Stop Procrastinating!
Procrastination - that's a big word that means coming up with reasons for not doing something that needs to be done. Some symptoms include waiting until the last minute to start a project, filing taxes on the final due date or later, being seen in the shopping malls on Christmas Eve!, delay going to doctor or dentist, never getting around to cleaning out closet/drawers/kitchen/file cabinets/ medicine cabinets, not making important phone calls, not beginning regular exercise or buying fresh fruits and vegetables....
There are many debilitating feelings that occur during the procrastination phase including the feeling of being overwhelmed, overestimating time needed to complete a task, wanting to do something else, the feeling that delaying something may make it go away or just being a perfectionist or waiting for all of the stars align to get started.
Get organized
Decluttering is a first place to start. Then look at the task at hand and see if delaying the task may actually worsen the situation or causing other conflict. Is the question really when to do something? If so, then simply getting started is a positive first step.
Just like the basic theory of quantum mechanics: Things in motion tend to stay in motion. A task or job put into motion will more likely gather some momentum as it is worked upon. Usually things are not as bad as expected when we start. Setting deadlines along the way and carving up larger tasks into manageable smaller ones (even if they are out of order) is a way to just get things moving forward. What are you waiting for anyway? What is the worst thing that can happen? (nice to know the consequences...)
Some people decide to just do nothing for 15 minutes by staring at a blank piece of paper or computer word document. Wouldn't it be better to just be doing a little something to get a little closer to goals?
If working at a desk, it is best to clear up any working environment that looks like the local garbage dump. This is not a productive environment and is certainly full of distractions and several things calling out at once for resolution. Give yourself a mini-desk makeover and file away things that can easily be accessed but not piling up on the desk. How is your space in general organized. Indecision or just piling up to-do lists is also a way things can get out of control.
Some tips would be to process each file or paper as it comes in so that you know how you will continue to work with it. If you think you will forget where you put some important files, you can index that location either on a calendar when a project should become due or at least on a smaller note on the bulletin board. Once organization occurs,things will ultimately be easier to find and also easier to work in that environment and be more productive.
In the evening it is best to clean up the desk filing anything that needs filing and making notes for the day ahead while unfinished business is still fresh in the mind. Getting it out of the brain and onto paper is a great way to get a better night's sleep without having to remember things for the morning.
A wise accountant once said, "A place for everything and everything in it's place".