Show why we do it WHY WE WE PUT THINGS OFF by mehran ethompson KT hompson ph D we ve put things ott off because we tire are I 1 born lazy not all of us ua are equally lazy anve ve are arc only aa lazy as aa we dare to be there are certain fundamental human desires which cure us ua ot of lazi it la Is more pleasant to work than to starve nevertheless we do eyen even the 40 necessary things rather reluctantly luct antly because ot of sheer innate laziness something we dislike to do consciously or unconsciously sly we keep hoping against hope that thai something or other will turn iv up to relieve MB its of the necessity that Is why it Is so easy to think up a thousand and one things to do such us its filing our nalla nails reading the morning paper etc when when all the while we know we should be doing the thing wo we are avoiding we put things off because we dread finality and because we are afraid wo lack ability to do the thing as it should be done I 1 know ot of a learned man who has spent twenty years on a manuscript which was wai ready for publication ton tea years ago hut he just cant let it go ile he Is atrall it may not be its aa good as it should ho j id be in short wo we pu put t thrig ot olf because of inborn laziness or because wo we real ly IT do not want to do the thing at all or because we wa me lack confidence in fit our ability putting things oft ot la such a common ailment that perhaps n few aca suggestions will not be out ot of places place laziness may be overcome ove bj by vr r habits of 0 work have a set timo almo h i each specific ath ask thinie up a lot 00 0 good reasons wnm the should be done dona no adiv you can banish dolif dislike for or unpleasant tasks by making a game ot of it and going goin gout out ot of your wy w to look tor for trouble lo A certain nian man ot of moderate ability who rose to prominence says that very early in his career he decided to do especially well and with unusual higoy the things he disliked 11 he got get so BO he was looking tor for unpleasant chores the tha dread ot of finality and lack ot of confidence may be ba conquered by tricking yourself for example it you have an important letter to write and are afraid to tackle it take a piece of waste paper and scribble what you have to etty city when you get through yo you will find that you have hare formulated thi the abing about as it should be the trick Is turned |