Procrastination is a habit that kills people. Seriously folks, it does.

Put off a mammogram…

Don’t change your bald tires…

Don’t check that “funny smell” in the house…

These actions can lead to untreatable breast cancer, a serious auto accident and an electrical house fire can kill you or your family.

About 7 years ago, when we were taking a much needed sabbatical, my wife and I were cruising on our sailboat off the coast of Panama. We returned to the United States for a quick 2 week trip for the weddings of my brother in Chicago and daughter in California. During that hectic visit my wife pre-scheduled her mammogram. She could have easily put it off.

Thank God she didn’t.
The mammogram found Stage I breast cancer. We never saw our sailboat again for 10 months. Why? Because that’s how long her cancer treatment lasted. I am happy that my wife doesn’t procrastinate. Early detection saved her life.

After 10 years of research (taking 5 years longer than planned), University of Calgary professor Piers Steel thinks procrastination is making Americans not only poorer and fatter, but unhappier.

According to his 30 page study, published by American Psychological Association, Steel says “People who procrastinate tend to be less healthy, less wealthy and far less happy.”

That is easy to understand.
Procrastinators put off exercise, so they are not as healthy. They don’t get physical check-ups. They don’t start to save money nor do they monitor their investments when they do save--so they are not as wealthy.

They don’t pay their bills on time so their credit suffers and they pay higher rates for home and auto mortgages. They often pay huge interest debt. They show up late on the job. They keep friends waiting, don’t return calls, and relationships suffer.

Think of the financial penalties from procrastination:
Productivity on the job translates in to dollars lost. A businessman who spends 40 hours of delay time to avoid five minutes of work is no help to the company. Delay in filing taxes, late credit card payments can cost an individual hundreds of dollars. The Post Office stays open until midnight on April 15th to accommodate the long line of people waiting to get their tax returns postmarked.  Cost of last minute airline tickets?  Forget about it!

The list goes on and on.

Psychologist William Knaus, author of Overcoming Procrastination agrees with Steel.  “It’s a huge problem. I think the majority of the special mental disabilities that people have such as anxiety and panic disorder can be defined as a special cases of procrastination.”

Wikipedia offers this definition of procrastination:
“Procrastination is a type of avoidance behavior which is characterized by deferment of actions or tasks to a later time. It is often cited by psychologists as a mechanism for coping with the anxiety associated with starting or completing any task or decision.  For the person procrastinating this may result in stress, a sense of guilt, the loss of productivity, the creation of crisis and the chagrin of others for not fulfilling one’s responsibilities or commitments. While it is normal for individuals to procrastinate to some degree, it becomes a problem when it impedes normal functioning. Chronic procrastination may be a sign of an underlying psychological or physiological disorder.” 

So Why Do We Procrastinate?
Some psychologists believe that procrastination in work and in life is related more to anxiety rather than laziness.

Perhaps the task is too small (such as picking up a messy room) and is an annoying interruption of more important things.

Or the job may be too overwhelming.

Or the person may delay making a decision fearing the impact it may have on his or her life as a result.

The relaxed type of procrastinator avoids situations that cause displeasure and indulge in more enjoyable activities. Like the teens who ignore their schoolwork but not their social life. They may appear to be unconcerned about work and deadlines but it is simply an evasion.

The tense, afraid type of procrastinator usually feels overwhelmed by pressure and lacks the ability to focus. They may tell themselves they need to relax NOW so they can start FRESH in the morning. 

The so called “relaxing” that the procrastinator experiences leads to more stress, guilt and apprehension as time runs out.  It becomes a cycle of delay and failure often leading to depression and a withdrawal from people who appear goal-oriented and confident.

I remember friends in college that finished special projects and assignments a week early while others fretted over them until the deadline was upon them, forcing them into a panicked flurry of activity to turn it in on time. For some this behavior may be due to lack of time management skills. Those patterns can follow us into adulthood and the workplace.

So why do people procrastinate even when we know it is against our best interests?
Although temptation and gadget distraction in today’s society may be the biggest factor the rise of procrastination, there is evidence that the problem has been around long before technology came into play.

Ancient Proverb: “If and When were planted, and Nothing grew.”

Unknown Author: “Procrastination is the grave in which opportunity is buried.”

Benjamin Franklin: “Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today.”
 
Walt Disney: “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

I believe that for some people procrastination has simply become a horrible habit and like any habit it can be overcome and replaced with a different behavior.

You were not born procrastinating.

You learned how to put things off. This behavior had an origin at some point in your life. Just as every habit we have, whether it is the habit of tying our shoes, writing our name or driving an automobile, we have to learn it with our conscious mind before it can become subconscious or automatic.

In other words, you learned to procrastinate. Any learned habit can be extinguished and replaced with a more appropriate habit.
  
Our Hypnosis to Overcome Procrastination will help you focus on the task at hand with a sense of confidence and give you the ability to complete it in a timely manner.

Eliminate the guilt and uneasiness of avoidance and replace them with pride and a sense of accomplishment.  Hypnosis can change the way to think about the job at hand. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the task, you will be able to break it down into smaller more manageable steps.

Imagine the gratification you’ll feel upon completion when you can relax with a clear conscience. Are you ready to change your life? Listen once a day for 21 to 30 days and you’ll be a new person.

You’ll get things done in priority. You won’t get everything done. No one can. But you’ll get done what needs to be accomplished so you can have that satisfied feeling at the end of the day when your head hits the pillow that you’ve accomplished the important things.

Here is one thing you don’t want to put off. Click to order now. Your satisfaction is guaranteed.