“Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?!” one of my favorite co-workers likes to joke. You have to admit that’s pretty funny!
I shared this saying with a teammate, who grinned but rolled his eyes. He sighed, “I used to think the same thing. But I’ve learned the hard way that there’s always more. An emergency project pops up. The person you have a dependency on is out for Spring Break. Or a decision maker gets sick. When I started this job, I thought I’d have pockets of breathing room. Now there’s so much coming at me that I might as well get into it!”
In the March series, Precision Problem Solving, we’re looking at the hidden aspects of problem solving. So far, we’ve discussed how finding solutions gets easier by understanding other people’s emotions and choosing partnering over pushiness. The third critical element is touchy: Overcoming procrastination.
Like my co-worker, are you a “later” kind of person? That’s understandable—no one gets everything done in a day. But handling problems early isn’t about zero inbox bragging rights. It works because attending to issues is easiest when they’re fresh. Think “small” and “manageable” vs. “difficult” and “expensive”.
So, if you want to be known for your problem-solving acumen, make “Get into it” your mantra. As Janet Daley says, “‘Someday’ is not a day of the week.”
There’s no better “get into it” story than the guy who posted a video about “The 10-year window.“
The situation started simply enough: A window in his home needed replacing. He threw together a stopgap repair, but since the window wasn’t broken, he kept postponing the “real fix” for someday.
Finally, he and his wife decided to sell the house. The owner took the weekend to get the materials, replace the frame, and then paint it. Ahh, brand new!
However, the look on his wife’s face made him wince. Although she applauded his efforts, they also realized they could have been looking at that beautiful view instead of an eyesore the whole time.
Have you had situations like the case study, where giving in to passing emotions turned into full-blown procrastination? I have. I’ve let feelings of irritation, concerns about whether my efforts would be enough, or “Why me?!” resistance undermine me. They got in the way of consistent progress, which was always in my best interest.
Successful people aren’t “keep calm and carry on” chatbots—they like to vent as much as the next person. But the distinction they’ve discovered is that breakthrough ideas often happen by taking short breaks. When they restart later or even the next day, they’re able to transform intense emotions from scattered or forced reactions to a precise solution with clear, thoughtful, streamlined steps.
So, the next time a case of the blahs blocks you from making headway, try these turnarounds. They’ll help shift heated feelings before they become the boss of you:
* I feel overwhelmed becomes I’ll look at this project with fresh eyes and complete one task.
* I don’t care about this project becomes I’ll reward myself with a fun victory lap when I finish.
* There’s too much to do becomes I’ll ask for help in one area.
* I have imposter syndrome becomes I’ll identify a skill that got me here and build on that.
* Nothing is working becomes I fail fast, learn, and keep moving.
* The stress is getting to me becomes I share my concerns with trusted people who will support and encourage me.
* AI Prompt: Write a motivational pep talk from my Future Self, reminding me of what’s possible by staying focused to overcome tough problems.
Precision problem solving sometimes requires doing what is inconvenient, uncomfortable, or time-consuming, which can make anyone irritable and tense. But here’s what people competing with you for promotions and raises don’t want you to know: The relaxed, laser-focused, self-aware you is the standout you. So, instead of letting loose ends take you out of character, get into it, and start taking charge with cool strategic thinking.