Anti-Procrastination Challenge: Commitment

Something struck me last night as I was thinking about this Anti-Procrastination Challenge.  Part of what makes it so easy to procrastinate is that the only person to whom I'm accountable is myself.

If I need to get the refrigerator cleaned out, but I don't get to it, it's no big deal.  I tell myself, “I'll get to it tomorrow,” and go on my merry way.

If there's something that needs to be done, and I've made a commitment to another person about it, I am much more likely to get it done, lest I be embarrassed about breaking my promise.

I started thinking of all the things that I have really given my best effort to do without procrastinating, and, for the most part, they all have one element in common: a commitment to another person.

Part of the reason I decided to publicly blog about my personal challenge of anti-procrastination was to give me more motivation and give me a little extra push to stop procrastinating.

I've been trying to brainstorm ways that I can make even more commitments to help myself get even more done.  One of the easiest things I have done that I need to keep in mind in the future is to tell my kids of my intentions.  If I tell my kids that I will take them to the playground, they will not let me forget.  If I tell them that I need to defrost the freezer, they will be sure to remind me.  If I tell them that we're going to invited someone over for dinner, they will make sure I remember.  (Better yet, if I'm going to invite someone for dinner, I need to go ahead and make the commitment with the person I'm intending to invite.  Then I'm definitely forced into following through with my intentions of being more hospitable.)

I'll be trying to think of more ways to help myself be even more productive by determining ways to make myself more accountable to people.

Maybe that sounds like a crutch to self-discipline, and maybe it really is, but I realize that's what it's going to take to help push myself to get more done.

If I want to do something for someone, I'm going to go ahead and tell them I will.  I'll be pushed to follow through or face the embarrassment of breaking a promise.

I'm going to tell my kids of my plans for the day more often; the persistent reminders will help me carry out those plans.

What about you?  Will a stronger level of commitment to others help you be more productive?  Try to think of some ways you can help yourself get more done by being accountable to others more often.

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