The Retirement Newsletter: Procrastinate now!!

Issue Number: 15 — Procrastination and retirement— is it an issue?

Photo by Author — Summer sun

Welcome

Welcome to issue number 15 – procrastinate now!

"Procrastinate now" has always been a favourite slogan of mine as I like the interplay between "procrastinate" and "now." How can you procrastinate now?

Procrastination and Retirement

There is a saying…. “Never put off to tomorrow what you could do today” and that can be one of the problems with retirement — you can view it as a long summer holiday and continually put things off.

If I think back to the long school summer holidays I had as a kid, there was a pattern. The summer holidays, those glorious 6–8 weeks off between academic years, seemed to take forever to arrive. In the months leading up to the holidays, I would carefully plan the things I wanted to do and when I would do them.

Then, the first day of my holidays arrived. And, if you listened carefully, you could hear my plans flying out the window.

Within the blink of an eye, I would be in the last week of my holiday, and nothing had been done.

But it had been fun. I had enjoyed my holiday. I just hadn’t done what I was planning.

And there is the problem.

If I view retirement as a long summer holiday, I risk letting all my plans go, getting to my “last week,” and realising I had not achieved what I wanted to do.

So, what strategies can I use to combat procrastination in my retirement?

Combating Procrastination

Several things can be done to avoid procrastination, most of which are obvious; the difficulty is sticking to them.

1. Set Clear Goals: Define specific, achievable goals to give yourself direction and motivation.

2. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Divide and conquer. Large tasks (like big problems) are difficult to manage unless you break them into manageable chunks. ‘Chunking’ makes the task less overwhelming and easier to start.

3. Create a Schedule: Use a planner or calendar to allocate specific times for tasks.

4. Prioritise Tasks: Focus on the high-priority tasks first. Try using the Eisenhower Matrix to distinguish between urgent and important tasks.

5. Use Time Management Techniques: Techniques like the Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break) can help maintain focus and productivity.

6. Eliminate Distractions: Identify and remove potential distractions from your environment, such as turning off notifications or creating a dedicated workspace.

7. Set Deadlines: Establish personal deadlines for tasks, even if not externally imposed, to create a sense of urgency.

8. Reward Yourself: Create a reward system for completing tasks, providing motivation and positive reinforcement. This is part of the Pomodoro Technique mentioned above.

9. Stay Organised : Organise your workspace and tools to minimise the time spent looking for materials and to maintain a clear mind.

10. Practice Self-Compassion: Acknowledge that everyone procrastinates sometimes, and avoid self-criticism. Use setbacks as learning experiences to improve your habits.

11. Use Technology: Use productivity apps and tools to help manage your time and tasks. This fits in with number 5 above.

12. Seek Accountability: Share your goals with a friend or colleague who can provide support and hold you accountable for your progress.

One other trick you can try, and this is hinted in the above, is to make the tasks SMART:

• Specific

• Measurable

• Attainable

• Relevant (sometimes R can be for realistic)

• Timely (or time-bound)

For example, my task is to lose some weight. However, ‘losing weight’ is not a SMART task. To make it SMART, it should be the following:

• Specific — I will lose weight — this makes the task-specific.

• Measurable — I will lose one stone (14 pounds; 6.35 kg) — I now have a measurable goal.

• Attainable — I will achieve this by following a structured diet and exercise plan — which gives me the way to achieve my goal.

• Relevant — Losing weight is important to improve my overall health and well-being.

• Timely — I will achieve this by Christmas 2024.

By making the task SMART, I achieved many of the twelve points mentioned above, which will help me move on with the task.

However, all this planning can lead to procrastination, as you spend time deciding how to do things instead of getting on with it.

Hey ho!

Anyway, good luck with your plans.

This week in the Retirement Hustle

This week, in The Retirement Side Hustle Newsletter, I discussed Video scripting and the three types of scripting as part of my series of videos on YouTube.

If you are thinking of using YouTube in your side hustle, you must consider how to script your video. In the Video scripting and the three types of scripting edition, I explore the pros and cons of each approach.

If you haven’t done so already, visit The Retirement Side Hustle Newsletter, subscribe for free and get a free copy of the newsletter.

Travel — Nostalgia Corner

From Hanoi, I moved on by train (the Reunification Express) to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon):

• Vietnam — Train from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam — the SE5 on the Reunification Railway — Letting the train take the strain in Vietnam — two days and one night on a train. It is an excellent way to travel in Vietnam.

• Vietnam — NhThờ Đức BSài Gòn (Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — My first day exploring Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam

• Vietnam — BưĐiện Sài Gòn (Saigon Central Post Office), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — A classic colonial building. Stunning architecture.

• Vietnam — 30–4 Park, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam — The place to hang out in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon)?

• Vietnam — Dinh Thống Nhất (Independence Palace / Reunification Palace), Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam — part 1 of 2 — A palace I remember seeing on the evening news when I was a kid

• Vietnam — Dinh Thống Nhất (Independence Palace / Reunification Palace), Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam — part 2 of 2 — A fine example of 1970s style.

Next week, more from my time in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and a sobering visit to the Bảo tàng Chứng tích Chiến tranh (War Remnants Museum).

Next week

Next week, in issue 18, I will examine the dangers of the new and shiny in retirement.

Thanks

Thanks for taking the time to read this newsletter, and please don't hesitate to share it with your friends or on social media using the buttons below.

If you want to say 'thanks' for the newsletter, why not buy me a cup of tea?

Until next time,

Nick

PS: If you want to contribute something to the newsletter — a story, advice, or anything else — please get in touch.