How Mason Crushed Procrastination

Why Mason Was Stuck

Mason felt like he was stuck in quicksand. Not literal quicksand, of course, but the kind that made him sink deeper every time he tried to move.

He called it "the slump," his way of describing the heavy feeling that kept him from getting anything done.

He'd stare at his to-do list, each unfinished task like a weight on his chest. Mason was depressed.

He always said, "My procrastination is caused by chronic depression."

Mason is not alone, depressed feelings can make some lawyers become hypervigilant and fall deeply into the pit of perfectionism. Nothing is ever good enough.?

Mason continues, "It was a frustrating cycle, I felt like a hamster on a wheel spinning faster and faster but never getting anywhere."

He felt caught between his depression and perfectionism, he had become paralyzed and unable to make any progress.

What About You? Are You depressed and Trying to Be Perfect?

Do you find yourself either intentionally or habitually putting things off?

Have you ever felt the knot of anxiety tighten when a legal deadline loomed and an important task remained undone?

That's just one of the realities of the demands of the legal profession.Mason's Dilemma

Because Mason worked for a prestigious law firm, his heavy caseload made him feel like he worked in a pressure cooker.?

He says, I can't get over my feelings of depression and overwhelmed.

"I'll know I have an important task and a deadline. But I find myself getting distracted, allowing myself to do easier things. I get lost in my emails and social media.

All the while, I feel as if I have an elephant sitting on my chest. Dread and anxiety overcome me whenever I go into the office.

I may not know how to approach a case. I'll work it out in my head without taking any concrete action to meet the deadline.?

Before I realize it, the deadline is near; all I have are my thoughts. I haven't written anything down. My mind freezes as I scramble for answers."

How Mason Overcomes Procrastination in His Law Practice

Mason had enough of this, and his headaches and indigestion were enough to motivate him to change. It wasn't easy, but slowly, like digging his way out of the quicksand, he started to see sunlight again

Mason began to curb his procrastination habit. Here is how we began.

1. ?We began a "TO DO LIST" with only five items each day.
2. He had to review his caseloads and note key dates requiring immediate attention.?
3. He calendared all deadlines.
4. He put his cases in order of deadlines and importance.
5. He updated his caseloads in the firm's management system.
6. We began a morning routine with emails, administrative tasks, and projects outside his caseload.?
7. He broke down each case into manageable tasks and listed each task and to whom he had assigned it to.
8. He recruited and began to delegate work at the beginning of the case, and we created a follow-up system to stay on top of the work others were doing for him.?
9. We began an accountability system, and I was able to help him to monitor his progress.
10. We established a reasonable time to end his day to help him come into the office refreshed the next day.?

Mason Found a New Sense of Purpose.

Mason says, "Although I knew intellectually what to do, I could not have accomplished this without your help Pamela. I was stuck."

Mason is right. We all need support at one time or another in our lives. His outcomes were wonderful:

• His depression and anxiety lifted. He also let go of his need for perfection and left the office at a decent hour.?
• Mason felt healthier and began to take a daily walk, finding a renewed enthusiasm for his law practice.?
• He was no longer trapped in the cycle of procrastination and depression.
• Every area of Mason's business and personal life was now peaceful, happy and he began to thrive.

Over the past 25 years, I have helped many lawyers to organize their practice and overcome procrastination and beat depression.

You can schedule a 30-minute call with me to learn how she can help you organize your life and law practice.?CLICK HERE: