Nurse Tribe Article

👩‍⚕️🔄⏰🏆 How to Overcome Procrastination as a Nurse: Beating the 'Mañana' Mindset

If there was a national championship for procrastination 🎖, you'd probably see me on the podium, proudly clutching my golden trophy of delay. You see, once upon a time, my motto was 'why do today what you can do tomorrow... or the day after?' I was more prone to put things off than a toddler is to ignore veggies. But, as I am here to tell you my tale, you might guess that things have changed quite a bit.

Just picture this. I'm a nurse, and each shift brings its own whirlwind of tasks, from patient care to medication administration, to the less glamorous work of paperwork. It's like being in a constant game of Whac-A-Mole, where the moles are my responsibilities. But there I was, merrily waving my mallet in the air, but never quite whacking those tasks when needed.

One fine day, or rather one hectic shift, I found myself staring at the computer monitor and have not started my assessment notes and it's already the end of my shift, and it hit me like a flu shot – my procrastination was getting in the way of me being the nurse I wanted to be. So, I decided to embark on the journey to turn my 'later' into 'now', my procrastination into productivity. Trust me, this journey had more twists and turns than a stethoscope tangled in a nurse's pocket.

The first step of my journey was to stare procrastination in the eye and acknowledge it. Kind of like when you accept that the mystery goo on your scrubs is probably not coming out. Once I did that, I realized that every 'later' was just an escape route, a detour from responsibility.

👨‍⚕️I am a nurse, not a superhero 🧬. So, I knew I needed a strategy. It began with small steps, like making to-do lists. As mundane as it sounds, visualizing my tasks helped me grasp them in a more concrete manner. Plus, there's nothing more satisfying than crossing off a task from a list, trust me. It's like the joy of finding an unoccupied hospital bed when you desperately need one.

Next, I started setting deadlines for myself, and let me tell you, these deadlines were tougher than any of your nursing director. I even began adding a sense of urgency to the tasks, kind of like when a doctor orders stat labs. This helped me break down my overwhelming workload into manageable chunks.

But, life ain't all work, right? I made sure to sprinkle some fun along the way. For each task accomplished, I'd reward myself. An episode of my favorite show, a quick chat with a friend, or even a little snack. It felt like a little coffee break in between a busy shift.

Of course, there were setbacks, like when I’d revert to my old habits. But I learned to not beat myself up about it. Just like you can't always prevent a patient from going into code, you can't always keep yourself on the straight and narrow path of anti-procrastination. But you can always, ALWAYS get back on track.

The journey from being a procrastinator to becoming more productive wasn’t easy, but it was definitely worth it. Just like nursing, it required patience, practice, and a whole lot of perseverance. But each step towards overcoming procrastination was a step towards a more efficient, and less stressed me.

Now, one crucial point in my journey to beat procrastination was realizing that not all tasks are created equal. I had to learn how to differentiate between the vital tasks and the ones that could wait. It's like triaging patients - some require immediate attention, while others can afford to wait a bit.

So, I introduced the concept of prioritizing into my routine. Sure, it was as difficult as explaining to a patient why they can't have six cups of coffee before a procedure, but it was definitely worth it. Once I was able to prioritize my tasks effectively, I noticed I was not just doing more, but also doing what was truly important.

Now, being a nurse 👨‍⚕️, I know the value of teamwork. I realized that I had to apply the same principle to my work too. I started delegating tasks. It was a bit tough initially, kind of like taking the first sip from a cup of the hospital's notoriously strong coffee. But once I saw how it helped me manage my time better, it became a habit. A good one, unlike my previous penchant for procrastination.

Another aspect of my journey involved tackling the 'hard' tasks first. You know, the tasks that are as appealing as cleaning up after a particularly messy patient. The logic was simple, once the toughest task is out of the way, everything else seems like a breeze. It's like having the worst shift ever and then realizing that your next few are going to be relatively easy.

At this point, I must admit that not every day was a walk in the park. Some days, procrastination tries to sneak back into my life, like a stubborn cold that refuses to go away. But, I learned to be resilient. To pick myself up and get back on track. Remember, nursing has taught us to handle much tougher situations, hasn't it?

👉In the end, my journey from being a 'procrastinurse' to a 'productivinurse' was filled with ups and downs, trials and tribulations, laughs and sighs. But was it worth it? Absolutely. I may not have a golden trophy to show for it, but I have something better - a sense of accomplishment, and of course, a lot less stress.

In James Clear's enlightening book, "Atomic Habits", he presents an idea that resonates deeply with my journey. Clear talks about the concept of the 'aggregation of marginal gains', where tiny improvements add up over time to produce massive results. It's kind of like how a drop of water can over time carve a pathway through rock.

So, when I decided to tackle procrastination, I didn't do a complete overhaul of my routines overnight. Instead, I focused on making small changes, on introducing 'atomic habits'. This could be something as simple as dedicating the first five minutes of my day to prioritizing tasks. The idea was not to achieve perfection from day one, but to be better than I was yesterday. This approach aligns with Clear's philosophy in "Atomic Habits" where he says, "If you get one percent better each day for one year, you'll end up thirty-seven times better by the end of the year."

Drawing from "Atomic Habits", I also learned the importance of habit stacking, where a new habit is linked to an existing one. For instance, I began to review my to-do list each day immediately after clocking in at work. This habit stacking allowed me to integrate new habits into my existing routines smoothly.

As nurses, our work demands a high level of attention and discipline. Incorporating lessons from "Atomic Habits" allowed me to navigate my journey against procrastination more effectively, and foster habits that helped me become not only a better nurse, but a more organized and productive individual. If you're looking for a guide to help you break the cycle of procrastination, "Atomic Habits" might just be your golden ticket.

The principles outlined in both "Atomic Habits" by James Clear and "The Compound Effect" by Darren Hardy found their way into my life at just the right time. When my procrastination was at its peak, these two books served as guiding beacons, offering a roadmap to transform my habits.

I recall one of the stories James Clear mentions in "Atomic Habits", where he talks about the British Cycling team. Before 2003, they had almost no presence in international cycling. But by focusing on making a 1% improvement in every area, they turned their luck around and became one of the world's best cycling teams. I took this concept to heart and started to apply it to my nursing routine, finding ways I could improve just a little bit each day. Slowly but surely, I started to see the effects of these tiny changes.

The "Compound Effect" further drove home this point. Darren Hardy illustrates the concept using the example of a penny that doubles in value every day for a month. Despite its humble start, the penny grows into millions by the end of the month due to the power of compounding. In relation to my fight against procrastination, I started to understand that my daily efforts, however small, were compounding into a massive change over time.

Every time I found myself slipping back into old patterns, I would remind myself of the British Cycling team or that ever-doubling penny. The lessons from both books intertwined to form the backbone of my transformation. They not only allowed me to see the bigger picture but also appreciated the power of the small steps I was taking. In the grand scheme of things, my journey to overcoming procrastination was a series of compounding atomic habits, each one contributing to a larger, more profound change in my work habits and life.

Overcoming procrastination didn't just make me a better nurse; it made me a better person. So, as you go forth in your nursing journey, remember to tackle procrastination head-on. Embrace the lessons from "Atomic Habits" and "The Compound Effect". Small changes, consistent efforts, and a dose of humor can work wonders.

So, fellow nurses, if I, a former procrastinator of the first order, could find my way out of the 'mañana' mindset, I believe you can too. Remember, it's not about the destination, but the journey. Every stumble, every victory, every laugh, every sigh, they're all part of the process. And as you embark on your own journey, remember to take it one step at a time, one day at a time. After all, even Rome wasn't built in a day, right? So why should your productivity castle be any different? So, strap on your nurse's shoes, pick up your mallet, and start whacking those procrastination mindset!

And remember, we're in this together, one tiny productive step at a time. Here’s to your journey from procrastination to productivity.

Stay Hard 💪💪💪

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