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Do you have so many tasks as well? You may have to finish a calculation, optimize an Excel spreadsheet, and write a report. Or did you promise that quote for tomorrow?
Over the last few weeks, I have regularly postponed several tasks, including administrative work, developing a new website, and preparing for a talk. I have been able to complete some of my tasks, but I must admit that I have postponed others.
Why do we postpone and procrastinate tasks? They may be annoying, they cost a lot of time, or the goal is unclear. Often, we want or become distracted by the ‘instant gratification monkey’ described by Tim Urban in an excellent TED Talk on procrastination (Watch out! This talk lasts for 14 minutes).
Looking back on the past week, I realize this monkey was also present with me. While I had to work on my deadlines, the monkey said, “Let’s do some work on the house,” “Let’s first see how a colleague does this,” “It’s more convenient to talk to someone first,” and “You still have plenty of time to prepare for that talk, which is at the end of the month.” Do you recognize this? Please read on for more information on how to handle this.
Deadlines
Tim Urban discusses deadlines and non-deadlines in his TED Talk. Deadlines are tasks with a fixed delivery date, such as filing a tax return, submitting a report on a certain day, or, in my case, the talk I need to prepare.
In a previous blog, I provided eight tips to increase productivity. These can help you deal with procrastination and get started. Actually, they are tips on how to deal with procrastination of tasks with deadlines.
Non-deadlines
Non-deadline tasks are those with no specific deadline. These are, for example, courses you want to follow someday or searching for a new job because the one you now have brings you no fulfillment. However, it can also be that box in the attic that needs to be cleaned out. How about the relationships you have? Some of those may need some work, and it may be better to end others.
These tasks have no deadline and have not been started because no one encourages us to do them. They are vulnerable to long-term procrastination. We do not do anything out of convenience (or laziness). We promise ourselves that we will begin tomorrow, next week, or even next year.
Time
Tim Urban is also the author of ‘the article ‘The Tail End’. This article made me more aware of the concept of time in this life. He states that one can live to be 90 years old. That is 1080 months, 4,320 weeks, or approximately 30,240 days. That seems very much.
You can also measure life in important events. I am 52 now and can still attend around 38 Christmas parties and a little less than 10 Olympic Winter Games. I read an average of 10 books per year. So I will read 390 more books.
I am now more than halfway through my life experiences. However, these are experiences that recur annually according to a fixed distribution. Some events, however, are not permanently divided over a whole lifetime. My mother is now 81 years old. In my first 18 years, I spent 90 percent of my time with her. Assuming she also turns 90, we still have eight more years together. Based on my time with them annually, this amounts to approximately 150 more days. That is about half the time I spent with her in one year during my childhood! I have now spent approximately 98% of the time with my mom. There is still about 2% to go.
So, even though I am past the middle of my life, I am already at the end of the time I have been experiencing with some people. This also applies to the job you are currently in, the development you are going through, or the situation in which you are now.
Thus, the non-deadlines do have a completion date. How do you deal with that?
A Solution
Be aware of what is important to you in your life, including your relationships, career, personal growth, and overall well-being. Treat time as something precious and prioritize activities that align with what you truly want in life. Live in the now, and not in the past or the future.
Knowing why you do the things in your life and being aware of your purpose helps. Your WHY answers what contribution you make and how this affects the world. If you know your ‘why,’ it is easier to make choices and start with things that align with your purpose. It is also easier to drop other tasks, resulting in fewer tasks with deadlines and less procrastination. It helps you make the transition from non-deadlines to deadlines.
This makes you more effective, powerful, and joyful. The ‘instant gratification monkey’ will still be there, but it will have a limited task: conscious relaxation.
Would you like to know more about your WHY? Please read my article on how to discover your WHY, or contact me directly to set a date for a WHY discovery session.
How do you deal with non-deadlines? Let me know in the comment box below. I, and other readers of this article look forward to read from you!
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Update: The original article was published on May 22, 2018, and updated on May 2, 2025 (time flies).
