Procrastination -- Putting Off Until Tomorrow What You Should Have Done Yesterday

"Do you know what happens when you give a procrastinator a good idea? Nothing!" - Donald Gardner

You probably at least smiled at this comment but procrastination in construction is no joke.  If you put off till tomorrow something that should have been done yesterday or today, you could pay a hefty price tag for waiting.

Not understanding or knowing what to do is even worse.  A lot of times people put off doing things that need to be done because they aren't sure what to do in a situation.  It's easy to lay aside those things that we are most uncomfortable doing, those things that are not easy. 

What are you putting off doing today?  What will it cost you if you wait too long to do it?  Why keep putting it off when you can dive into it and do it now?  

It seems like almost every office I walk into, there is something there that no one wants to do, sometimes several things.  In a lot of cases, those things that get stacked by the wayside have due dates on them and since no one wants to touch them, no one sees that the dates are closing in or have passed.  

Stop procrastinating now !!  Go get that stack of 'stuff' that you've been putting off and go through it, prioritize it and get it done.  If you can't get all of it done, then delegate or ask for help.  Once those things are out of the way, you can focus on other more important tasks at hand without those things hanging over your head and clouding your mind.

One reason I like using MS Outlook is the task list.  You can also assign reminders to the task list and you can check them off once they are completed.  Learn to schedule your tasks, even the ones you don't want to do, on your calendar or task list in Outlook so that important items don't get lost in your office.

Office procedures can be learned and in my company I find that I teach people where their priorities must lie to avoid or minimize the risks associated with running a successful business.  In my book, the "Construction Administration Handbook", I teach you what you need to know in construction including accounting, contracting, project management and documents management.

Prioritize your duties now, get those things done that you've been putting off.  Then enjoy your day doing the things you enjoy.

Charlene S. Reed, Owner/Author

www.MyConstructionOffice.com