When things get busy, we all have tasks we put off. Sometimes items end up delayed out of necessity. If you are putting off the right things, it can be a good move to reduce your workload. But if you procrastinate on the wrong tasks, you might be setting yourself up for trouble later. So, what tasks should you avoid putting on your back burner?

如果有很多事情要忙，我们都会推后一些任务。有时候，有些事情就这么过期了，这本没有必要。如果你把正确的事情推后了，你的工作量就被巧妙地减少了。但是，如果你拖延了一些错误的事情，你可能之后就会遇到麻烦了。那么，哪些事情是你不应该拖延的呢?

We all put tasks aside at some point. Sometimes it is for good reason when prioritizing your workload. For example, if the item is not a priority, then it should wait. Other times, we put things on the back burner merely because we are trying to avoid them。

我们都会在某些时候先搁置一些事情。有时候，这是出于给你的工作任务安排先后次序的原因。比如说，如果一件事不是需要优先考虑的事，就不着急做它。其他时候，我们拖延一些事情仅仅是因为不想做这些事情。

Maybe it is something you don't want to do. Or something you think you are not ready for yet. In these situations, putting things on the back burner that shouldn't be there can lead to trouble down the road. Important tasks can be forgotten, chances missed, and bigger issues created。

或许这是你不想做的某件事，或者你认为自己还没准备好做这件事。在这些情况下，拖延了不该拖延的事情可能会引起麻烦。你可能会忘记重要的事情，失去一些机会，甚至引起了更加麻烦的事情。

"Putting off the wrong tasks can cause you to miss opportunities, incur penalties, or create more work for yourself." In other words, putting them off will cause even more difficulties than if you had dealt with them in the first place。

“拖延了不该拖延的事情会让你错失良机、自食其果或者是给自己带来更多的事情。”换句话说，如果你早点做这些事情，它们就不会给你造成这么多的麻烦了。

Ask yourself, "What do I have on the back burner?" Putting things on the back burner is not always a bad thing. If the item is of lesser priority or is a task that you really shouldn't be doing, then it can be appropriate to put it off。

问问你自己：“我手上有哪些处于次要地位的事情?” 拖后做一些事情有时候也是一件好事。如果一件事没那么重要或者你现在真的不适合做某一件事，把这件事情拖后是很合理的。

However, when it is an important task, the back burner is a bad place for it. After all, being on the back burner leads to the task being out-of-sight, and out-of-mind. We tend to forget, ignore, or plain disregard the things we put off. For those reasons, there are some tasks that you should avoid relegating to the back burner。

然而，如果那是一件重要的事情，你就不该拖延了。毕竟，如果你把一件事情推后了，你就会暂时把它抛之脑后。我们很容易忘记、忽视或者干脆不管这件事了。出于以上原因，你应该避免把拖延某些不该拖延的事情。

Here are 10 Tasks You Should Never Put on the Back Burner:

下面是10件你不应该拖延的事情：

1. Tasks that Can't be Forgotten

应该牢记的事情

Task that are out-of-sight don't get done. If it is important, don't put it on the back burner where it might be forgotten。

事情要是被忽视了我们就完不成了。如果一件事很重要，那就不要拖后这件事，因为我们有可能忘掉这件事。

2. Quick To-dos

可以马上完成的事情

Never put off what you can do immediately. Don't put off tasks that you can complete in just a few moments. If it can be done in the same amount of time as it takes to put it off, then get it done now!

不要推后任何你现在就可以完成的事情，不要拖延一些你能在很短时间内完成的事情。如果拖后做这件事情和现在做所花的时间是一样，那就现在马上做这件事。

3. Safety Issues

关于安全的事情

Never put off safety issues. The item that you delay could end up hurting you or someone else. Always fix safety issues right away。

绝不拖延任何有关安全的事情。如果你拖后了这件事，结果可能是你或者其他人因此而受伤了。永远以最快速度处理好安全问题。

4. Tasks That Must be Done Today

今天必须完成的事情

If it needs to be done today, then get it done early. The back burner should be reserved for things that don't have to be addressed today and can sit idle for an unspecified time。

如果你必须在今天完成一件事，那就尽早完成这件事。你可以拖延的事情是不需要在今天马上解决的事情，而且这件事情可以等到任意的时间来完成。

5. Opportunities That Will Pass

转瞬即逝的机会

Have you ever put off a task that caused you to miss an opportunity? Never put off tasks that are time-sensitive or may expire. Many opportunities that come along have a limited shelf life. If you don't act on them, they might be gone when you return to them。

你是否曾经拖延了某件事情，而让你错失了一个机会?不要拖后有时效性或者会过期的事情。很多机会都是有一定保质期的，如果你不马上行动，当你再次回看的时候这些机会可能已经不在了。

6. Promises to Others

对于他人的承诺

Promises to others should never go on the back burner. If you can't give it your priority at this time, then you shouldn't be promising it in the first place。

不要拖延向他人承诺过的事情。如果你现在不给这件事情优先权，你当初就不该许下承诺。

7. Tasks That Will Create More Work

现在如果不做会带来更多工作量的事情

Some tasks are messier to clean up later. Tasks undone can create more work for you when you attempt to resume them at a later date. Don't let these to-dos rot on the back burner。

有些事情放到后面做会更加混乱。如果现在不完成一些事情，后面等你想继续做完这些事情的时候，会有更多的事情等着你。不要让这些待完成的事情繁衍滋长。

8. Tasks That Will Never Get Done

永远不会做的事情

If there is a task that you never intend to do, then don't even bother putting it on your back burner. Instead, say "No" or delete it from your list. Otherwise, you'll be carrying the burden of tasks that you never intend to do anyway。

如果你从来都没打算做一件事情，你就没必要把它放到次要地位。相反的，你应该直接拒绝，把这件事情从你的清单上删除掉。否则，你将会背负着一些你根本没打算做的事情。

9. Tasks with a Looming Deadline

最后期限迫在眉睫的事情

Tasks with approaching deadlines should be front-and-center, not on the back burner. Otherwise, deadlines will be missed and deliverables will not be accomplished on time。

马上就要到最后期限的事情应该是焦点，而不是放在次要地位。否则，你将错过最后期限，而且不能按时完成任务。

10. Tasks with Financial Consequences

有可能让你掏钱的事情

Have you ever incurred a monetary penalty (late fee, etc。) because you put something off? Don't let tasks with financial implications sit idle. They will end up costing you。

你有没有因为推后了某件事而被罚款(比如超时费等)了呢?不要搁置可能会让你掏钱的事情。这些事情会让你变穷的。

Take a moment to ensure you haven't forgotten anything that is simmering away. Something that is creating a bigger mess that you will have to clean-up later。

花点时间来确保自己没有忘记那些正在被遗忘的事情。如果你之后才处理这些事情，它们已经给你造成了更多的麻烦。

Always keep your most important tasks front-and-center where you can see and act on them now. Reserve the back burner for the low priority items that can afford to sit and wait。

永远把你最重要的事情放在你能看见的焦点位置，马上行动。把不是最重要，而且可以等待的事情放在次要地位。