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Procrastinators find ways to avoid the unavoidable
By Wan Lixin |
August 18, 2012, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE highest level alert was issued and emergency preparations were in place as Typhoon Haikui, one of the most disruptive storms in recent memory, struck Shanghai last Wednesday.
Hundreds of flights were canceled, thousands of ships were moored, even the super-plush bullet train service was in disarray. My sister spent 12 hours traveling from Shanghai to Tianjin that day on the cutting-edge Gaotie, and felt grateful: there were massive cancellations of train services.
In spite of highest-level alert, two casualties were reported.
One 57-year-old woman was fatally injured by flying glass from a dilapidated window in a tall residential building in Baoshan District.
According to the property management of the neighborhood, during the previous typhoon, five panes of glass had fallen from the same building, and the management had meant to fix the problem. They procrastinated, and Haikui caught up.
There are more benign instances of delay.
Since early this year, I have bought nearly 100 books online. At one time I was simply mesmerized by the efficiency of home delivery service. I filled in the order form online, and presto, in less than two days, the books were on my book shelf.
The problem is, 90 percent of these new acquisitions are likely to remain there for the next five years.
As a professional writer, I am from time to time consoled by the growing pile of clippings indicating my creative power.
But how would my output be compromised if I am not threatened regularly with daily or weekly deadlines? Would I exert myself as much? Would I write at all?
Jeffery Combs explains in his "The Procrastination Cure: 7 Steps to Stop Putting Life Off" that the word "procrastination" derives from the Latin verb "procrastinare," meaning "to put off until tomorrow."
But as tomorrow creeps upon us day by day, relentlessly, we are frittering our time away.
Combs believes delays are caused by self-defeating emotions or attitudes, which he attributes to six kinds of procrastinators.
"Neurotic perfectionists" procrastinate because they know they can't achieve the impossibly high standards they set.
"Big-deal chasers" have big dreams but no realistic plans to make them come true.
"Chronic worriers" become paralyzed by needless anxiety.
"Rebellious procrastinators" burn out by engaging in conflict.
"Drama addicts" create delays to maximize tension.
"Angry givers" constantly do favors for other people but never do anything self-directed.
Importantly, the author points out that procrastination is not a cause, but the effect of an attempt to eliminate or avoid possibly painful activities.
It's so easy for any procrastinator to put off his or her obligations today, for even a simple electronic gadget can deliver enormous distraction or addiction in the form of posts, online tidbits, computer game and other entertainment.
Most parents help discipline their children by simply restricting their access to computers. That's very sensible. The tragedy for adults is their lack of such powerful figures to help wean them from the cyber world.
Five years ago, a disciplined individual could strike preemptively by simply shutting down the computer when it was not in use. Today it is getting more difficult, as most mobiles have developed computer functions.
Still, change is possible for the determined.
To make change, one must first admit that procrastination is a problem, then look for the reasons for delay.
Then one should take time to shed both physical clutter and emotional issues that prevent quick action when needed.
Live in the immediate present, rather than put off the task.
It's not easy. As Combs observes, "Transformation from occasional and chronic procrastination is not an overnight process."
The book suggests procrastinators try to develop seven primary positive habits, including:
Manage yourself in time. Start with not procrastinating for 15 minutes.
Set small goals - be realistic.
Organize yourself and your life to get over the procrastination hump.
Keep a written record to help manage your new routines. Affirm your sense of organization daily.
Eliminate distractions.
Hundreds of flights were canceled, thousands of ships were moored, even the super-plush bullet train service was in disarray. My sister spent 12 hours traveling from Shanghai to Tianjin that day on the cutting-edge Gaotie, and felt grateful: there were massive cancellations of train services.
In spite of highest-level alert, two casualties were reported.
One 57-year-old woman was fatally injured by flying glass from a dilapidated window in a tall residential building in Baoshan District.
According to the property management of the neighborhood, during the previous typhoon, five panes of glass had fallen from the same building, and the management had meant to fix the problem. They procrastinated, and Haikui caught up.
There are more benign instances of delay.
Since early this year, I have bought nearly 100 books online. At one time I was simply mesmerized by the efficiency of home delivery service. I filled in the order form online, and presto, in less than two days, the books were on my book shelf.
The problem is, 90 percent of these new acquisitions are likely to remain there for the next five years.
As a professional writer, I am from time to time consoled by the growing pile of clippings indicating my creative power.
But how would my output be compromised if I am not threatened regularly with daily or weekly deadlines? Would I exert myself as much? Would I write at all?
Jeffery Combs explains in his "The Procrastination Cure: 7 Steps to Stop Putting Life Off" that the word "procrastination" derives from the Latin verb "procrastinare," meaning "to put off until tomorrow."
But as tomorrow creeps upon us day by day, relentlessly, we are frittering our time away.
Combs believes delays are caused by self-defeating emotions or attitudes, which he attributes to six kinds of procrastinators.
"Neurotic perfectionists" procrastinate because they know they can't achieve the impossibly high standards they set.
"Big-deal chasers" have big dreams but no realistic plans to make them come true.
"Chronic worriers" become paralyzed by needless anxiety.
"Rebellious procrastinators" burn out by engaging in conflict.
"Drama addicts" create delays to maximize tension.
"Angry givers" constantly do favors for other people but never do anything self-directed.
Importantly, the author points out that procrastination is not a cause, but the effect of an attempt to eliminate or avoid possibly painful activities.
It's so easy for any procrastinator to put off his or her obligations today, for even a simple electronic gadget can deliver enormous distraction or addiction in the form of posts, online tidbits, computer game and other entertainment.
Most parents help discipline their children by simply restricting their access to computers. That's very sensible. The tragedy for adults is their lack of such powerful figures to help wean them from the cyber world.
Five years ago, a disciplined individual could strike preemptively by simply shutting down the computer when it was not in use. Today it is getting more difficult, as most mobiles have developed computer functions.
Still, change is possible for the determined.
To make change, one must first admit that procrastination is a problem, then look for the reasons for delay.
Then one should take time to shed both physical clutter and emotional issues that prevent quick action when needed.
Live in the immediate present, rather than put off the task.
It's not easy. As Combs observes, "Transformation from occasional and chronic procrastination is not an overnight process."
The book suggests procrastinators try to develop seven primary positive habits, including:
Manage yourself in time. Start with not procrastinating for 15 minutes.
Set small goals - be realistic.
Organize yourself and your life to get over the procrastination hump.
Keep a written record to help manage your new routines. Affirm your sense of organization daily.
Eliminate distractions.
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