Based on my last PROCRASTINATION BLOG, the title of this blog is on target. In fact, when you have to choose among several tasks to complete, such as write the meeting agenda, grant proposal, blog, or research article, it is perfectly natural for you to go to the fridge in your office kitchen first and make a salami sandwich on rye with mustard, lettuce, and a juicy pickle. No. Actually I meant to say: Pick the easiest task first, the one that even Dopey in "Snow White" could whip, such as polish your golf clubs or wax your skis. It’s motivating, energizing, and satisfying to accomplish a task you know you can finish on time. Conquering those skis builds confidence and self-esteem. “Wait. Excuse me. Time out. What happened to the salami sandwich?” That was a joke. “You’re kidding me.” Right. “But that sandwich made me hungry.” Go make one. We now have to end this overbloated paragraph.
Unfortunately, that victory doesn’t help you finish the toughest task, which may be writing the proposal with a bunch of colleagues by deadline. Putting the difficult tasks on the back burner delays their completion and puts you at risk of not doing them at all, especially if you run out of time and are functioning in crisis mode. You don’t want to be labeled with the “p” word. You know: “party pooper.” I mean “procrastinator.”
If you are NOT a chronic procrastinator and are in control of your “to-do list” and schedule, time-management gurus recommend (Are you ready?): Start with your most difficult task and a salami sandwich, the one that’s screaming: “YIIIKES! Do me. Do me NOOOW!” (Note: The screaming is coming from the task, not the sandwich. Had it been the sandwich, there would have been mustard on it.)
You need to totally focus on the proposal. Don’t even think about your other tasks until the proposal is submitted. Consider the feeling you will have when it’s finished and in the hands of FedEx. That’s empowerment. Your confidence and self-esteem levels will be through the roof, shooting waaaay beyond the levels previously attained with the Snow-White, Mickey-Mouse tasks, at least until the reviews and scores come back. For now, the worst is over. The remaining tasks for the week should be a piece of cake, or rather, a salami sandwich. You can do those with your left hemisphere tied behind your back.
What strategy do you use to tackle the toughest tasks? Which ones do you do first? What works best for you? Any suggestions?
COPYRIGHT © 2009 Ronald A. Berk, LLC & Coventry Press
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