Are you having a hard time avoiding distractions? Do you stare blankly at your unfinished to-do at the end of the day? Do you regret every morning what you didn’t finish yesterday? Well, the clock is ticking.
Balance is everything
The clock is ticking does not mean you should work like a robot, 18 hours a day and get just enough sleep to get by. It is meant to remind you that there is something to do, and you are the only person who can do it. Being balanced is key. If you need a nap, take a nap. If you need a sharp mind, the clock is ticking means that any moment you’re not sleeping, you’re not working efficiently. I go running several days a week, it helps keep my body fit and my mind clear. If I need to do it, it is not a waste of time, if you need to do it, do it. Just don’t waste time. What counts for you as time wasting, is just research for me. Everyone has their standards: for me watching a soccer match is wasting my time, for a soccer coach it is just part of the business. For me reading blogs is part of the business, for some others is just procrastinating. Make clear what is work and what is fun. When you need some fun, go and enjoy. But when you have your batteries charged, get back to the trenches.
Why are you skipping your work?
There are a thousand reasons why you may be skipping your work. Fear of failure, fear of success, not enough preparation, too much preparation, perfectionism. A lot of reasons. You probably know some already. Why are you skipping it? Can anyone else do it? Does the world need you to be in charge of it? The answer to this question is probably yes. Either because you need to do it to make money, or because this is your task. If it is yours, why are you not doing right now?
Ticking away
Time is always ticking away. One day I grew tired of thinking if only I had done this yesterday and from now on, every time procrastination and resistance to work were down the alley, I scared them with the rhythmic sound of a clock. Don’t fight procrastination with logic, deadlines or goals. Fight it with strong weapons, like your stubbornness. The clock is still ticking, and you are still here. Are you prepared to fight back? Tick-Tack. Can you hear it?
