Don't put off until tomorrow, what you could do to....

Ever have an assignment at work, or a project at home, that always seems to be on your "to do" list, yet you never quite get to it? If you are anything like me, you do. This is commonly referred to as procrastination. Procrastination is defined by www.dictionary.com as "to defer an action; to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost." But what really are the negative effects of procrastinating?

There can be negative physical, employment and relational effects due to procrastination. Procrastination can lead to stress, depression and low self-esteem. Procrastination can have a negative economic impact as well. If people put off paying their bills, they might have to incur penalties, fees or maybe reconnection costs. Additionally, a person's credit score could then be impacted, thusly affecting a person's ability to purchase a car, home or other necessities. In the career world, procrastinating on projects can have a person labeled as lazy, lead to cluttered work areas, and missed career advancement. Finally, in relationships, people can become angry, annoyed, or frustrated when someone tells them they will do something and they don't come through.

Here are a few tips to help you overcome procrastination:

1. If a project or assignment seems overwhelming, break it into smaller tasks, to help you feel like it is more achievable. How would you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

2. Set yourself a timer to accomplish tasks. For example complete all your phone calls within a thirty minute time period.

3. Be aware of the messages you send yourself, they impact your motivation. Instead of using phrases such as "I should" or "I have to" which can lead to a negative thought process, try using more positive phrases such as "I choose to" or"I want to."

4. Organize...organize...organize. Set yourself a schedule, and prioritize the things that need to be completed in order of time/importance.

5. Reward yourself for not procrastinating. Provide yourself with little incentives as a means of accomplishing your tasks.