Clifford finally decided to go to a psychiatrist to see if he could get help with his decision-making problem.

“I understand you have trouble making decisions. Is that true?” the psychiatrist asked him.

Clifford looked at the psychiatrist, somewhat puzzled for a moment, and replied, “Well, yes – and no!”

Unfortunately, many people are like Clifford, a businessman whose problem-solving decisions were keeping him from advancing in the company.

One of the worst things you can do when faced with a difficult decision in almost any endeavor in life, is to procrastinate.

Procrastination is a thief. It robs you of the one commodity that you just can’t buy back: time. It throws off schedules. It replaces accomplishment with inaction. It turns dreams into nightmares. December is Procrastination Awareness Month.

When faced with a task that you just don’t want to do, many of us simply put it off until tomorrow. That’s why tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week. And one of these days becomes none of these days.

Putting off an unpleasant task until tomorrow simply gives you more time for your imagination to make a mountain out of a possible molehill . . . more time for anxiety to sap your self-confidence.

U.S. President John F. Kennedy understood that delaying a decision is itself a decision, a decision with risks.

General Geoge Patton said much the same, “To decide not to decide is a decision. To fail to decide is a failure.”

Most of us can relate to occasional bouts of procrastination – the phone call you have been dreading to place, the project that you just can’t get excited about, the meeting that you should have scheduled two weeks ago. So why can’t we just get in gear?

To address procrastination at work, it’s important to identify the underlying causes and implement strategies that can help you stay focused and productive. Here are some effective techniques to avoid procrastination:

Prioritize tasks. Not all tasks are created equally. Prioritizing helps you focus on what truly matters. Use a priority matrix to categorize tasks by urgency and importance and tackle high-priority tasks first.

Tackle your fear of failure. Too often, we put off projects because we are afraid to fail. You can’t succeed if you don’t try, and the longer you put off trying, the more daunting the task looks. Don’t sabotage your chances. 

Break tasks into smaller steps. Large tasks can feel overwhelming, leading to procrastination. Breaking them down into manageable steps makes them more approachable. Create a checklist of smaller tasks that lead to the completion of the larger project. Focus on completing one step at a time.

Set clear deadlines. Having a specific deadline creates a sense of urgency and accountability. Assign deadlines to each task on your list, even if they are self-imposed, to keep yourself on track.

Eliminate distractions. Distractions can easily derail your focus and lead to procrastination. Identify common distractions in your work environment and take steps to minimize them, such as setting specific times to check emails or silencing notifications.

Reflect on progress. Regular reflection helps you understand what strategies are working and where you can improve. At the end of each day, review what you accomplished and plan adjustments for the next day.

Reward yourself. Incentives can motivate you to complete tasks. Set up small rewards for completing tasks or reaching milestones, such as a short walk or a treat.

There was once a man named Bob who was notorious for his procrastination at work. His colleagues would often joke that if procrastination were an Olympic sport, Bob would take home the gold medal every time.

One day, Bob’s boss gave him a simple task: to write a short report by the end of the week. Bob, true to form, decided he had plenty of time and put it off until the last minute. On Friday afternoon, with just an hour left before the deadline, he finally sat down to start the report.

As he stared at the blank screen, he thought to himself, “I work best under pressure. This is when my creativity really shines!” Just then, the office fire alarm went off, and everyone had to evacuate the building.

Standing outside, Bob realized that sometimes, even the best procrastinators can’t control the unexpected. His boss, noticing his sheepish expression, simply smiled and said, “Well, Bob, I guess you can’t procrastinate your way out of this one!”

Mackay’s Moral: Procrastination is the thief of time; guard your moments by taking action today.