End Procrastination: Tip #2 (reading time 2 min.)

By Mary Boza Crimmins

Tip # 2 Distinguish between the elephants and the fleas 

Of course, you can distinguish between elephants and fleas. Elephants are majestic 10,000-pound awe-inspiring creatures; whereas, fleas are one-ounce annoying pests. Yet, we often don’t approach life as if we can tell the difference. The elephants are the essential actions we must make to achieve our goals; live our dreams. Perhaps your elephant is to schedule a meeting with at least five prospective clients per week if your goal is to increase sales. Maybe it’s getting to the gym four times per week if your goal is to lose 20 pounds. The fleas, on the other hand, are the pesky tasks we have to swat. Answering emails, submitting the monthly report, washing the dishes. 

The elephants should be our priority. By procrastinating and not dealing with the elephants, we create stress. We become disappointed because we aren’t making progress with our goals. We’re frustrated because we’re busy but not productive. Yet, we let the fleas distract us from the elephants.

Our to-do lists are a significant cause of the fleas taking priority over the elephants. Think about it. When you make your to-do list, do you purposefully identify the elephants and focus on them first? Are you giving the tiny fleas the same attention and time as the giant elephants? 

Stop procrastinating and start paying attention to your elephants, your goals. Clearly delineate when you plan your week the actions that are important to reaching your goals. Do them first in your day and early in your week. You can’t ignore the fleas because then you’ll have an infestation. Just make sure you’re intentional about when you deal with the fleas and are even more intentional about the elephants.  Keep this in mind: the metaphorical elephants, like literal elephants, are huge, complex social creatures. Your well-being requires you to make the elephants your priority. 

Ending Procrastination Tip #1 - Turn your procrastination into a ritual

Ending Procrastination Tip #2 - Distinguish between your elephants and fleas 

Coming soon: Tip #3 The laws of procrastination 

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