I consider myself an expert on procrastination. I could write a book on it - but that's not at the top of my list.

Let's face it. We all procrastinate.

As a conscientious physician, I don't delay anything that could compromise patient care. I finish typing my clinical notes before I see another patient. I maintain good systems to preserve high safety standards in my clinic, and I follow through on investigations and referrals.

I'm conscientious with my kids, too. Both of my teenaged boys have had the "birds and the bees" talks. One had it twice; the first time, I didn't realize that he was listening to his iPod until he got out of the car.

I tend to put off some (but not all) of my dreams. I would like to finish writing the book that I've been working on (in my free time) for the past five years and the novel I've been working on here and there during vacations over the past 10 years. I've been waiting for more free time.

I keep a procrastination list. It's like a to-do list, but I don't fool myself into thinking that everything on that list is likely to be done.

When my list gets too long, I ruthlessly scratch off the items at the bottom.

I'm quite sure I will never learn to speak or read Chinese in my lifetime.

What's on your procrastination list? Is it something you really ought to do (like paying that credit card balance or feeding the kids breakfast)? Is it an old dream that you've outgrown?

We all procrastinate for different reasons.

Women should know that the reasons men may allow the to-do list to grow are not just laziness, a short attention span or an inability to focus on more than one thing at a time.

They may not be embracing your to-do list. You may think of this as a passive-aggressive act of defiance (which doesn't sound very manly at all), but your partner may have different priorities.

Any of us can procrastinate due to sheer busyness. We don't take the time to prioritize, and we keep putting off what we ought to do.

We could be misallocating our time and energy on things that really aren't as important to us, such as watching TV or updating our Facebook status.

Sometimes, we deliberately procrastinate because we choose to do something else that is more important and requires our attention at this time.

The last thing we want, however, is to let the busyness of our lives and our own neglect keep us from doing what we really want to do, doing what we need to do for ourselves, our health and the people we love, and realizing our most important dreams.

FOUR TIPS FOR MINDFUL PROCRASTINATION:

1. Write out your Procrastination List.

2. Categorize each item as: (a) What I would like to do now (or very soon), (b) What's important but doesn't have to be done now, and (c) What's not urgent or important.

3. Admit that you have no intention of doing anything under category (c) so strike it off your list right now and stop feeling guilty about it.

4. At the beginning of every week (or if you procrastinate, at the end of the week), review your Procrastination List. Check if items under (b) should be moved to (a).

- Dr. Davidicus Wong is a physician and writer. His Health Wise column appears regularly in this paper. You can find more articles on this and other topics at facebook. com/davidicus.wong and davidicuswong.wordpress. com and listen to his Positive Potential Medicine podcasts at wgrnradio.com.