Do you have anything on your ‘to do’ list that you just can’t seem to get around to doing? Here is a method to get it done.

First of all, ask yourself, ‘what are the benefits to me of doing this?’
Next ask yourself, ‘what problems will it cause if I never do it?’

In many cases, the answers to those questions will motivate you do it. Great! Go for it!

If not, the next thing to check is, ‘do I know HOW to do it?’

Sometimes, a task that seems quite straightforward can be put off if you don’t have a strategy for getting it done. Often this problem arises with large tasks. If it needs two hours to do it, then you might keep putting it off because you only have half an hour at your desk between meetings. If it’s going to take 10 hours to do it, you’ll never have a big enough gap between meetings to get it done. The answer is to divide it up into manageable chunks and do a bit at a time.

Finally, check if there is some benefit of NOT doing it. For example, if there’s a lot at stake, you may be putting it off for fear of getting it wrong. If that’s the case, talk it over with someone else to build your confidence in your approach – or to amend it if necessary.

Above all, DO NOT assume that you must be lazy because something isn’t getting done. There is always a reason.