I recently conducted a poll on LinkedIn and asked the question, “How often do you procrastinate towards your personal goals?” Almost three-quarters of the participants said they procrastinate “always” or “sometimes” (the figures might be different if you take a look now).
So many times, personal goals are placed on hold as people pursue their professional obligations. Work crowds out the private to the expense of a flexible lifestyle.
Procrastination is the thief of time. It is also the thief of retirement.
On a typical week, someone in a full-time job spends about one-third of their awake time in their occupation. If post-career life means no job, then individuals are faced with a significant amount of personal time to fill. Not understanding the goals you want to accomplish, the things you want to do, the life you want to live – opens you up to “activity” delay and deferment.
Procrastination becomes a thief of a meaningful life.
There are many reasons why procrastination can have a negative impact on retirement.
First, procrastinators are more likely to have less money saved for retirement. This is because they tend to put off saving until it is too late. As a result, they may have to work longer in retirement or live on a smaller budget.
Procrastination becomes a thief of financial resources.
Second, procrastinators are more likely to have less fulfilling retirements. This is because they may not have taken the time to plan for their retirement. As a result, they may not have the activities or hobbies that they enjoy. They may also not have the relationships that they need to support them in retirement.
Procrastination becomes a thief of planned behaviors.
Third, procrastinators are more likely to experience anxiety and regret in retirement. This is because they may have missed out on opportunities to travel, learn new things, or spend time with loved ones. They may also have regrets about not saving more money for retirement.
Procrastination becomes a thief of a healthy mindset.
Of course, not all procrastinators have negative retirements. Some procrastinators are able to overcome their procrastination and have fulfilling retirements. However, the odds are stacked against them.
Procrastination becomes a thief of motivation.
So, what can procrastinators do to have a better retirement? Well, acknowledge that you are one. Once you admit it, the process can start to secure and protect your time from theft, you can begin to take steps to overcome it.
What should you do?
There are many techniques that can help you to overcome procrastination. Consider the following:
- Breaking down tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.
- Setting deadlines for yourself and sticking to them.
- Rewarding yourself for completing tasks.
- Eliminating distractions.
- Finding a partner or group to help you stay motivated.
If you are a procrastinator, it is important to start planning for your retirement early (financial and lifestyle). The earlier you start, the more time you will have to create a holistic strategy.
Procrastination becomes a distant memory, not a thief in the night.
Take the PTA
Take the PTA for Free!
Test your procrastination challenges by taking the complimentary Procrastination Time Analysis (PTA). The PTA lets you self-evaluate personal tendencies, planning approaches, and process methods. You’ll get back a complimentary assessment that highlights the places you can immediately focus on to help you know where to protect your time.
Conclusion
Retirement can be a wonderful time of life. But for procrastinators, it can be a time of anxiety, regret, and unfulfilled dreams. Are you a procrastinator? It is important to start planning for your retirement early and to take steps to overcome your procrastination.
David Buck is the author of the book The Time-Optimized Life, coauthor of The Retirement Collective, and owner of Kairos (Time) Management Solutions, LLC. Learn how to apply the concepts of proactive planning and using your time. Take the Time Management Analysis (TMA), the Retirement Time Analysis (RTA), or all the other free resources offered to help bring more quality time into your life.
English