Perhaps there is a list of the 7 Deadly Sins of Business, I’m sure procrastination would be close to the top. It’s a condition that all to frequently afflicts entrepreneurs.

In my formative years, I frequently  read, heard or told myself, “Don’t procrastinate” or “Stop procrastinating! Than I accidentally experienced what is called “creative  procrastination.”

At the time, I was involved in a graduate program that required practicums, and I had three practicum proposals waiting to be finished, or more correctly, started.

As I tried to decide how to start the first one, I happened to look around the room. It was messy, and I just felt I had to clean it right then. Interestingly, doing that seemed to clear my mind, and I easily wrote the three proposals, making only one or two changes before submitting them. They were all accepted.

Perhaps this is related to what some have called “Creative Procrastination.”

Two researchers tested their theory of creative procrastination on a group of business people. They were placed in three sections and told to come up with creative ideas for their business.

Section 1 subjects were told to start work immediately.
Section 2 subjects were instructed to play a game of Minesweeper or solitaire before starting work.
Section three participants were told to wait until the last possible minute before beginning work.

In the evaluation of their ideas, the game-playing section was rated 28% more creative.

When procrastination strikes, do something else for five minutes and come back to what you were doing. Try taking a short walk, playing one game of Minesweeper or Solitaire, doing some deep breathing, or meditation.

Most of all, don’t beat yourself up for occasional procrastination. Remember, there can be a creative side, then try to find it.

 

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