Where Do You Find Value – In Procrastinating or Finishing?

Let me start by recommending that you read (carefully) this Psychology Today article.

Trust me, procrastination junkies – read it!

And here is the statement that jumped off the page and into my deferring brain:

“The decision to work on something is driven by how much we value accomplishing the project in that moment – what psychologists call its subjective value.

And procrastination, in psychological terms, is what happens when the value of doing something else outweighs the value of working now.”

Here is the irony – when I have cleared that unpleasant task, answered that last e-mail in the inbox, or acted on the last piece of paper on my desk, I feel great!

The reward for getting stuff done is self-evident.

The problem for me is not how I feel at the end, of course, but how I feel before I start.

May I make the suggestion that before you dig into those unpleasant tasks you take just a moment to consider the joy of accomplishment on the other side?

Find the value in completing the task.

You’ll feel better, you’ll feel stronger, and you’ll get more done.

Do it. Now!