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9. PRACTICE THE ART OF INTELLIGENT NEGLECT.
Eliminate from your life trivial tasks or those tasks which do not have long-term
consequences for you. Can you delegate or eliminate any of your To Do list?
Work on those tasks which you alone can do.
10. AVOID BEING A PERFECTIONIST.
In the Malaysian culture, only the gods are considered capable of producing
anything perfect. Whenever something is made, a flaw is left on purpose so the
gods will not be offended. Yes, some things need to be closer to perfect than
others, but perfectionism, paying unnecessary attention to detail, can be a
form of procrastination.
11. CONQUER PROCRASTINATION.
One technique to try is the "Swiss cheese" method described by Alan
Lakein. When you are avoiding something, break it into smaller tasks and do
just one of the smaller tasks or set a timer and work on the big task for just
15 minutes. By doing a little at a time, eventually you'll reach a point where
you'll want to finish.
12. LEARN TO SAY "NO."
Such a small word and so hard to say. Focusing on your goals may help.
Blocking time for important, but often not scheduled, priorities such as family
and friends can also help. But first you must be convinced that you and your
priorities are important that seems to be the hardest part in learning
to say "no." Once convinced of their importance, saying "no"
to the unimportant in life gets easier.
13. REWARD YOURSELF.
Even for small successes, celebrate achievement of goals. Promise yourself
a reward for completing each task, or finishing the total job. Then keep your
promise to yourself and indulge in your reward. Doing so will help you maintain
the necessary balance in life between work and play. As Ann McGee-Cooper says,
"If we learn to balance excellence in work with excellence in play, fun,
and relaxation, our lives become happier, healthier, and a great deal more creative."
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