problem with ourselves, as a personality defect, we will immediately feel overwhelmed.” ~ Anthony Robbins ~ 

 

“Nobody ever did, or ever will, escape the consequences of his choices.~ Alfred Montapert ~

 

“Every person is responsible for all the good within the scope of his abilities, and for no more.” ~ Gail Hamilton ~

 

HUMOR

 

In Honor of Mothers Everywhere:

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

(Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions):

Why did God make mothers?

1.  She’s the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.

2.  Mostly to clean the house.

3.  To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1.  He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2.  Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3.  God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1.  God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2.  They had to get their start from men’s bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1.  We’re related.

2.  God knew she likes me a lot more than other people’s mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?

1.  My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2.  I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3.  They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?

1.  His last name.

2.  She had to know his background.  Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3.  Does he make at least $800 a year?  Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1.  My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world.  And my mom eats a lot

2.  She got too old to do anything else with him.

3.  My grandma says that mom didn’t have her thinking cap on.

Who’s the boss at your house?

1.  Mom doesn’t want to be boss, but she has to because dad’s such a goof ball.

2.  Mom.  You can tell by room inspection.  She sees the stuff under the bed.

3.  I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What’s the difference between moms and dads?

1.  Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.

2.  Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3.  Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power ’cause that’s who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.

4.  Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

 What does your mom do in her spare time?

1.  Mothers don’t do spare time.

2.  To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

 What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1.  On the inside she’s already perfect.  Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2.  Diet.  You know, her hair.  I’d diet, maybe blue.

 If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?

1.  She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean.  I’d get rid of that.

2.  I’d make my mom smarter.  Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.

3.  I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

A NOTE FROM THE PROCRASTIVITY NICHEPERT

     The coldest winter on record has broken its hold here in Florida, I’m grateful to say.  Since I’d moved here for the warm winter weather, the long chilly winter had me thinking I might have to move to Costa Rica.  Okay, not really, but it’s nice to be out of hibernation and outdoors.  I don’t like to admit it, but for me, mentally overcoming the cold is one piece of self-leadership I have not yet mastered.         What aspects of self-leadership do you grapple with?  Do you experience obstacles you haven’t yet found a way around?  Check out the article below for some beyond-the-usual tips to troubleshoot the stumbling blocks you may encounter on your way to personal mastery.        A bit of new on the personal front: our puppy, Darla, had her total hip replacement 6 weeks ago and seems to be healing well.  Her first post-surgical x-ray is this week.  It’s been a frustrating time for her, having to always be on a leash connected to us no matter where she is or what she is doing, except for overnight in her crate.  It’s been quite the distraction and productivity-killer for me, too, and we’re all looking forward to when she can be free of her “ball and chain”.  A big thank you to all of you who wrote with good wishes and prayers.      Enough about me!  How are you doing?  If you’d like to go beyond effectiveness, or if struggle and procrastination still dog you, consider the Procrastination Solutions Kit and my books Stop Procrastinating Now and Productive Procrastination, you’re just a few clicks away from rethinking your approach to better circumstances and more satisfaction.  Remember, discipline and will-power only take you so far - you’ve got to have a lot more arrows in your quiver than just them.

   Wishing you a delightful April, as always, optimal procrastivity,

Kerul 

  

Kerul Kassel, Author of Productive Procrastination - Make It Work For You, Not Against You and the award-winning Stop Procrastinating Now - Five Radical Procrastination Strategies To Set You Free, both available at www.Procrastivity.com

 

 

How Obstacles Are Actually Resources

 

     It’s normal to get frustrated by wrinkles in your plans.  Normal, at least, from the perspective of what most people experience before they break through the paradigm that all obstacles on the path to their goals should be banished or prevented.       Of course, I’m not suggesting that you seek out hindrances, but even with the best preparations it is likely you’ll face what feel like stumbling blocks.  Rather than being impediments, they may actually be resources to help you accomplish not only your more immediate desires, but others you may not yet have even thought of.           I’m not referring to the clichéd notion about turning lemons into lemonade.  It’s much more about understanding how your own mental and emotional pattern about perceived constraints can make the difference between feeling dismayed, delayed, and disheartened versus curious, conformable, and can-do.      Here are some ideas to help you make the transition: 

•       If you’re not following through on a task or goal, stop berating yourself and instead ask yourself what might be in the way.  Is there something that feels uncomfortable to do?  What about it is uncomfortable?  That information is crucial!  It contains the key to creating a work-around or removing the obstacle completely.  For example, recently a client had been putting off making calls to some business contacts and realized it was because he didn’t want to be perceived as a pest.  That concern was the information he needed to overcome his reluctance.  By crafting an approach that made the call about sincerely serving the person he was calling, it removed his resistance.

 

•       Does a dark cloud materialize over you when a glitch or hitch in your progress develops?  This may involve two specific mental patterns that are not exactly productive.  The first is associated with an unrealistic expectation that your path should be smooth and easy.  The second is that every obstacle needs to be prevented or removed a.s.a.p.  The reality is that things rarely proceed without unforeseen events or circumstances – that’s life.  To get upset about them wastes both energy and time, as well as the opportunities we are blind to because they are perceived only as encumbrances.  Perhaps an important appointment you were looking forward to gets cancelled, or someone you wanted to work with rejects your inquiry – it has happened to many of my clients (and myself) that the loss of what we had hoped for creates space for a better appointment or deal or mentor or team member than we might have originally gotten.

 

•       It’s only when we’re pursuing our aspirations that we experience obstacles.  The bigger and hairier the aspiration, the more daunting the obstacles – it means we’re pushing the envelope of our boundaries and that’s a good thing.  We don’t get what we really want, nor do we generally appreciate it, without putting significant effort and persistence into it.  Obstacles also usually precede significant leaps so, unless you let the obstacle discourage and distract you, the deeper you are in it the closer you are to a new understanding and better results.    

      Want help with understanding and transforming the obstacles on your path? I have room for just 2 new clients in April.  Email or call right away if you’re interested.        Also, you may also want to check out a bunch of Top Ten productivity tips amassed by my colleague, Meggin McIntosh, at www.TopTenProductivityTips.com. 

 

A NOTE FROM THE PROCRASTIVITY NICHEPERT

    Whether you’re writing a report, a paper, an article, or a book, trying to complete a large project, or make headway toward a long-term goal (all of my clients seek to achieve one or more of these), do you struggle, experience frustration or delays, maybe even procrastinate?  Do you know how to remove the barriers standing in your way, or are you even aware that there are barriers?  Are you merely being efficient and effective (if even that), and not truly productive?  Check out the article below for some beyond-the-usual tips to improve your productivity.  

 

     You may remember that I was on the verge of a long driving trip to get Tanna, the dog we were fostering, to his “forever” home.  Due to weather, the Missouri trip got cancelled, but we were blessed with help with transport that only required us to drive to Memphis, TN (from the Orlando, FL area), about 14 hours each way.  My husband and I found dog and horse care and took a road trip together last week.  A lovely couple in Tennessee then drove Tanna to Colorado, where he will be fostered until his new owners pick him up on March 1 or 2.  All the pieces fell in place with help from some wonderful, caring people who stepped in to help Tanna reach his new home safely and happily.  A deed well done, and done well, I’d like to think. 

 

     Good thing, too, as our puppy, Darla, will have her total hip replacement surgery March 2, followed by 8-10 weeks of close supervision and very restricted activity.  I’ve taken a leave of absence from my studies for a month to help her get through the healing process (but that doesn’t mean I won’t be studying - there will just be slower progress and less pressure because I won’t be paying tuition).  If you pray, might you please include Darla in your prayers?

 

   Enough about me!  How are you doing?  If you’d like to go beyond effectiveness, or if procrastination still dogs you, consider the Procrastination Solutions Kit and my books Stop Procrastinating Now and Productive Procrastination, you’re just a few clicks away from rethinking your approach to better circumstances and more satisfaction.  Remember, discipline and will-power only take you so far - you’ve got to have a lot more arrows in your quiver than just them.

   Wishing you a delightful March, as always, optimal procrastivity,

Kerul 

  

Kerul Kassel, Author of Productive Procrastination - Make It Work For You, Not Against You and the award-winning Stop Procrastinating Now - Five Radical Procrastination Strategies To Set You Free, both available at www.Procrastivity.com

 

 

Better Than Efficient And Effective

 

      Most productivity experts will remind you that being quick and using less effort to accomplish a task, in other words being efficient, are not enough to qualify as being productive.  It’s true, if your efforts are not adequate to accomplish a purpose or  to produce the intended or expected result, you aren’t being effective, and therefore not productive.  

      But being efficient, and even effective, are not enough.  

 

      Here are some additional criteria that are crucial to real productivity:

  

•       Does your goal or result serve a value that is a true priority for you, your role, or your organization?  We often pursue ideals that are cultural, family or organizational preferences that remain unexamined.  They may not really resonate for who we are or generate creativity and innovation toward better possibilities.  Or we have so many priorities that we get caught up in urgent or short-term matters and never get to the important, longer-term ones, those that don’t just make us feel “successful” in terms of a good evaluation, material wealth, or being busy for busy’s sake, but have real meaning for us, or real benefit for our organizations.

 

•       Is effort toward this goal bringing out the best in you?  Everyone has different talents, skills, strengths, and gifts.  Western culture rewards only a limited slice of human potential, so you may be applying yourself in areas that do not bring out your best self, and you may even be punishing yourself for the gifts you do have because they’re not the preferred gifts.  Does your career or learning path take advantage of them?  You may not yet know how best to apply your strengths, or even what they are, but don’t let that stop you from experimenting to find what will work best for you. 

 

•       Are the goals and results you are seeking the best way to achieve your (or your organization’s) long-term ends?  Sometimes we struggle for weeks, months, or even years in pursuit of a goal.  I’ve worked with many clients who have been frustrated because of lack of progress, but who suddenly experience lots of forward movement when we start working together. Why?  When they are willing to explore possible barriers, experiment with other means to their long-term ends, or reevaluate the interim goals they set toward those ends, we remove all sorts of obstacles.   

 

     Want help with going beyond efficient and effective in your professional or personal life?  I have room for just 1 new client in March.  Email or call right away if you’re interested.  

 

     Also, you may also want to check out a bunch of Top Ten productivity tips amassed by my colleague, Meggin McIntosh, at www.TopTenProductivityTips.com. 

 

 INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

 

“The key is not to prioritize what’s on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities.”  ~ Stephen Covey

 

“I learned that we can do anything, but we can’t do everything… at least not at the same time. So think of your priorities not in terms of what activities you do, but when you do them. Timing is everything.”  ~ Dan Millman

 

“Pick up any newspaper or magazine, open the TV, and you’ll be bombarded with suggestions of how to have a successful life. Some of these suggestions are deeply unhelpful to our own projects and priorities - and we should take care” ~ Alain de Botton 

  This month’s Procrastivity Tip (below) comes directly from recent client situations, but in some ways it parallels my own personal experiences.  I’ve been fostering (yet another) rescue dog.  His name is Tanna, and we’ve had him for about a month.  After fielding a number of calls from potential adopters, we found a good home, but it entails my driving him from Florida to Missouri over Valentines Day weekend (flying is not an option and the adoptive family is driving from Colorado to Missouri to meet me).

   It’s 18 hours each way, which means a probable 3 to 4 day trip, and missing the romantic holiday with my husband, who will stay home to take care of our dogs and horses.  It also means that I won’t get as far with my studies and other tasks as I had planned.  Is this a monkey wrench, as I’ve been telling myself, or is it really a commitment to making sure Tanna safely gets to his loving forever home.  Driving him to Missouri is not something I think I’ll ever have regrets about.  Perhaps it’s also an opportunity to see new geography, listen to a good audio book or two, and take a break from my hectic routine.

   Enough about me!  How are your 2010 plans going?  If you’d like to be more effective and productive, or if procrastination still dogs you, consider the Procrastination Solutions Kit and my books Stop Procrastinating Now and Productive Procrastination, you’re just a few clicks away from rethinking your approach to better circumstances and more satisfaction.  Remember, discipline and will-power only take you so far - you’ve got to have a lot more arrows in your quiver than just them.

   Wishing you a delightful February, as always, optimal procrastivity,

Kerul 

  

Kerul Kassel, Author of Productive Procrastination - Make It Work For You, Not Against You and the award-winning Stop Procrastinating Now - Five Radical Procrastination Strategies To Set You Free, both available at www.Procrastivity.com

 

Procrastivity Thought Patterns

      Do you realize that the way you spend your time indicates what you are committed to?  You know how you say you want to do something but end up doing something else, whether it’s a longer term goal or just day-to-day tasks?  You may even plan your day and pay attention to your calendar, but some monkey wrench gets thrown into the works and you get pushed off track.

   

   We prioritize our commitments; we usually don’t do so deliberately, but by default.  What are your default commitments and are they serving you as you’d like them to?

   What do you say to yourself when you realize that you haven’t followed through the way you wanted to?  Do your ask yourself “What’s wrong with me?”, or “Why can’t I just get things done?” Do you tell yourself “I’ll never be efficient!” or “I’m so disorganized!” or “I wish I could get my act together”?  

   Well, let me ask you this: do those thought patterns help you feel capable and competent or prepare you to tackle your goals?  I’m guessing…not so much.  That kind of self-talk is exactly what puts you deeper in a hole, feeling worse about yourself and your situation.

   Here are some alternatives you can use when you’re beating yourself up for what you haven’t yet accomplished: 

• “Are these self-critical thoughts helpful for me? What would be more beneficial?” 
• “Okay, I haven’t done that yet, but what can I do right now (or today, or this week) to get it done, and when am I committing to doing it?”  
• “What do I need to know or do to get back on track or at least make some progress?” 

   Want help with following through your professional or personal life?  I have room for 1 new client in February.  Email or call if you’re interested.

 INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.”  ~Winston Churchill

“Too many people miss the silver lining because they’re expecting gold.”  ~Maurice Setter

“Fear is a habit; so is self-pity, defeat, anxiety, despair, hopelessness and resignation. You can eliminate all of these negative habits with two simple resolves: I can!! and I will!!” ~ Unknown 

Nichepert’s Note - Rethinking Resolutions 

Why New Year’s Resolutions Are a Bad Idea

Inspirational Quotes

A NOTE FROM THE PROCRASTIVITY NICHEPERT

   Has the new year started off well for you?  Was it easy or difficult - or somewhere in between - to get back into the swing of things?  It was harder for me this year as my mind and body really needed to slow down and take a real rest.  I knew that losing my momentum would mean I’d have to push myself a little harder to get back up to speed. The sweet rest, relaxation, even taking time away from email and housekeeping, felt so good that I wanted it to continue for a while longer! 

 

   The year started without resolutions - “What!?” you say?  “The procrastivity expert doesn’t have any New Year’s Resolutions?”  Nope!  Read why below, in this month’s tip.

 

   On a professional note, I was asked (and elected) to become part of the Board of Governors of the International Association of Coaching.  I’ve been credentialed by them for a number of years, and it’s now my pleasure to give back to the coaching community with this three year commitment.  

 

   If you’re following my doctoral study progress, I’ve passed my comprehensives, have submitted the 3rd revision on my concept paper, and have my first dissertation committee meeting in a week.  I’d set a huge goal for last year’s end, a higher bar than I knew was likely (having a rough draft of my dissertation proposal) and I’m not far away from it.  While I didn’t reach that goal (I didn’t really expect to) by setting that bar high I’m considerably farther along in the program than if I’d had a smaller goal.  

 

   If procrastination still dogs you, consider the Procrastination Solutions Kitand my books Stop Procrastinating Now and Productive Procrastination, you’re just a few clicks away from rethinking your approach to better circumstances and more satisfaction.  Remember, discipline and will-power only take you so far - you’ve got to have a lot more arrows in your quiver than just them.

   Wishing you a delightful start to the year and, as always, optimal procrastivity,

Kerul 

  

Kerul Kassel, Author of Productive Procrastination - Make It Work For You, Not Against You and the award-winning Stop Procrastinating Now - Five Radical Procrastination Strategies To Set You Free, both available at www.Procrastivity.com

 

 

Why New Year’s Resolutions Are A Bad Idea

 

   Did you make resolutions, or did you throw up your hands in frustration (or barely give it a thought), knowing that you’re unlikely to make those resolutions stick? For most people, resolutions are something that goes in one year and out the other. 

   Because they’re so fraught with a history of failure, maybe it’s time to nix resolutions entirely, or at least temporarily (like Strategy #2 from my book Stop Procrastinating Now), for this year.

   But that doesn’t mean we should give up on making improvements to our habits and circumstances.  Instead of making resolutions, make PLANS.  Plans are better than resolutions because usually they’re more practical, specific, scheduled, and broken down into manageable slivers.  You can also adjust them as you go, week by week, because life will inevitably intrude and mess them up (yes, you know it will, so plan for it!).

   They shouldn’t be big, daunting plans, just something to either get a little you more of what you do want (more productive, effective, more fit, more savings, better relationships) and/or less of what you don’t (less wasted time, less debt, less weight, less smoking).  Even 10%, 15%, or 20% of an improvement is a help, particularly when the alternative is giving up on a resolution entirely.

   Want help in incorporating plans into your professional or personal life?  I have room for 3 new clients in January.  Email or call if you’re interested.

 INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

 

“Good resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.” ~ Oscar Wilde

 

“New Year’s Day… now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.” ~ Mark Twain

 

“May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions!” ~ Joey Adams

In This Blog Post

Nichepert’s Note - December Indulgence & January Regrets, Orlando Book Signing

Why So Many New Year’s Resolutions Fail

Inspirational Quotes

A NOTE FROM THE PROCRASTIVITY NICHEPERT

   Even though it’s the start of the holiday season and we’re inclined to take it easy and enjoy, most of us have experienced January regrets for having spent and eaten too much and having planned and strategized too little in December.  

   If you’d like to use the start of a new year to launch some goals, reach some dreams, or change some habits it’s a wise idea to start thinking about  those intentions in December, so you’re well prepared to succeed come January.  For some ideas, see the article below, which I originally published exactly five years ago.  It bears repeating!

   If you’re in the Orlando area and like books, I’m doing a book signing at Urban Think, a great indie bookstore in downtown Orlando. The signing is 2-5pm on Saturday, December 5, 2009.  Here’s a link for the store:http://www.urbanthinkorlando.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp

   Christmas Eve marks the one year anniversary of my brother’s sudden and unexpected passing, and I’ll be heading out to Palm Desert to spend time with my mom at my brother’s place there.  

   If you’re thinking about holiday gifts, the Procrastination Solutions Kitand my books Stop Procrastinating Now and Productive Procrastinationare just a few clicks away.  Or, give yourself these gifts.

   Wishing you a wonderful, healthy, blessing-filled December and, as always, optimal procrastivity,

Kerul 

  

Kerul Kassel, Author of Productive Procrastination - Make It Work For You, Not Against You and the award-winning Stop Procrastinating Now - Five Radical Procrastination Strategies To Set You Free, both available at www.Procrastivity.com

 

 

Why So Many New Year’s Resolutions Don’t Work

 

   Some people have no problem creating New Year’s resolutions and then making them work sustainably.  Most of us, though, either barely start them or leave them behind after a couple of weeks.  It’s frustrating and eats away at self-confidence in our ability to accomplish things.

   Why is it that so many people fail to keep those resolutions?  Why do we make the same or similar resolutions each year when we couldn’t achieve it the year before?

   One reason is that resolutions are often poorly made.  Like most other goals, they need to be SMART, but we also need to apply CRAFT to them. 

    Here’s an explanation for SMART:

Specific - your goal should have its expected outcome stated as simply, concisely and explicitly as possible. This answers questions such as; how much, for whom, for what?

Measurable - a measurable goal has an outcome that can be assessed either on a sliding scale (1-10), or as a hit or miss, success or failure.

Achievable - an achievable goal has an outcome that is realistic given your current situation, resources and time available. Goal achievement may be more of a “stretch” if the outcome is tough or you have a weak starting position.

Relevant - a relevant goal should help you on your mission or your “bigger” objectives.

 Timely - a time-bound goal includes realistic timeframes.

   All this is great, but in my professional experience, it’s often not enough.  That’s why we have to use CRAFT criteria:

Consequential - assign some consequence for not following through.  You can make your resolution more sustainable if your consequence is distasteful enough to motivate you.

Resourceful - be creative and use your imagination to find various methods and strategies to support you in staying with your resolution.  If something doesn’t work the first time, play with it and look for another way to get the same or similar outcome.  Dont’ think you’ve failed - you haven’t.  You just haven’t found a workable solution yet.

 Aligned - make sure your resolution is well aligned with your true desires.  “Lose 20 pounds” is only a means to a goal, and the goal is probably to look and feel better.  There are many ways to look and feel better, and you’ll probably have more success with them than “Lose 20 pounds” - which sounds like deprivation and struggle, if you ask me.  

 Flexible - don’t make your resolutions rigid and too difficult to follow - it’s too daunting and you’re more likely to fail.  Instead of every day as a goal for a new habit, 3-4 times per week is more approachable, and you’re more likely to follow through long enough to make it a habit.  If you only follow through twice this week, you can do 4-5 times next week.  Don’t get hung up with being too strict.  It’s deadly to productive new habits!

 Tempting - make the resolution more tempting by incorporating some additional reward for following through.  If you want to get organized, for example, once you’ve de-cluttered a room, take yourself out to a movie, or buy yourself an attractive new container to keep your stuff in.  Make it count for you, and it will act as an additional incentive.

 Want help in incorporating CRAFT into your resolutions and goals?  I have room for 4 new clients in January.  Email or call if you’re interested.

 

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

 

 

 The Best Prayer I’ve Heard In A Long Time

(note - of unknown origin and sent virally via email)

 

Heavenly Father, 

Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children. 

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can’t make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester. 

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares. 

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together. 

Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love. It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear. 

Open our hearts not to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience, empathy and love.

A NOTE FROM THE PROCRASTIVITY NICHEPERT

    It was Halloween last Saturday, and the Christmas commercials on television have already started.  I wondered if that was a new record for early Christmas TV advertising.  

 

   Well, one good strategy to avoid procrastination is to start with reminders early.  Of course, if you ignore the reminders or take no action to make sure things happen, the reminders end up being little more than annoyances - that is, until they’re late enough that they’re catalysts for the cold sweat felt when a deadline is fast approaching.  

 

   How do you handle deadlines?  Do you like the whooshing sound they make as they pass you by?  Or do you find yourself in that cold sweat more often than you like?  

 

    It’s your priorities that determine which outcome you get.   And in my professional experience I have found that often people are not even aware of the priorities that are motivating their choices. Does a priority of productivity cost you in terms of relationship happiness?  Or is it the reverse: a need to be liked results in not setting boundaries or making others accountable?  

 

    If this subject resonates for you, read the article below.  You could win a free month of coaching (3 half-hour coaching sessions by phone) if you write and share your story with me [one response will be chosen - the deadline is 12pm noon Eastern Time on November 12, 2009].

 

    Oh, before I forget, I’ll be doing a book signing for both of my books, Stop Procrastinating Now and Productive Procrastination, in Orlando and the famous Urban Think bookstore on Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 2-4pm.  If you’re in the area I’d love to see you there.  You might even win a copy of the books.

 

    On another note, if your networking efforts aren’t going well, try Blitz Time , a new service that offers a new way of networking - on the phone from the convenience of wherever you happen to be (in your PJs or sweats!), with no mediocre meal you’re paying too much for, and no travel and traffic, to meet a bunch of small business owners looking to network with others.  Check it out here.  

 

    For those of you following my doctoral studies pace, I have my doctoral committee together (except for the external reader), have submitted a first revision of my concept paper, and am waiting for comprehensive assessment feedback. What does that mean?  I hope to have a draft of my dissertation proposal done by the end of the year (about 1 year and 8 months into the program).  That’s less than 2 months away!!! Yikes!  Wanna know one of my motivators for getting through the program swiftly?  The cost of tuition, which I divided by day, so every day I don’t make a good effort I think of the money down the drain.  It works as a good “hit man” for me (a reference from my book “Stop Procrastinating Now - more below).

 

  I’d love to hear from you if you have any thoughts about personal development strategies that have worked for you.  You might even be featured in an upcoming newsletter!

 

    Finally, if you haven’t yet gotten your copy of either of my books, remember they’re available at both www.Procrastivity.com and www.Amazon.com. 

 

      Wishing you all optimal procrastivity, as always, and a fabulous November,

Kerul 

  

Kerul Kassel, Author of Productive Procrastination - Make It Work For You, Not Against You and the award-winning Stop Procrastinating Now - Five Radical Procrastination Strategies To Set You Free, both available at www.Procrastivity.com

 

 

 

COMFORT - A HUGE STUMBLING BLOCK:  IS IT YOUR *REAL* PRIORITY?

 

    ”Don’t tell me where your priorities are. Show me where you spend your money and I’ll tell you what they are.” J.W. Frick 

 

    I’d amend the second sentence of this quote to read “Show me where you spend your *time* and money and I’ll tell you what they are.”

 

    We all hold certain values dear, and we make visible how we prioritize those values through our everyday actions, for better or worse.  If what you say you want for yourself is very different from what you have, one reason could be that you’re tripping over your priorities.  

 

    A common stumbling block I have found with my clients is that they don’t realize how highly they prioritize comfort.  I don’t mean just physical comfort; the need for emotional and psychic comfort can be just as much a dream-killer.  

 

Comfort isn’t a bad thing in an of itself, certainly, but staying in one’s comfort zone makes positive change very difficult.  It can feel threatening when we evaluate our actions, reactions, and beliefs, and find they’re not very effective, attractive, or realistic.  Ouch! 

 

    Usually, we’re completely unaware of the priorities that are driving us.  A client of mine, Candace, wanted to be more organized and to better manage her schedule.  At first Candace found it uncomfortable to play with new habits such as spending a few minutes in the morning planning her day and checking in with her calendar regularly throughout the day.  She resisted by creating rationalizations for her way of doing things.  After a discussion about the priority of comfort and how resistance and discomfort are always found just before breakthrough, Candace was able to begin to overcome them.  She started experimenting with her techniques which took little time or effort but helped her be more effective and organized. 

 

     The comfort priority has a wide variety of masks and is behind many dissatisfactions: the student who is not staying current with his studies, business owner who is not creating or following a marketing plan to bring business in, the professional who is all work and no play, the solopreneur who insists on doing everything herself.  Even though there’s a degree of discomfort for each of these people in not having what they want (to be caught up on studies, to have business rolling in, to have a balanced lifestyle, to delegate or hire out responsibilities), there is greater discomfort in creating change than to stay the same.

 

    Contemplating our new improved self  - who we’ll be once we master a bit of change - can also feel unpleasant.  Will people close to us be angry that we’ve changed?  What if we fail to keep up the positive change - do we deserve the label of loser?  What if we make the effort but the change doesn’t give us the results we hoped for?  Oh yes, all these concerns rear their ugly little heads, but they are not red stop lights.  They are amber caution lights, urging us to look around, to be aware of potholes, and to plan how we’ll respond to them.  

 

    Be aware that going too far beyond the threshold of comfort can be counterproductive.  The most effective learning is found in the slight to moderate discomfort zone, but learning and change become more difficult the farther away you get from your comfort threshold.  

 

     Experiment with small things first, just at the edge of the threshold.  Remember that a breakthrough is just on the other side of discomfort.

 

    Where are you a bit too comfortable, living in a sort of satin-lined coffin of discontent?  Write and tell me about it.  You may be chosen for a free month of coaching.

 

INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES

 

 

 “Action expresses priorities.”  ~ Mahatma Ghandi

 

“Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it.  Establish your priorities and go to work.” ~ H. L. Hunt

 

“There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do.” ~ Freya Stark

   Do you ever set a deadline, not meet it, and then make yourself miserable?  Been there, done that.But I’ve learned a few things, and I’ll illustrate by using an example from my own life.  I’m almost half way through the doctoral program I’m working my way through and am now focusing on the comprehensive assessment, which I’d hoped to complete by the end of August.While working on the three essays that comprise this required assignment I realized that my ideas were not as informed or crystalized as I need them to be.   Racking own brain to further develop ideas wasn’t fruitful.Instead of beating myself up about it, I’ve been using the last to two weeks to sponge up and filter through more literature.  I’m reaching out to the academic community through reading and writing to scholars in this area to help these assigns take form.  (See tip on not being independent, below).  This work will also help me in other upcoming assignments.  Rather than attempting to push through and being frustrated, I’m reaching out for help.  You should, too, whenever you hit a snag or are struggling.  Independence can sometimes be over-rated.On another note, I’m hosting a Blitz Time networking call this month on Getting Out Of Your Own Way and I’d love for you to join me - there’s not cost involved except possibly your long distance carrier’s charge. It’s on Tuesday, September 8 at 12pm Eastern/US. Here’s the link:http://www.blitztime.com/events/3347-1128767668-179608Blitz Time, by the way, is a new service that offers a new way of networking - on the phone from the convenience of wherever you happen to be (in your PJs or sweats!), with no mediocre meal you’re paying too much for, and no travel and traffic, to meet a bunch of small business owners looking to network with others.  Check it out here.I’d love to hear from you if you have any thoughts about personal development strategies that have worked for you.  You might even be featured in an upcoming newsletter!Do you need a vacation?  On a budget?  Check out the blurb below for information on opportunities, from Margie, a woman I met through BlitzTime.Finally, if you haven’t yet gotten your copy of either of my books, remember they’re available at both www.Procrastivity.com and www.Amazon.com.Wishing you all optimal procrastivity, as always, and a fabulous August,KerulKerul Kassel, Author of Productive Procrastination - Make It Work For You, Not Against You and the award-winning Stop Procrastinating Now - Five Radical Procrastination Strategies To Set You Free, both available atwww.Procrastivity.com

7 TIME MANAGEMENT PITFALLS THAT ARE COSTING YOU MONEY, RESULTS, AND THE MOST PRECIOUS COMMODITY ANYWHERE - TIME

What NOT To Do To Get Dramatically Better Results

         DO NOT attempt to be independentDo you think extremely successful people get that way by doing everything themselves?  Not a chance!They understand that they have particular gifts, and that’s where they focus their efforts.  They leave the rest to others because they know that doing otherwise will hamper their effectiveness, and reduce their potential for success.If you’re not effectively and continually delegating whatever you can, wherever you can, you’re limiting your results, and your satisfaction.  Don’t use lack of funds as an excuse.  Whether you have money to pay other people or not, there are ways to delegate or barter that don’t require the exchange of funds.  Use your imagination and reach out to others – there’s always a way.These days, with the advent of Elance.com and Guru.com, and in these days of professional organizers, and virtual and personal assistants, there is a huge pool of  skilled, experienced, and inexpensive helpers.  If applicable, negotiate with your superiors by proving you’ll be more valuable to the company by delegating.Yes, I know that there’s a risk that someone else won’t do a task as well or as quickly as you could, and that there will be an initial investment of time to find the right people and get them up to speed, but it’s a better investment that doing it yourself.Activities you hate doing or aren’t good at are two areas to start picking from to delegate.  After all, how much time are you losing by not applying yourself to what you *are* good at?  There are also the activities you might not mind, but they may still not be the most productive use of your time.Start small and experiment, and you’ll find that your life won’t fall apart, nor will you become a snob, if you start removing tasks from your plate that someone better suited could be doing for you.  Don’t expect that all experiments will go well – some, perhaps many, won’t.  Don’t let that stop you.INSPIRATIONAL QUOTES”Interdependency follows independence.” ~ Stephen Covey“A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depend on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving.” ~ Albert Einstein”Diversity: the art of thinking independently together.” ~Malcolm Stevenson ForbesNeed a vacation?  On a budget?Do you NEED a vacation?  Do you like to vacation 1st class but have the beer budget?  Are you booking your vacations online?  Do you get a check back with your confirmation?   Would you shop at stores that would guarantee you the best deals & guarantee you up to 20% cash back?  Contact Margie Basaraba @ Check It Out Travel for more info & a FREE VIP shopping pass!  509-924-3476 or www.checkitouttravel.info