FP - Any procrastinators out there?

[succor]

I like quotes and I found this one recently.

Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing.
-- Thomas Edison

It got me to thinking. Research and learning is a part of the process, but that seems to be all I have been doing. So, I set myself the goal of having the rough draft of my e-book completed by the end of this week. Now that the statement is out there in print for everyone to see, I guess I'd better get started.

Does anyone else have trouble getting started doing the actual work?

[springer98]

It's good to set goals and to be certain they are realistic and achievable. Your goal of completing a draft of a book by the end of the week seems perfect. I think, too many people set their goals too high, too soon, and therefore never achieve them.

Lofty goals breed procrastination because one gets confused about how to actually achieve them when all that really needs to be done is to work backwards and break things down into small steps. By the time you've worked all the way back to the beginning, you have a starting place and can see an opportunity for a quick result. You're now looking at small steps instead of a seemingly unachievable place.

Successfully achieving small mileposts causes one to stay interested and excited, ultimately leading to the big payoff.

After all these years, I still sometimes forget that and find myself stuck in the mud.

[fredddyflips]

Spot on, succor.

I have found myself researching, reading, researching, reading and then even more researching and reading. In all that time, I have gotten absolutely nothing done. I also over-analyse stuff a lot, making me always stuck at the initial phase of any project.

Lately, I am trying to 'chunk' any actions I need to do. I set aside a specific period for it and do nothing else for that period-no distractions, no breaks.

As long as the time period I set doesn't stretch for long, usually about 30 minues, I get some real work done. Most times, when I have seen the amount of work I got done, it gives me a push to do even more.

So far, it's been working, though there are times when its just so freakin' hard to concentrate on one thing.

But I will get there...

[GreyWolf]

...Lofty goals breed procrastination because one gets confused about how to actually achieve them when all that really needs to be done is to work backwards and break things down into small steps. By the time you've worked all the way back to the beginning, you have a starting place and can see an opportunity for a quick result. You're now looking at small steps instead of a seemingly unachievable place...

That brings to mind an old proverbial riddle that's told at a lot of business and management seminars.

Q: How do you eat an elephant?

A: One bite at a time.

[succor]

Update:

Done so far:
TOC and outline written
Research mostly organized into its place in the outline
Glossary started

Next on the list:
Finish organizing the research into its place in the outline
Rewrite research in my own words
Create my own examples

[GreyWolf]

I find myself falling into that same trap way too often.

[Criminal]

I tend to get the research done early but wait until the day before something is due to write/type up the paper.I'm pretty good at it though since I've been doing it for so long.

[thebrokenbox]

I find myself doing the same thing, I think about all the possibilities but don't ever take the first step. I'm glad I've finally taken the first step with a new site I just bought, but it wasn't easy. Just gotta motivate yourself enough to get the first step, then it's all about momentum.

[Dean]

I never used to be much. But as GreyWolf said...

I find myself falling into that same trap way too often.

[iMontie]

I voted "frequently" but after rethinking, I really don't ever procrastinate. Now that I have a full time job along with doing IM and going to school, I have to make the absolute most out of my time along with still maintaining a good social life. Keeping up with my IMing involves a lot of "war-driving" (which means wifi-hopping in the car lol).