Last issue the focus was on creating New Year’s resolutions. It only seems appropriate to follow-up on what many of us are now facing . . . Procrastination.

It creeps into our business, into our personal life, and can just about rear its ugly head any where if we don’t get control of it. How do you keep from procrastinating? Here are TouchPointe’s Top Ten ways to avoid getting bitten by the procrastination bug!

1. Hire a personal trainer - The first week into the new year of course was great with the workouts, then 5 became 4, 3 became 2, and now with only one on the books for the week I knew I needed the extra push.

Walter Serrano, owner of One on One Personal Training based out of Ladera Ranch, now pushes me saying, "Ok give me five more reps" when clearly I am ready to throw in the towel! His email address says it all fivemore@cox.net.

3. Reward yourself by having a carrot at the end of the project or goal! Once completed, go out to dinner, or get that new outfit you have been wanting. Whatever it is, keep your eye on the prize!

4. Tell others – Go public with your plans! Letting others know your plans is a great way to ensure you are held accountable. Who wants to not do what you stated you were going to do? This year I have decided to write a book . . . what have you decided?

5. Teamwork – Each month sit down with a small group of individuals and go over your goals together.

What did you accomplish during the prior month? What have you scheduled for the upcoming month?

Establish your own mastermind group. Utilize each other to support one another especially if you find yourself getting off course. Dina Williams of Ladera Homes and I meet on a regular basis to discuss goals achieved for the prior month.

6. What is your plan? Go into the day with a plan of attack. When will you be working out? When will you be spending time with your family?

Block the time in your planner and treat it as if you were going to a very important engagement. Would you blow off a meeting with your biggest account?

7. Don’t Waste Time – How much time do you find yourself wasting as you contemplate all your options? Analysis paralysis is the term used to describe someone who spends way too much time over thinking choices.

Give yourself a time frame of when you will make a decision and then make a decision.

Remember, not making a decision is sometimes making a decision. What I mean by that is, someone else will come along and make the choice for you if you procrastinate too long.

8. Don’t Worry – Do you ever spend time worrying about something that never happens?

Worrying can be a huge time waster and reason for procrastination. What about worrying about the things over which you have no control?

9. Who are you being and what are you gaining! Understand why you procrastinate.

Is it because you like the rush of waiting to the last minute and scrambling to get everything in place. "Here I come to save the day….are you Mighty Mouse?

Do you leave everything to the last minute in hopes that you can come in and save the day or are you a perfectionist wanting everything to be perfect setting unrealistic goals.

10. Just do it! This is my favorite action item – simply do it! Get it out of the way, get it done and off your plate. Check it off your list!

Recognize the anxiety about doing the task may be far worse that the task itself. Typically the task ends up far less worse than what we expected it to be.

As my father always said, "if you spent half the time worrying about getting it done, and just doing it, you would have been done by now!