Page 59 - Workbook2E

Your Financial Stress Profile—Evaluations Stressor No. 7 Pushing or Procrastinating from page 39
At home, in the workplace, or at play—there are pushers and procrastinators. Some people feel more likely to follow the advice, “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” Others have made a habit of avoiding responsibility an art form. Daily life is constantly changing. And changes require you to respond by acting or reacting. Stresses are created whether you are pushing or pulling. Consider these recommendations based on the results of Your Financial Stress Profile questionnaire.
You currently tend to not procrastinate when a job needs to be done.
When things need to be done, you try to begin immediately. Feel good about yourself; self- starters are in a minority. But be aware you may feel stressed when you’re required to wait for things to happen or for others to get going.
Also, realize you may feel stress when situations arise which prevent your moving ahead. You may lack the necessary funds or strength to do what needs to be done.
When you start a cooperative project, make sure everyone is informed and agrees to when, where, how, and why. Communicate your plans ahead of time. Allow others to work at a reasonable pace. Measure results in terms of others’ expectations as well as your own. Watch for ways to allow the project to unfold naturally.
Be aware you may keep stress at a minimum by working on some kinds of projects alone.
You currently tend to procrastinate more than occasionally when a job needs to be done.
Your answers suggest your natural tendency is to delay doing a task when you feel pressured, although eventually you’ll get it done.
Be aware, when you put a project on hold, whether temporarily or not, you’re allowing stress to build in your life. Also, when you do get started on a task, you’ll feel a positive surge of energy.
Realize from the moment you determine something needs
to be done—until you finally begin the task—you’re building negative energy that takes the form of stress.
Develop the habit of asking yourself, “If not me, who?
If not now, when?” These empowering phrases will raise your energy and determination to begin.
Be aware when you delay you can negatively influence others. Don’t sew seeds of embarrassment.
You currently tend to avoid moving ahead when a job needs to be done.
Your answers suggest your natural tendency may be to either avoid doing tasks or justify not doing them at all.
Be aware each time you fail
to move ahead, your resolve
to do things in the future is weakened. This is a bad habit. You may get away with it, but where does it get you? Every action produces results, but inaction often produces the opposite results, rather than no results at all.
Break this bad habit with small actions. Find some of the least important or stressful aspects of a task you’ve been putting off, and move ahead on it. Create small successes that will encourage larger achievements.
Put up a sign in a prominent place that reads, “If it has to be, it’s up to me!” Repeat this out loud when you’re confronted with a new task.
It will help create positive energy to move forward.
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