You Know That thing You're Meant To Be Doing?

I think you should procrastinate and read this blog instead.

Seriously though, are you in the middle of something? Did you just pick up your phone and start scrolling through e-mails to avoid doing the thing you don't really want to do?

Whether it's finishing a report, writing a training document, reading internal trading updates from leaders...it's potentially a bit dry and you're looking for a distraction.

Did you know, that when we're making decisions "it's our feelings that decide for us 95% of the time" (Mel Robbins in 'The 5 Second Rule'). Generally we opt for whatever feels good to us, or is easier to do, right now. Our brains aren't particularly sophisticated in this regard.

Mel describes that when we go to make a decision, we quickly weigh up pros and cons (in under a second) and then pick the option we PREFER. Not the one with more pros/ fewer cons. This happens so quickly we don't realise we've made a 'feeling' based decision.

I've always suspected this, but find it interesting that Mel's research shows this to be true in business too (apparently no such thing as cold hard fact based decisions). What's your view?

I think this presents a problem to procrastinators. I'm sure we can all think of lots of things we'd rather be doing than our current task. 
 

If we only did whatever we feel like, we'd never get any useful work or life admin done!

Mel's strategy is the 5 second rule, which I expect some of you will have heard about through her TED talk (or recently published book). She advises, that knowing the above context, we have to force ourselves to take quick, decisive action towards our goals.

So when you know there is something you should be doing (perhaps you're spread out on your comfy sofa when you should be in the gym), try counting 5...4...3...2...1 and springing into action.

It's the initial action (getting up) that requires the most effort. And soon enough you'll find yourself jogging down the street to the gym.

This works in the office too. Have you ever noticed that one moment you're dreading writing a document and the next moment 30 minutes has passed and you've smashed out several paragraphs?  Once you make a decision to get on with something, your brain will forget it was feeling sorry for itself and focus on the task.

It's the initial 'I don't want to' that you need to push through, and counting down like a rocket before take off seems to work.

So the next time you're procrastinating and need to get something done give this strategy a go. I used it to get myself out of bed this morning (not a morning person - still had one snooze, but that's better than three).

Give it a go the next time you're procrastinating and let me know your results.

P.S. I have two 1-1 coaching spots opening up in October. If you're frustrated in your current role or unsure of your next career step, drop me an e-mail and apply for a complimentary coaching session to see where I can support you.