Management Tip of the Day: Put an End to Procrastination

To procrastinate may be human but it's not very rewarding. If putting off tasks is hindering your performance or making you unhappy, try these three things: Identify what you put off. When you find yourself ignoring or delaying a task, ask yourself why. Knowing what you tend to delay can help break the cycle and prevent future procrastination. Set deadlines. Break up tasks into smaller chunks and then create a schedule with clear due dates for each part. Increase the rewards. Tasks with rewards far in the future are easy to put off. To make a task feel more immediate, focus on the short-term rewards. If there aren't any, insert your own. Treat yourself to a coffee break or a quick chat with a co-worker once you've finished a task.

The Daily Stat: If You Say I'm Special, I'll Buy

In an experiment that provided participants with an opportunity to buy a discounted coffee mug, those who were told they had been randomly selected to get the discount were 3 times more likely to want to buy than people who believed everyone got the discount. Researchers Jerry M. Burger and David F. Caldwell of Santa Clara University say such "special" opportunities may be appealing because people's self-esteem is tied to factors that distinguish them from the crowd.