Can you hear it? I have a new productivity motto. The clock is ticking. Every time I think about checking Reddit, I mentally hear its tick-tack. When I’m about to watch TV, I think about the clock. Whenever I feel like I’m fed up with the task at hand, I remind me I’m the only one who can do it… And the clock is ticking.
Are you having a hard time avoiding distractions? Do you stare blankly at your unfinished to-do at the end of the day? Do you regret every morning what you didn’t finish yesterday? Well, the clock is ticking.
Balance is everything
The clock is ticking does not mean you should work like a robot, 18 hours a day and get just enough sleep to get by. It is meant to remind you that there is something to do, and you are the only person who can do it. Being balanced is key.
The Clock Is Ticking: Can't you hear it?
If you need a nap, take a nap. If you need a sharp mind, the clock is ticking means that any moment you’re not sleeping, you’re not working efficiently. I go running several days a week, it helps keep my body fit and my mind clear. If I need to do it, it is not a waste of time, if you need to do it, do it. Just don’t waste time.
What counts for you as time wasting, is just research for me. Everyone has their standards: for me watching a soccer match is wasting my time, for a soccer coach it is just part of the business. For me reading blogs is part of the business, for some others is just procrastinating. Make clear what is work and what is fun. When you need some fun, go and enjoy. But when you have your batteries charged, get back to the trenches.
Why are you skipping your work?
There are a thousand reasons why you may be skipping your work. Fear of failure, fear of success, not enough preparation, too much preparation, perfectionism. A lot of reasons. You probably know some already.
Why are you skipping it? Can anyone else do it? Does the world need you to be in charge of it? The answer to this question is probably yes. Either because you need to do it to make money, or because this is your task. If it is yours, why are you not doing right now?
Ticking away
Time is always ticking away. One day I grew tired of thinking if only I had done this yesterday and from now on, every time procrastination and resistance to work were down the alley, I scared them with the rhythmic sound of a clock.
Don’t fight procrastination with logic, deadlines or goals. Fight it with strong weapons, like your stubbornness. The clock is still ticking, and you are still here. Are you prepared to fight back?
Tick-Tack. Can you hear it?
Another very strong weapon against procrastination is the use of group efforts. Some of our goals were not meant to be achieved solo. Instead, having others who are motivated and willing to keep you accountable will often work wonders to overcome procrastination and keep you well balanced.
Spot on as usual Clint. How come you are always so fast to post the first comment :)?
Ruben
Just happen to be on my Google Reader I suppose :)
Yes and dont retire too early
Indeed, but enjoy the ride, if you don’t this is just lengthening the grind!
Yes, definitely enjoy the ride. You’ll look back and discover that the journey is what mattered most, not always the destination.
Hey I think remembering how everything is impermanent and how death can come at any moment (memento mori) helps fighting procrastination
Yes, but don’t get too caught on it… You may give up taking out the trash because you may die tomorrow :)
Ruben
Sometimes it’s helpful to have an ACTUAL ticking clock:
I recently discovered “The Pomodoro Technique” which sounds grand but basically involves a kitchen timer, a piece of paper and a pencil. Stupid simple — but there are studies of the brain showing why this particular system works. I’ve been testing it for a couple of weeks and found it effective and also almost fun. I recently wrote a piece about it on “DaVinci Dilemma”, my blog for multi-talented people : http://davincidilemma.com/2011/07/pomodoro-one-killer-tomato/This is the “cliff notes” version that explains why it works (for me), and it also has links to the Pomodoro page with free downloads of the book and list templates.
I’ve also done my share of timeboxing (see here), and it works very well for working bursts… But I always end giving up on it, I prefer a more un-controlled way of working.
Cheers,
Ruben
I like the Pomodoro Technique too, especially in a slump. Because working for only 25 minutes doesn’t seem too painful ;)
A useful online Pomodoro timer that can have a ticking sound:
http://www.focusboosterapp.com/
You are right; time is passing us by everyday. I was even procrastinating to leave this comment but your article inspired me to put in my two cents. When I think out procrastination I think of quote I heard by the late prime minister of Israel, Golda Meir. “I must govern the clock, not be governed by it.” So if we procrastinate we just we just give more power to time, which already has enough power. Hence, why taking action very important!
Great quote, thanks for investing these 2 cents (and minutes) to add to this post!
Ruben
Ruben,
“Don’t fight procrastination with logic, deadlines or goals. Fight it with strong weapons, like your stubbornness”
You are totally correct! You can’t fight procrastination with logic. We were hunter thousand of years ago and impulsiveness or the ability to react to distraction was one of the factors which determined if we’ll survive or not.The problem is, that we evolved everything around us but our mind is still on the hunt! I’ve written about it in a resent blog post (I would love your input) http://www.iqtell.com/2011/07/stop-procrastinating/I work at IQTELL, a productivity tool that gives you extra weapons to fight procrastination. I would love to give invites to fellow hunters (we’re in a private beta), mail me on haim@iqtell.com
I think I got the idea of fighting as much as we can against the big P through Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art (I wrote a review and interview in my blog), so I don’t hold any merit :)
I’m checking your site now ;)
Ruben
“The clock is ticking.”
Nice motto! It reminds us to maintain that sense of urgency and get things done. Time is so precious.
Procrastination. Even the word itself sounds like putting something on hold. Yeah, time is ticking away, all the time. There is only so much time allotted for each and every one of us. And yes, I can hear the tick-tacking! Thanks for the reminder.
I recently learnt the latin root of procrastination (I think it was from Sacha Chua but I can’t find the quote), wikipedia comes to the rescue: forward (pro) crastinus (of tomorrow). Moving forward to tomorrow :) So yes, the word really ticks this.
Ruben
Thanks for the pep talk. Well said.
Thanks for the pep talk. Well said.
Thanks Rob, I’m glad you liked it.
Ruben
Balance is everything! Personally, I hate ticking clocks because for that very reason they remind me that time is ticking by and I haven’t done something in my life that I would have loved to have done, and so I feel pressured and get stressed and don’t do anything. So, I removed the ticking clocks, now I have no end of time and less pressure, I am more in the now rather than what is going to happen by next hour or next day… if I dont get it done than so be it. It’s like window shopping for me, I desire and desire when I have the money I will buy this or that item, but when I have the money, I don’t want it any more and more often than not it comes to me in other ways. :)