Tough Problems; Time Management, Procrastination

Source: NeedPix, Public Domain

This is the latest in the Tough Problems series. In each installment, I present two composite questions that my clients face and my response to each.

Dear Dr. Nemko: I'm a single guy who works just a standard 40-hour workweek. I don't have kids, nor do I have an aging parent to take care of. Yet I still have a hard time getting everything done, let alone having time for any more fun than a half-hour of TV or reading to wind down before I go to bed. What am I doing wrong?

Marty Nemko: Well, let's inventory your life:

Do you spend too much time on food preparation: shopping, chopping, etc.? Many people can save a lot of time while eating healthily and deliciously by choosing their favorite fast-to-prepare things. For example, a typical day for me is oatmeal or yogurt with fruit for breakfast, a salad or sandwich and fruit for lunch, and broiled chicken or fish and microwaved spiced veggies, a piece of good rye bread, and ice cream or a chunk of chocolate (OK, sometimes both) for dessert. Shopping and prep time are minimal.

At work, is your workload excessive? If so, can you occasionally say "no?" Have you tried to tweak your job description, so you get to do more tasks that come easily to you? For example, I have a client who finds writing easy, but spreadsheets hard. She traded with a coworker.

Do you have a long commute? If so, could you telecommute part of the week? (Side benefit: reduced coronavirus risk.) If not, could you do some thinking work while driving? Or if you take mass transit, you could do some reading or writing.

At home, you say you have time only for a bit of recreational reading or TV before bed, but—I'm just checking—do you have other time sucks: long chats on the phone, long sports games, or too frequent travel, like to your ex-wife's weekend-long wedding in Wyoming?

That all said, I understand: Life seems to be getting ever more complicated, but perhaps one or more of those ideas can help a bit.

Dear Dr. Nemko: I am a lifelong procrastinator. As far back as I can remember, I procrastinated. For example, I remember in the 4th grade, getting my first homework that wasn't due the next day. It was a report on the thymus gland that was due the next week.

Well, I waited until the last minute and then scrambled to put together something. Lo and behold, I got an A. I think that's how my procrastination began: If only unconsciously, I figured that if I wait until the last second, I'll have to do it and use the adrenaline rush to push me through. But procrastination has hurt my career. Even though I'm smart and skilled, I'm always stalling so my work products are too often shoddy or late, so I keep getting "laid off."

What made me write to you now is that I should get started on my income taxes. Yes, I have an accountant prepare the returns, but I need to sort all my income and expenses before the accountant can get to work. I keep procrastinating because I know, worst case, I can get an extension until October 15.

But putting things off is an albatross on my back. I'm always feeling guilty. Any advice?

Marty Nemko: Let me start by admitting that I, too, procrastinate doing my taxes, but I manage to get them done without rushing by doing the following:

1. I start with the part I find most interesting: adding up my income, earnings, interest, dividends. That gets me rolling, well, creeping.
2. I then tell myself to just do one bit, say, sort my January receipts, after which I can take a break or do something more pleasant than my taxes, which is just about anything.
3. I keep eating away at it, bit by bit, fueling my efforts by thinking it will feel good to, as you call it, get that albatross off my back.

That's enough to push me through, but maybe one or more of the following might additionally benefit you, whether in doing your taxes or otherwise:

• Fear of the consequences: Picture what could happen if you wait until the last minute and, for example, in your rushing, make an error that triggers an IRS audit or gets you "laid off" at work again.
• The one-minute struggle: Struggling with a task's roadblock is painful, which makes you want to procrastinate more. So try struggling for just one minute. If you haven't made progress, decide whether to get help, come back to it later with fresh eyes, or if there's a way to do the task without conquering that roadblock.
• If you procrastinate because you fear failure, try to be rational about it: As long as the task is something you have a reasonable chance of completing well, if you procrastinate, you increase your chance of failing. If you can reduce your procrastination, you're more likely to be successful and to feel good about yourself.

And now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go do my taxes. Actually, I think I'll do it tomorrow.

I read this aloud on YouTube.