I had good intentions of writing this blog about a week ago. I had committed to myself to get it done a week ago. So why has it taken until now – one week later – to begin writing?

Maybe it was something to do with my motivation; I only made the agreement with myself. Maybe it was something to do with preparedness; as if there was more information I felt I needed before beginning.

Turns out it was just the simple action of sitting down in front of my computer. I say simple, however this is the step that has most of us baulking. To be even clearer, it is not so much sitting down in front of the key board that is the issue, rather it is the thought of beginning and then seeing the task through to completion that can stop us in our tracks. Much like standing on the edge of a swimming pool of cold water; you know you’ll be fine when you jump, but that doesn’t stop the inevitable false starts: “I’m going to jump in now…ok, I’ll jump in just a minute, I’m not ready yet…don’t rush me….” Sound familiar?

Often you might wait until almost the last possible moment before beginning the task that you have been putting off. This could be writing a report the day before it is due, when you had two week’s notice of the due date; replying to an invitation after the RSVP date when you received it a month earlier. In cases like this, it is easy to say to yourself, “I have plenty of time to do this, so I’ll just leave it for now and do it when I’m not so busy.”

This might work well (even if it inconveniences others) for tasks such as the ones above, however it is important to recognise that you are developing and reinforcing the habit of putting things off.

Changing this habit requires that you first recognise the pattern and consider why you are putting off the task. Often understanding the reasoning behind the delay or procrastination reduces its effect on you.

• If you genuinely don’t have time to complete the task, is it possible to make a start or do one small part of the task? This is really useful for projects which might take a long time to complete.
• Where you don’t feel you know enough, begin anyway. You will identify the gaps in your knowledge as you create a draft of your work. Then you will know specifically what information you require.
• If you fear the response of others to your work or message, then the sooner it is out of the way, the less stress will be on you.
• There is no good reason for putting it off, just laziness. This is often the real reason and any other excuse is just a smokescreen. Be honest with yourself if this is the case.

Keeping unfinished (or un-started) tasks and projects in your head also creates stress for you. David Allen, in his book How to Get Things Done, talks about the importance of getting things out of your head. By that he means writing down or recording the things you need to do, so that you don’t have to hold those things in your mind all the time ‘in case you forget them’.

Science has shown that we have both a long-term and working memory. Our working memory is where we process thoughts as well as holding things in short term memory. If you are worried that you might forget something and keep reminding yourself about it, then you are using up mental energy and creating stress for yourself. This is diluting your mental energy reserves and can detract from your ability to think clearly.

Even if you remember a task you need to complete and keep putting it off, the same stresses occur as it is always on your mind. So what is the solution?

Take action. Just do something.

Chances are you have all or most of the information you require already. Those who are going to hear or see your work are going to be impressed anyway; you are, after all, your harshest critic.

Take the first step. Return that call. Respond to the invitation as soon as you get it. You will be surprised at the freedom you will feel not trying to remember those things for a time when you think you won’t be too busy.

Once the inertia of inaction has been overcome, you will have momentum that will carry you through to the completion of the task, or its first step. Planning (intending) to do something and actually getting it done are quite different. It’s not the thought that counts, it’s action. Thoughts appease only you.

My personal strategy is to begin the task first thing in the morning. I’ll remind myself of the task the prior evening and organise any materials I might need – if I have a writing task. When I begin in the morning, I will do so without turning on my radio, phone or email. I don’t want to have anything which will create a distraction. This is the strategy I used to complete this blog.

What strategies do you use to do those tasks which you usually put off?