A War on Delaying Tactics

Recently I came across an idea to combat procrastination that utilizes one of the most powerful anti-procrastination weapons ever – accountability.

In this case, it’s a way to be accountable to yourself, which—depending on your personality—may be easier or harder than being accountable to someone else.

The idea was in How to Become a Straight-A Student by Cal Newport. He suggests spending 5 minutes every morning writing out what you’re going to do that day, checking them off as you finish them. Nothing new there.

Here’s the powerful part: at the end of your day, if there is anything you didn’t complete, write out the reasons why.

I’ve started doing this, keeping a 4”x5” notebook with one page for each day’s list. And I’ve been highlighting my reasons (excuses) for not finishing things I had wanted to. So now I have a record that holds me accountable. After a week (day) of my lame excuses for not completing something (or actually, even the prospect of having to explain to myself why I didn’t do it), I’m pretty sure to get it done.