Second Cup: Now or later?

One way to stop putting off unpleasant tasks

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to Before Breakfast, a production of iHeartRadio.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
Good Morning.

Speaker 3 (00:11):
This is Laura. Welcome to the Before Breakfast podcast. Today's
tip is for when you are facing a task that
you don't want to do but do need to do
at some point, ask yourself whether you want to do
the task now or later.

Speaker 2 (00:30):
You may wind up less likely to put the task off.
We have to do a lot of things in life
that aren't especially appealing. Filling out a kid's camp form,
unloading the dishwasher, cleaning the inside of the refrigerator, following
up about the health insurance reimbursement that still hasn't been processed.

(00:51):
I am guessing that you don't want to do any
of those tasks, But if you have to do them,
then the question of whether you want to do them
isn't particularly helpful, So better to change the question. Don't
ask yourself do I want to fill out this camp form?
Or do I want to call the health insurance company again?

(01:11):
Of course the answer is going to be no. But
if you instead ask yourself, do I want to fill
out this camp form now or later? Or would I
like to call the health insurance company today or tomorrow?
You might find it a little easier to choose now.
After all, if you are headed to the beach tomorrow,

(01:34):
you don't want to take the camp form that is
due in three days with you. You'd probably rather empty
the dishwasher in the morning than at night while you're
dealing with the dinner dishes that have piled up, because
nothing could go in that full dishwasher all day. And
if you've got a quiet moment at work, you'd probably
rather call the insurance company than during a busier time.

(01:56):
Asking yourself whether you want to do a task now
or later is also helpful when you are in suboptimal
working conditions on a plane, in a doctor's waiting room
at home, but with loud work happening in a neighbor's yard,
even interesting work may not seem especially appealing. In those moments,

(02:18):
you may be inclined to set aside your work until
there is a better time or place for it. But
while you don't feel like working with the roofers banging around,
asking if you'd rather work now or later changes the calculation.
Would you rather do your work now amid the noise
or tonight when the roofers are gone and you are

(02:41):
planning on having a glass of wine by the fire
pit with your partner. I am guessing now is the
preferable option. Of course, you won't always decide to do
your work now and have your leisure later. Maybe on
a Saturday, you plan to put away your winter clothes
and get out your spring clothes. But then your best

(03:01):
friend says she is unexpectedly in town and asks if
you'd like to have lunch. Well, of course you'd like
to have lunch. You will take your leisure now and
you can do your chores later. But in any case,
when the question is yes or no, as in do
I feel like working on the plane, the answer might
be an easy no. But when you realize you are

(03:23):
choosing when to work and when to have your leisure,
you can make wiser choices between now and later. In
the meantime, this is Laura.

Speaker 3 (03:35):
Thanks for listening, and here's to making the most of
our time. Hey, everybody, I'd love to hear from you.

Speaker 2 (03:49):
You can send me.

Speaker 3 (03:49):
Your tips, your questions, or anything else.

Speaker 1 (03:52):
Just connect with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at
Before Breakfast Pod that's B the number four then Breakfast Pod.
You can also shoot me an email at Before Breakfast
Podcasts at iHeartMedia dot Com that before Breakfast is spelled
out with all the letters, thanks so much, should I

(04:13):
look forward to staying in touch. Before Breakfast is a
production of iHeartRadio. For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the
iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your
favorite shows.