Doing Things We Dread

As I sit here in front of the computer I am breaking through on something that I have been tolerating for weeks now? actually sitting down to write this newsletter. I wasn't blocked for ideas ? I had a list of them. I simply couldn't (yea right? wouldn't) sit down and put my thoughts on paper. The irony, of course is that I coach people through these very same issues and my clients have great success. Ohhhh coach heal thyself! Well the breakthrough came the other night when I was using a wonderful miracle of modern technology? The George Forman Grill! Let me explain.

I love to cook. It is an amazing creative experience for me? and let me give you some advice? remember presentation is everything. A meal can go from fair to fantastic simply by arranging the food on the plate? you sort of fool people into thinking it is actually better than it is? the French have known this for years. But I digress?

So I was in the mood to make a nice meal but didn't want to go to a lot of trouble. Enter the GF Grill. Its very fast and the food turns out great. BUT I HATE TO CLEAN IT. Trust me, it is NOT hard to clean, but it is one of those things that I dread. After previous uses I have let it sit there unclean for a full day simply because I "didn't wanna!" This time it was different, however. After the meal, I simply got up, did the dishes quickly and then took the 4 ½ minutes it actually takes to clean the grill so it can be put away. As I was doing this I realized that I wasn't dreading it. What was that about? I usually piss and moan about it and work myself up into a frenzy. Then I realized what was different. I didn't think about it I just did it. I knew I didn't want to wake up to a filthy kitchen, I knew it would take all of 5 minutes to do? and I did it. I was actually grateful that I had used such a simple machine and was so happy when it was all done. Perspective. I had wasted so much energy with the dread of the action that the cost of not doing it was 10 times more expensive than the 5 minutes of the unpleasantness ? which, by the way was nowhere near as unpleasant as I was making it in my head.

From this lesson I today now sit down and write my newsletter. I was dreading the time it would take; would it be good; all the what if's; all the mind games; the I CAN'Ts; all that crap. Instead? it is simple? I will or I won't. My choice. (By the way? this newsletter took about 25 minutes to write? hmmm? much less than I imagined!)

A Call to Action and a How to.

1) Realize how much energy avoiding things we "don't wanna" do is costing us energetically.

2) Realize that these things almost always seem bigger in our headsw than they actually are.

3) Switch from victim mode: go from "I Can't" to "I Choose Not to." As Yoda from Star Wars says? "Do or do not. There is no try!"

4) Eat That Frog. There is a book on over coming procrastination called "Eat That Frog." A premise of this book comes from the old saying, if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that it is the worst thing you'll probably do all day. Identify the important tasks that you are dreading and just do them? right off? first thing in the morning and look forward to the freedom you will experience the rest of the day.

5) Make your 'To Do' list specific. Vague goals engender anxiety and feel big and overwhelming. Make them specific and measurable. For example "Organize my life" vs. "Spend 20 minutes every morning sorting and filing the papers on my desk." See the difference.

6) Categorize your to-do's by the resistence factor. Separate them into one of 4 categories; a) have to do / Want to do; b) Have to do / Don't want to do; c) Don't have to do / Want to do; and d) Don't have to do / Don't want to do. Do your tasks in this order: b,a,c.

7) To change your attitude, change your perception. Make a game of it. Create a chart and put up gold stars for every item you complete. Feel good. Play. Is it all REALLY THAT important?

8) Get support. A friend, a coach, a group. Don't face things you dread alone.

9) Be kind to yourself. One step and one thing at a time. It doesn't all have to get done at once.

10) Celebrate. For each accomplishment ? no matter how small ? celebrate. Plan it beforehand and make it great!!

So what things have you been dreading that you will now choose to take care of? Go ahead. Eat that frog. I dare you to do one thing? just one. Right now. It will feel great.

Go get 'em, Tiger!

© 2004 by Roger DeWitt & Life Artistry Coaching. Roger, the Get Stuff Done Now Coach, is a certified life and business coach working with people to change their thinking so that they can change their life Sign up for Roger's monthly "5 Minute Success Tips" at http://www.lifeartistrycoaching.com/

---

Sharpen The Saw

Sometime ago, my lovely wife woke me up in the... Read More

Ending Procrastination: A New Look at the Old Demon

Do you believe that the best way to deal with... Read More

Time Well Spent

It is common knowledge that creating and living according to... Read More

Desktop Management Boosts Productivity

Many of us spend long hours at our desk. To... Read More

Being Busy Does Not Equal Being Productive

How many people do you know who are so busy... Read More

Simple Strategies for Home Based Business Owners to Reduce Stress and be More Satisfied

Handle small emergencies fast: When a small emergency does pop... Read More

The Ultimate Virtual Reality

I used to think video game addictions were a joke... Read More

Work, Work, Work: Making Each Moment Count

Time, time, time. It seems there is never enough of... Read More

Four Steps To Make Your Day Dynamic!

There are two ways to start your day. The first... Read More

Top 10 Ways to Manage Yourself - Time Wise

"Time management" is a myth. Time ticks by, whether you... Read More

Living Life In A Time Starved World

Recently I saw an advertisement for a time management booklet:... Read More

Time Management - How To Get More Done In A Day?

Everyday, in life, we are bombarded with 101 tasks that... Read More

Make Procrastination Wait

Reflect on the rewards of kicking the procrastination habit. They... Read More

Isn?t It Time For You?

Does it seem like there is never enough time in... Read More

Time Management And How It Affects Your Kids

Last week I attended a presentation from Parenting Expert and... Read More

Low Tech Time Management

A simple kitchen gadget is transforming my life. I don't... Read More

What To Do When Youre Short On Time And Long On Need!

Everyday life can present us with opportunities to make us... Read More

Effective Use of Your Online Time

The Internet is increasingly becoming a major time killer for... Read More

Making More Efficient Use of Your Time

You can lose, damage or waste some things in life,... Read More

Scheduling Productive Days - Dont Interrupt, Im Pouring Concrete

Almost everyone in business knows the balancing act between the... Read More

How to Conquer the Five Major Time Wasters?

* spreading yourself too thinTaking on too many things at... Read More

Priorities: Dont Dry Your Dishes

Do your dishes really need to be dried, or could... Read More

Time Management Training - A Necessary Investment or A Waste Of Money?

Many organisations view time management training as something they'll spend... Read More

Time Managements

There are the golden rules that apply to time. If... Read More

Time Management is Life Management

Many of the clients I work with in success coaching... Read More

6 Time Management Tips for Moms

Many of you have expressed the challenge of not having... Read More

Time Management: A Fresh View

Last week I had the privilege of spending some quality... Read More

Discover Your Procrastination Personality

Determine Your Procrastination PersonalityBrook Noel is the author of The... Read More

Career Redesign Tools For Work-Life Balance

Partnering with the University of Pennsylvania Law School and the... Read More

The Laundry Has Never Been More Fun Or The Pitfalls To Working At Home

As a home-based, self-employed woman, mundane tasks can be as... Read More

5 Result-Getting Time Management Tips

How often have you tried to manage your time in... Read More

Boost Your Productivity with 10 Minutes at the End of Your Day

Once you have completed your day you can boost your... Read More

Time Management - Working Smarter at Work

Let's look at your time management skills. Most of us... Read More