Being Proactive versus Reactive

"Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow". It actually seems as if this is a way of life for many people. Of course, this is a partial quote from Aaron Burr:
"Never do today what you can as well do tomorrow, because something may occur to make you regret your premature action".
In today's world, I see many people simply reacting to every event that occurs in their life. As a result, they make many mistakes, do a job just well enough to get by and are in a constant state of turmoil. This is sad, and mostly preventable.

Why do so many people react to life instead of being proactive? There are many reasons, but I think fear is one of the main reasons people find themselves constantly behind the eight ball. Now, before you conjure up thought of me being a "workaholic" or "anal retentive", let me explain. I actually agree with the second part of the above Aaron Burr quote (to a degree). One needs to be as proactive as possible with life challenges. However, this might warrant putting off a task until later. Especially if it involves research, planning and gathering of resources to perform the task efficiently and completely. Or you might realize that you simply do not have enough time to complete the task in a satisfactory manner. But putting off everything you are faced with in life will only result in a train wreck somewhere down the line!

So, why do people put off doing something or only reacting and doing a poor job? Could it be that when a challenge presents itself, people get overwhelmed and blow the task way out of proportion? Or, maybe they feel as if they can't do the task in a satisfactory manner, or that they might "mess up". These thoughts and feeling are understandable and kind of natural, especially in today's society. I don't think anyone wants to make a mess of their life. However, I honestly believe that many people would rather avoid doing a task and then feeling sorry for themselves and make excuses for why things turned out the way they did. Or, they simply try to forget about the task, hoping it will go away. And so, a pattern begins. Just avoid all unpleasant tasks in your life and make excuses.

I am not saying that reacting to certain problems or tasks is wrong. You can't plan and/or predict everything that is going to happen in your life. I know for a fact that I can't predict everything that is going to happen in my profession. However, I should have a game plan for when things do occur. I have to look at "what if" scenarios and create a plan of action to deal with these scenarios in a timely manner. In my profession, I better have a backup plan as well as a "Plan B" AND a "Plan C"! By the same token if I put several small tasks off until later, and then I have a real urgent issue pop up, then I will find myself in a panic situation. One that I don't want to be in.

How does one prepare and equip themselves to be proactive concerning life's challenges or everyday tasks? Although it would be easy to talk yourself into a "treat me" day or a "day off", you will feel much better if you tackle the task at hand and mark it off your list. Then you can relax and enjoy a job well done. Here are a few suggestions on handling life's tasks:

• Don't allow small jobs to pile up. Take care of them quickly and efficiently. This will free up time later on for those bigger, unexpected tasks (or for some "me time").
• Plan ahead for jobs that you know you have to perform and gather the required materials and resources so you will have everything needed to start and complete the task. For example, one of my reoccurring jobs is changing the oil in our vehicles. So, I have created a list of all the tools I will need for each vehicle, the type of oil & filter they require. I stock up on oil and filters so they are readily available in my shop. This pre-planning really cuts short the actual task.
• When an unexpected challenge occurs, evaluate the seriousness of the job and how quick it needs to be handled. Be honest, if you have time to plan, prepare and tackle the job, put together a plan of action and do it. If it is something you are not prepared to handle or simply don't have time (be honest on these decisions) find someone qualified to do the job. Pay this person to handle the job. You will probably save money in the long run if you hire a professional to take care of the situation.
• Don't be afraid of work! How many times have you needed to do something, only to find yourself several hours later still checking out a social media sight on the Internet? Step away from the computer, put the cell phone AWAY and get to work! Seriously, if you find yourself always running late, tasks always piling up, and you are constantly reacting to life, you have some serious issues and need to evaluate how your time is being spent. You only have 24 hours in a day, use them wisely. 
• Learn to barter. If you have a job that needs doing, but you aren't equipped to handle it, find someone that needs a service that you can offer and work up a barter deal. REALLY, THIS ACTUALLY WORKS!!! Actually, this is a excellent tool that will go a long way in helping you be more productive and become proactive. For example: I have several skill that I am very good at. I have a family member that has a different skill set. We trade out work. We both know that we are getting a great deal and we can perform tasks for each other much more efficiently. In the end, saving time for ourselves! 
• Whenever possible, take larger tasks and break them down into small chunks. Pre-plan and gather tools or material. Be realistic on how long the task will take and be honest in your assessment of  breaking a large job into smaller segments.
• Many chores we perform daily - weekly - or monthly could just as easily be handled by spending a specific amount of time on them in smaller chunks. Instead of spending four hours once a month on a task, could you just as easily set aside one hour a week on this task? This goes back to breaking jobs down if possible.
• Be honest in your evaluation of tasks. Is the task at hand really a huge awful job, or are you blowing it out of proportion? Many times I see people avoiding jobs because they have blown them way out of proportion and then they become afraid of failure. 
• Everything doesn't have to be perfect! This was hard one for me to learn. I credit my wife for setting an excellent example in this area. Your car doesn't need a 4 hour detail job every time it gets dirty. Learn how to properly clean your car, get the proper materials to do the job right, and do a quick but thorough job in cleaning it. And don't wait until it is so dirty that it takes you four hours to do an unacceptable job. Then occasionally, you can do a detailed cleaning on it. Learn to not overdo!
• Learn to say "NO"! I frequently see people that can not say no. Inevitably, they agree to do something for a friend or family member. It happens again, then again. Before they know it, they are overwhelmed with the jobs they need to do for themselves, plus they have a mountain of jobs they agreed to do for other people. There is nothing wrong with helping out friends and family members. However, don't let people take advantage of you. Ask yourself, do they really need help, or are they just taking advantage of you? You might be surprised. 

 I started post several years ago. Since that time, I have retired. The above information is as true today as ever. In fact, I have a much tighter schedule than when I started this post. Being Proactive is more important than ever! Not only with jobs and projects but when addressing health issues. It's never too late to start practicing being proactive!

Dave