When you put your mind on one task, you set aside all of the other things on your 'to do' list and focus solely on the project at hand. If this really is the most important task on your schedule you can console yourself with the knowledge that you have not succumbed to procrastination. However, if you are doing something which could be completed later and overrides something more pressing, you need to say hello to your ol' friend Procrastination.

Right now, you are reading this article but are you reading it as a means of trying to avoid something which is outstanding, even though this article is an extremely enticing, well-penned and neatly crafted piece of work? I may not be able to advise you on the hierarchy of your 'to do' list or comment on how productive you are but I do know one thing...

...between the end of the last sentence and the beginning of this one I have made two cups of coffee, scanned documents which could have waited and spent longer on the phone to a client than was necessary. I then settled back down to finish this article on procrastination...yes, I can hear the sweet, dulcet tones of Alanis Morisette singing "isn't it ironic."

So what is procrastination and how can we avoid falling into its trap... Sit back and I'll tell you more... after I return from lunch!

The art of avoidance
Procrastination, in a nutshell is a way of postponing until tomorrow the things which need to be done today. It can occur in the workplace and at home. In many instances it provokes feelings of stress, depression, inadequacy and guilt.

We compensate for these feelings by convincing ourselves that we are busy tackling other important things. In some instances we will often find ourselves completing a task that we absolutely hate, rather than face up to matters which are outstanding.

Why do we procrastinate?
There are many reasons why people avoid completing certain tasks, below are just a few.

Insecurity and lack of self confidence - negative feelings and self-sabotaging mind talk such as "I am stupid, this work is not for me" "I am bound to mess this up".

The 'all or nothing' syndrome - this is where you would far rather not complete a task at all than attempt it and fear rejection.

Lack of interest - often results in putting things off until the last minute and then having to throw something together which is rushed and inferior.

Not having a complete understanding of the task - this can make the whole matter seem like a heavy weight which you cannot shake off.

Perfectionism - a fear of not meeting the unrealistic standards that you have set for yourself.

Anxiety - many hours can be wasted worrying or fretting over something which may actually turn out to be quite enjoyable when faced.

Although it is easy to buzz from one task to another in a desperate attempt to try and avoid the important stuff, procrastination is something which you need to be able to recognize so as you can understand why you are unable to face it head on.

Five steps for taking procrastination by the horns

1. Avoid using negative connotations such as "have to" or "need to" and replace them with "want to" or "choose to".

2. Break the entirety of the task down into small, manageable chunks to be completed over a set period of time. This way the intensity of the workload is lessened and the daunting prospects reduced.

3. Reward yourself for completing a task. For example, you could promise yourself a nice tasty cream cake at lunchtime. You will enjoy it even more knowing that the hurdle you have avoided for so long has finally been addressed.

4. Hold in mind the unpleasant aspect of not completing a task - for example, those urgent quotes the boss asked you to send, could result in a severe reprimand or even the sack!

5. Quash anxieties about not being able to produce quality work. Console yourself with the fact that it is better to produce something rather than nothing at all.

Effective procrastination, killing two birds with one stone...
Contrary to popular belief, procrastination can be used in a constructive rather than destructive manner.

Allow me to demonstrate...

You have two projects which need to be completed in a limited amount of time.

Task one: You want to organize a birthday party for your work colleague because you know it will go in your favour and is likely to secure that promotion you have been seeking. You know that the date is fast approaching and you really should be whipping those plans into shape

Task two: At the same time, your work as a writer involves having to meet strict deadlines. Your editor has just asked you to complete a thousand word article which will earn you £750 but you have to complete it within forty-eight hours and it is a complex subject.

What do you do? Whilst it is important to clinch that promotion, you equally need the extra cash that the article will provide. You start to feel stressed and anxious. You choose to write the article but aim to complete it very quickly so as you can start work on the party preparations. However, fretfulness about the pending party can cause mind block and the article is likely to be late or never transform at all.

One effective way to handle this situation is to put the easier and more enjoyable task at the forefront. When the mind is stimulated and content, inspiration flows, adrenaline increases and before long you are jotting down ideas for your article whilst you are making that party go with a swing.

A couple of hours later and you have a potential promotion on the horizon and an article that just needs a little fine tuning to complete the deadline and secure some extra cash in the bank.

Now all you have to do is remember to send that invoice for £750 (don't worry you can always do it this evening, after Eastenders has finished!)