Important Anti-crastination Strategy

[Kerul Kassel]

As many of you know, I've just embarked on a doctoral journey. I'm making great progress, and am learning oodles. I'm blessed to have a wonderful "study buddy" for one of my courses. (More about this important procrastination-busting strategy below.) A discussion with my fellow student earlier this week made me realize how grateful I was for our relationship. Sometimes we take for granted the things that are working, right?
PROCRASTIVITY TIP / EXERCISENo matter what your goal or task, whether it's a one-time project or a long-term habit you'd like to sustain - or anything in between - pairing up with a partner can mean the different between struggling, and failing, in frustrated isolation versus progress, success, and ongoing support.

Set up regular contact, whether through email, phone, or in-person. Perhaps you'll exercise together (I also have a buddy for this), or you'll each be working on a long term career plan, or maybe just getting and keeping your email file system well managed. It can be anything, personal or professional.

Start by thinking of a few people to ask. You want to be choosy about your partner, because a partner who is unlikely to follow through may bring you down with them. You don't need to have the same goals. Though that can work nicely, pairing up is more about the support, accountability, scheduling, and goal-keeping that keeps you moving toward your objectives.

Begin with a trial run of a few weeks or a month or so. Establish how often and when (days/times) you'll be in touch, and how long each contact session will last (it could be as little as 10 minutes or as long as an hour or more, depending on the goals). Discuss how firmly you'd each like the other to hold your feet to the fire about your goals, but don't berate each other - that will damage the relationship's potential, and won't do either of you any good.

During each contact session set goals to achieve until the next time you talk, recording them (in your computer or PDA, for the next appointment time) so you can refer back to them the next time.

You might have a number of different partners for different goals. A couple of years ago I had 5 goal partners at once: one for working out, another for writing one of my books, a third for helping me improve my business marketing, and two more (we had a 3-way buddy system) to help me achieve a coaching credential.

Research does show that if someone else is holding you accountable to a goal you'll be considerably more likely to follow through.

Try it, and email me about your experience!Love, success, and happiness,
Kerul
Kerul Kassel, Author of Productive Procrastination - Make It Work For You, Not Against You and the award-winning Stop Procrastinating Now - Five Radical Procrastination Strategies To Set You Free