《IT行业职场英语 (27).pdf》由会员分享，可在线阅读，更多相关《IT行业职场英语 (27).pdf（5页珍藏版）》请在taowenge.com淘文阁网|工程机械CAD图纸|机械工程制图|CAD装配图下载|SolidWorks_CaTia_CAD_UG_PROE_设计图分享下载上搜索。
1、TIMEMANAGEMENTHowtoBeatProcrastinationbyCarolineWebbJULY29,2016Procrastination comes in many disguises.We might resolve to tackle a task,but find endlessreasons to defer it.We might prioritize things we can readily tick off our to-do listansweringemails,saywhile leaving the big,complex stuff untouch
2、ed for another day.We can look and feelbusy,while artfully avoiding the tasks that really matter.And when we look at those rolling,long-untouched items at the bottom of our to-do list,we cant help but feel a little disappointed inourselves.The problem is our brains are programmed to procrastinate.In
3、 general,we all tend to strugglewith tasks that promise future upside in return for efforts we take now.Thats because its easierfor our brains to process concrete rather than abstract things,and the immediate hassle is verytangible compared with those unknowable,uncertain future benefits.So the shor
4、t-term efforteasily dominates the long-term upside in our mindsan example of something that behavioralscientists call present bias.How can you become less myopic about your elusive tasks?Its all about rebalancing the cost-benefit analysis:make the benefits of action feel bigger,and the costs of acti
5、on feel smaller.Thereward for doing a pestering task needs to feel larger than the immediate pain of tackling it.To make the benefits of action feel bigger and more real:Visualize how great it will be to get it done.Researchers have discovered that people are morelikely to save for their future reti
6、rement if theyre shown digitally aged photographs ofthemselves.Why?Because it makes their future self feel more realmaking the future benefits ofsaving also feel more weighty.When we apply a lo-fi version of this technique to any task wevebeen avoiding,by taking a moment to paint ourselves a vivid m
7、ental picture of the benefits ofgetting it done,it can sometimes be just enough to get us unstuck.So if theres a call youreavoiding or an email youre putting off,give your brain a helping hand by imagining the virtuoussense of satisfaction youll have once its doneand perhaps also the look of relief
8、on someonesface as they get from you what they needed.Pre-commit,publicly.Telling people that were going to get something done can powerfullyamplify the appeal of actually taking action,because our brains reward system is so highlyresponsive to our social standing.Research has found that it matters
9、greatly to us whether wererespected by otherseven by strangers.Most of us dont want to look foolish or lazy to otherpeople.So by daring to say“Ill send you the report by the end of the day”we add social benefitsto following through on our promisewhich can be just enough to nudge us to bite the bulle
10、t.Confront the downside of inaction.Research has found that were strangely averse to properlyevaluating the status quo.While we might weigh the pros and cons of doing something new,wefar less often consider the pros and cons of not doing that thing.Known as omission bias,thisoften leads us to ignore
11、 some obvious benefits of getting stuff done.Suppose youre repeatedlyputting off the preparation you need to do for an upcoming meeting.Youre tempted by moreexciting tasks,so you tell yourself you can do it tomorrow(or the day after).But force yourself tothink about the downside of putting it off,an
12、d you realize that tomorrow will be too late to gethold of the input you really need from colleagues.If you get moving now,you have half a chanceof reaching them in timeso finally,your gears creak into action.To make the costs of action feel smaller:Identify the first step.Sometimes were just daunte
13、d by the task were avoiding.We might have“learn French”on our to-do list,but who can slot that into the average afternoon?The trick hereis to break down big,amorphous tasks into baby steps that dont feel as effortful.Even better:identify the very smallest first step,something thats so easy that even
14、 your present-biased braincan see that the benefits outweigh the costs of effort.So instead of“learn French”you mightdecide to“email Nicole to ask advice on learning French.”Achieve that small goal,and youll feelmore motivated to take the next small step than if youd continued to beat yourself up ab
15、out yourlack of language skills.Tie the first step to a treat.We can make the cost of effort feel even smaller if we link that smallstep to something were actually looking forward to doing.In other words,tie the task that wereavoiding to something that were not avoiding.For example,you might allow y
16、ourself to readlowbrow magazines or books when youre at the gym,because the guilty pleasure helps diluteyour brains perception of the short-term“cost”of exercising.Likewise,you might muster theself-discipline to complete a slippery task if you promise yourself youll do it in a nice caf with afavorit
17、e drink in hand.Remove the hidden blockage.Sometimes we find ourselves returning to a task repeatedly,stillunwilling to take the first step.We hear a little voice in our head saying,“Yeah,good idea,but.no.”At this point,we need to ask that voice some questions,to figure out whats really making ituna
18、ppealing to take action.This doesnt necessarily require psychotherapy.Patiently ask yourselfa few“why”questions“why does it feel tough to do this?”and“whys that?”and the blockagecan surface quite quickly.Often,the issue is that a perfectly noble competing commitment isundermining your motivation.For
19、 example,suppose you were finding it hard to stick to an earlymorning goal-setting routine.A few“whys”might highlight that the challenge stems from yourequally strong desire to eat breakfast with your family.Once youve made that conflict moreexplicit,its far more likely youll find a way to overcome
20、itperhaps by setting your daily goalsthe night before,or on your commute into work.So the next time you find yourself mystified by your inability to get important tasks done,be kindto yourself.Recognize that your brain needs help if its going to be less short-sighted.Try takingat least one step to m
21、ake the benefits of action loom larger,and one to make the costs of actionfeel smaller.Your languishing to-do list will thank you.CarolineWebbistheauthorofHowtoHaveaGoodDay:HarnessthePowerofBehavioralSciencetoTransformYourWorkingLife.SheisalsoCEOofcoachingfirmSevenshift,andaSeniorAdvisertoMcKinsey&C
22、ompany.FollowheronTwittercaroline_webb_,Facebook,orGoogle+.RelatedTopics:PRODUCTIVITY|MANAGINGYOURSELFThisarticleisaboutTIMEMANAGEMENTFOLLOWTHISTOPICCommentsLeaveaCommentPOST14COMMENTSNagarajanSomasundaram18daysagoItsaninterestingtopicandarticle.ButImustsaythatyouareleavingthevisualizationpartofthes
23、torytothereaderandonceagainleavingitforaguessinggame.Throwingsomeexamplesofhowthevisualizationmightlooklikeandeventuallyleadtothatsatisfactionofcompletingataskcouldbemoremeaningfulforareadertounderstandthecompleteprocessandthestoryassociatedwithit.Needalotofimaginationtogointothisasitisthecreativity
24、andtheimaginationthatwilldrivetheindividualtoachievesomethingandintime.Hopeithelps.REPLY00POSTINGGUIDELINESWehopetheconversationsthattakeplaceonHBR.orgwillbeenergetic,constructive,andthought-provoking.Tocomment,readersmustsigninorregister.Andtoensurethequalityofthediscussion,ourmoderatingteamwillreviewallcommentsandmayeditthemforclarity,length,andrelevance.Commentsthatareoverlypromotional,mean-spirited,oroff-topicmaybedeletedperthemoderatorsjudgment.AllpostingsbecomethepropertyofHarvardBusinessPublishing.JOINTHECONVERSATION