The document outlines common signs of procrastination experienced by public relations and marketing professionals and offers solutions to overcome it. Key strategies include understanding personal habits, tackling dreaded tasks early, breaking larger projects into manageable pieces, and rewarding oneself for completed tasks. It also briefly mentions McKinney & Associates, a firm dedicated to practicing public relations with a focus on social justice since 1990.

1. Procrastination Kills
Helpful hints for public relations
and marketing professionals
By Shannon Mouton Gray

2. You may be a procrastinator if you…

3. Focus on low priority tasks
You finish the simpler, low priority items on
your to-do list first.
You believe if you check them off you will be
able to focus on bigger picture items.

4. Ignore your to-do list
Important tasks on your to-do list remains
untouched for weeks.
You set up project reminders and frequently
change the date.

5. Work on something “more
important”
You make time to do a high priority task and
something “more important” comes up –
make a phone call, check email, etc.

6. Always assist others
Rather than tackling your priorities, you
agree to do things when others ask you to
do.

7. Constantly check email, social
media, text messages
You compulsively check your phone,
Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail for something
that will require your immediate attention.

8. SOLUTIONS

9. Know yourself
Identify the tasks you put off most often and
then do them every day.
They will become habits and you will be able
to work them into your routine, rather than
avoid them.

10. Get it done early
Address your most dreaded task first thing in
the morning.
Do it and enjoy the fact you have completed
the task for the rest of the day.

11. Use your internal clock
Schedule the task during the time in the day
when your energy is highest.
If you typically hit a mid-afternoon slump,
you’re not likely to tackle a much dreaded
project then.

12. Eat an elephant
Sometimes you have to break a very large
project into smaller pieces.
As you complete each piece, you’ll be closer
to achieving the goal.
Set realistic deadlines.

13. Go, do, be
“The secret of getting ahead is getting
started,” said Mark Twain.
Once you begin, your momentum will help
you keep going until the job is done.

14. CELEBRATE!
Always reward yourself for completing a to-do
list item.
Treat yourself to a nice lunch, go for a walk,
and celebrate with others if it was an
especially large project.

15. To learn more about McKinney & Associates, visit www.mckpr.com
McKinney & Associates was founded in 1990 with a commitment to
social justice that has prevailed for nearly 25 years. From the beginning,
McKinney has passionately and skillfully practiced public relations with a
conscience for local, national and international organizations.
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