The document addresses procrastination, its emotional and situational causes, and offers strategies for overcoming it through time and mind management techniques. It highlights the importance of understanding emotions, creating personal timetables, and utilizing social support to combat procrastination. Additionally, it discusses effective time management practices, including delegation, planning, and managing meetings to optimize productivity.

1. Plan and Do What Needs to Be Done
Now
(or how to overcome procrastination)
LSE Student Counselling Service

3. What is Procrastination?
Procrastination is the avoidance of doing a task that
needs to be done.
Emotions create the blockage, and reasons for
procrastination which include:
feelings of guilt; inadequacy; depression; and self-
doubt.
Poor organizational skills compound the
problem by making even small steps to complete the
task difficult-to-seemingly impossible.

4. Causes:
Personality - Psychological
• Fear of Failure
• Perfectionism
• Fear of success
• Adrenaline addiction
• Low self-esteem
• Peter Pan syndrome
• Hoping someone else will do it

5. Causes:
Social- Situational
• Lack of skill
• Decision making
• No deadline
• Overwhelmed
• Wrong temperament
• Too little to do
• Authority resistance

6. How do we procrastinate?
• When did you last procrastinate?
• What triggers it?

7. Overcoming Procrastination
• TIME MANAGEMENT
• TASK MANAGEMENT
• MIND MANAGEMENT

8. DBT: Emotional Regulation Model
Procrastination temporary relief from negative emotions
• Linehan’s Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
– Inability to bear difficult emotions are seen as core
problem.
Procrastination relief from negative emotions.
IN THE SAME WAY AS
Impulsive behaviours, (e.g. time wasting)
are a relief from other, more difficult emotions.

9. Time Management
• Do unpleasant tasks first
• Set a starting time
• Assign a time slot for work on a task
• Develop a daily priority list
• Utilize memory joggers
• Guard against diversions
• Always have your organizer with you
• Use an occasional time log

10. Mind Management
• Admit procrastination
• Be good to yourself by removing the anxiety of
procrastination
• Don’t use fatigue or illness as an escape
• Live for the present
• Give self rewards
• Refrain from self punishment
• Appreciate the intermediate
steps/accomplishments

11. Understanding emotions: basic
• Identifying and accepting basic emotions
• “Mad / bad / sad / glad”
• Shame

12. Automatic Thoughts

13. Process of Conquering Procrastination
A three stage solution:
• Diagnosis of cause
• Identification of appropriate cure
• Implementation of plan
• Personal timetable

14. 14
Personal Timetable
Sun Mon Tues Weds Thurs Fri Sat
08:00
09:00
10:00
11:00
12:00
1:00pm
2:00
3:00
4:00
5:00
6:00
7:00
8:00
9:00
10:00
11:00
12:00

15. Use personal timetabling to:
• acknowledge what you have achieved
• save mental energy
• be purposeful and realistic
• meet deadlines and keep up with work
• have effective study time and effective
relaxation
• Enjoy yourself without guilt and worry
15

16. Diagnosis
Ask yourself three questions:
1. Are there specific tasks, or responsibilities in
which I am currently procrastinating?
2. Are there other specific items I can recall
procrastinating about in the past?
3. Have I developed a pattern of procrastination?

17. Appropriate Cure
• Identify the correct solution to your problem (time,
task or mind,)

18. Implementation
• You need to implement your plan for overcoming
procrastination.
• You need to be committed to your plan.

19. Perfectionism issues
• Identify perfectionistic standards.
• Evaluate costs and benefits of perfectionistic
standards.
• Discuss perfectionistic beliefs.

20. Procrastination Mini Questionnaire
1.Describe the Internal Critic.
2.What does he or she say to you when you are under pressure?
(list negative thoughts)
Who’s voice is it?
3.What is the resulting self defeating behaviour (i.e. procrastination) and
unhealthy emotion (i.e. anxiety, fear, panic etc)?
Self Defeating Behaviour:
Unhealthy Negative Emotions:
4. What could an alternative be to the Internal Critic? (i.e. a less judgemental
voice)

21. Social Support of Task
Completion
• Seek help from people who complete tasks.
• Build a social network of support, so there is someone
who can push you on when you lose sight of the goal.
Models of Success
• Find models who know how to get things done and use
them as your model. They can show you ways they use to
stay on task.
Student academic skills center

22. Bibliography
“PROCRASTINATION: WHY YOU DO IT, WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT ”
by Jane B. Lenora M. Burka Yuen , 2012.
• NB. Only one book is given so you don’t
procrastinate by reading too much
about procrastination!

23. Bibliography: web
• http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newHTE_96.htm
• www.lse.ac.uk/intranet/students/supportServices/.../procrastination.p
pt
• www.people.stfx.ca/cgavard/procrastination.ppt

24. TIME MANAGEMENT

25. TIME IS MONEY
• You can make money; you can’t make time.
• An inch of gold cannot buy an inch of time
(Chinese proverb).

26. WHY TIME MANAGEMENT ?
• To utilise the available time in
optimum manner to achieve one’s
personal and professional goals.

27. TIME FOR EVERYTHING
• Take time to work,it is the price of success
• Take time to think,it is the source of power
• Take time to play,it is the source of youth
• Take time to read,it is the source of wisdom
• Take time to love, it is the privilege of Gods
• Take time to serve,it is the purpose of life
• Take time to laugh,it is the music of soul

28. HOW TO LIVE ON TWENTY-
FOUR HOURS A DAY
• Arnold Bennett’s book published in 1907.
• Henry Ford gave 500 copies of the book to
his managers.
• President of another American motor
company issued 18000 copies – one to each
employee.

29. TIME AWARNESS – TIME
TRACKING
• Peter Drucker : “Make sure you know
where your time goes.”
• Don’t depend on memory. Keep a time log.
• See that your time is spend as per your
priorities or your core responsibilities.

30. MANAGERS TIME
• Planning is key managerial function but
research shows that less than 5% of
management time goes on planning.
• Pareto Principle : Twenty percent of your
time will produce 80% of your productive
output. Can you afford not to manage at-
least that 20% ?
• Parkinson’s Law : Work expands to fill the
time available for it. Beware !

31. TIME MANAGEMENT MATRIX-
CLASSIFICATION OF ACTIVITIES
URGENCY/
IMPORTANCE
URGENT NOT URGENT
IMPORTANT 1 2
NOT
IMPORTANT
3 4

32. EFFICIENCY vs EFFECTIVENESS
• Often worst performers are those who seem
to be working hardest and longest. They are
very busy but not necessarily effective.

33. COMMON TIME MANAGEMENT
PROBLEMS : PROCRASTINATION
• Procrastination : Putting off the doing of
something intentionally and habitually.
• If you suspect yourself; ask yourself – why
am I putting this off?. If there is no reason.
Do it. Do not confuse reason with excuse.
• PROCRASTINATION is world’s number
one time waster. Banish it from your life.
There is no time like present to do any
work.

34. COMMON TIME MANAGEMENT
PROBLEMS : POOR DELEGATION
• Do not spend time on a work that can be done
,to a satisfactory level, by your subordinate.
• Delegation saves your time and develops
subordinates
• Delegation improves results by making fuller
use of resources
• Delegation implies transferring initiative and
authority to another

35. THE ART OF DELEGATION
• Delegation begins with a deep sense of the
value and limits of your time.
• Managers often complain that they are
running out of time when their subordinates
are running out of work.
• Delegating the more routine or predictable
part of ones job is only the first step.
• Delegation is not abdication. Some degree
of control needs to be maintained.

36. DIFFICULTIES IN DELEGATION
– It’s risky.
– We enjoy doing things.
– We don’t sit & think.
– It’s a slow process.
– Like to be “top of everything”.
– Will subordinate outstrip us?
– Nobody can do it as well as I can.
• Delegation is a great motivator. It enriches
jobs, improves performance & raises morale
of staff.

37. COMMON TIME MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS
OFFICE MIS-MANAGEMENT
• Develop an efficient system of office working.
• Muddle makes work and wastes time. Strive
for good order in your office.
• Utilise all resources fully.
• Handle telephone properly. Don’t let it become
a nuisance.
• To the extent possible, handle a piece of paper
only once.

38. TIME EFFECTIVENESS IN OFFICES
• Time can be wasted imperceptibly if your work
area is not organised well. Your desk should be
clear of all paper except the specific job on hand.
It invites you to think about one thing at a time.
Concentration is a great time saver.
• Paper work : Recommended principle is “to
handle each piece of paper only once.”
• Sort papers under : FOR ACTION/
FOR INFORMATION/ FOR READING/ FOR
WASTE PAPER
• BOTTOM DRAWER

39. EFFECTIVE WRITING
• Clarity, simplicity and conciseness are
essentials of good writing.
• Think, List and then Arrange.
• Do not cover too many subjects in one
letter.
• Strive to write one page letters. These are
more digestible.

40. MAKE THE TELEPHONE WORK FOR
YOU
• Telephone is a great time-saving tool in
right hands.
• Plan your calls.
• Set aside a period of time for making and if
possible, receiving calls
• Timing for each call.

41. HOW TO CONTROL INTERRUPTIONS
• Set a time limit and stick to it.
• Set the stage in advance : You are very busy with a
deadline in light.
• With casual droppers-in, remain standing.
• Meet in other person’s office.
• Get visitors to the point.
• Be ruthless with time but gracious with people.
• Have a clock available .
• Use a call-back system for telephone calls.

42. YOUR PROFESSIONALASSISTANT
• Transform your PA/Secretary into
Professional Assistant .
• Your PA can help you save time by
– Keeping unwanted callers at bay – by diverting
them to appropriate person.
– Minimizing interruptions; can arrange
interviews suitably.
– Dealing with routine correspondence.

43. COMMON TIME MANAGEMENT
PROBLEMS : MEETINGS
• Meetings are potential time wasters.
• Meetings are necessary evil; distractions from
one’s regular work.
• Try to say ‘No’ to a meeting where you are not
required.
• Agenda should be definite. Every one should
receive the agenda and relevant papers well in
advance.
• There should be a finishing time for meeting.

44. DOs/ DON’Ts FOR
BOSS/CHAIRPERSON/ADMINISTRATOR
• Do not call a meeting unless it is necessary
• Do not call a meeting if the task can be handled by a call
or by a small group through formal/ informal discussion
• Meetings are not required to:
▪ ‘Boss around’ or give ‘messages’
▪ Socialise
▪ Rubber stamp decisions
▪ Pass on information
▪ Promote private or hidden agenda
▪ Continue the habit

45. DOs/DON’Ts FOR
BOSS/CHAIRPERSON/ADMINISTRATOR
• Call only those who are involved
• Have a written agenda and circulate to all
along with supporting papers
• Do not over-pack the agenda
• Agenda should not have ‘Any other item’
• Start on time
• Stick to agenda
• Beware of ‘Hijackers’

46. DOs/DON’Ts FOR PARTICIPANTS
• Come prepared (with facts and figures)
• Come on time
• Talk to the point.Do not try to divert the
discussion
• Do not try to hijack the meeting

47. BOSS-IMPOSED TIME
• Time spent doing things we would not be
doing if we did not have bosses.
• Keeping bosses satisfied takes time, but
dealing with dissatisfied bosses takes even
more time.
• Failing to invest sufficient time to satisfy
bosses always results in more & more boss-
imposed time. With lesser time for others.

48. ROLE OF BOSS:BOSS MUST REALISE THAT-
• The time of the subordinate is also important for the
organisation.
• The tasks monitored by you are only part of duties of
subordinate.
• If subordinate is hard pressed for time the quality of
output is bound to suffer.
• System improvements are essential responsibilities of
bosses-particularly those which reduce time being
spend on unimportant/ unnecessary activities
• You can do only one persons work.
• Perfection, at times, becomes counterproductive.

49. ROLE OF SUBORDINATE
• Realise that Boss has a wider vision
• Devote time as per organisational objectives
and your goals
• Go to Boss after doing your home work
• Manage the problems which can be tackled
at your level

50. PLANNING THE DAY
• Prepare a list of priorities for the day based on
urgency and importance.
• Get the timing right.
• Morning is the time for hard work.
• Interesting work, meetings and social events can
take place in off-peak time.
• Have work-breaks to over come fatigue.
• Living 100% in the present improves your work
output.

51. OTHER TIME SAVERS
• Concentration, Avoid interruptions
• Use of committed time
• Good Health
• Do not let your subordinate come to you
with problems unless they bring their
proposed solutions.

52. PROBLEMS OF OVERWORKED
MANAGER
• Why some managers are typically running out
of time while their staff is running out of
work.
– They pick up staff’s job. They enjoy & are good
at it.
– They try to do things efficiently which are not
worth doing at first place. Efficiency Vs
Effectiveness.
• It can be explained by ‘Monkey-on-the-back’
analogy. Monkey is ‘next move’ or problem
or opportunity that comes to us.

53. WHAT IS A MONKEY?
• A monkey is a next move or
an opportunity, or problem
which comes to us.
• ‘Monkey Management’
helps to transform from a
manager under time pressure
to an effective one.

54. MONKEY-ON-THE-BACK
• Some ‘Monkeys’ belong to us. However, greatest
proportion belongs to subordinates.
• Once we pick up ‘Monkeys’ from subordinates
they get message that we want Monkeys.
• By allowing ‘Monkey’ from your subordinates on
to your back you volunteered for two things:
– Accepted responsibility for the problem from him.
– Promised him a progress report.
• Now he will pressurise you to do what actually is
his job.

55. MONKEY-ON-THE-BACK
• Sometimes colleagues also try to pass on
their monkeys.
• Many Bosses are in habit of passing their
monkeys to subordinates.
• This snowballs to upward, sideward &
downward leaping ‘Monkeys’. These take
our all available time with no time to work
on our own ‘Monkeys’.
• So be careful.Do not accept others
monkeys.

56. RECAP
• Yesterday is a cancelled cheque, Tomorrow is a
promisory note,Today is ready cash. Use it.
• When feasible, delegate.
• Don’t let paperwork pile up.
• Do not postpone work.
• Identify your time waster and resolve to eliminate
them.
• Add times for relaxation and recreation in your
schedule.

57. RECAP
• Identify and make use of “up” and “down” time.
• Learn to say “NO.” It is not a crime.
• Make use of committed time – travel time, waiting
time etc.
• Plan the day.
• Set goals and work towards achieving them.
• Keep the Boss happy.

58. THANK YOU