Procrastination: We can look extremely productive while NOT producing much of anything.
Philosopher Piers Steel defines procrastination as willingly deferring something even though we expect the delay to make us worse off. Procrastination may be caused by being tired, disliking a task, being easily distracted, or confusion over an impending task. At times, we may analyze, plan, research, mull over, and consider. Then we analyze some more, plan some more, and research some more. The truth is, everyone procrastinates sometimes. Experts agree that it’s ok to give yourself permission to put off an unimportant task or put off an important task for a short time so you can rest or regroup.
Procrastination is not only about putting off a difficult task, but may also involve inner struggles with counterproductive, self-sabotaging thoughts. If procrastination is a habit for you, a deeply ingrained pattern of behavior, you won’t just break it overnight. Habits only stop being habits when you consistently and persistently stopped practicing them. Use as many approaches as possible to maximize your chances of beating them.
Identifying concrete ways to improve yourself and the quality of your life is immensely valuable. Valorie Burton♦ suggests these 5 subconscious thoughts maybe at the root of the reasons why we procrastinate:
- “Truth is, I like things just as they are.” Sometimes you think you “should” do something, but you really don’t want to do it because you like things the way they are. Avoid staying in an inauthentic place of insisting you want something that you are never going to actually pursue.
- “Tackling the project at hand is too complicated.” You may feel overwhelmed, tell yourself that the task at hand is too complicated and become so paralyzed you don’t even take the necessary steps to get started. Break the task down into steps and do each step one at a time.
- “I don’t really think I deserve to have what I want.” Your subconscious will sabotage your success if you don’t believe you should have the thing you’re working towards. This may be a problem of your self-esteem.
- “I don’t really think it can happen.” One of the most basic and necessary elements of goal setting is self-efficacy – your belief that you can accomplish the goal. A lack of confidence can be masked as procrastination.
- “I’m afraid of what others will think, say or do.” Fear is at the root of most self-sabotaging behaviors. Make an intentional decision to never allow your fears to control you.
So peel back the layers and uncover the reasons why you procrastinate. The key to controlling this destructive habit and eventually conquering procrastination is to recognize it as it starts, identify why you’re doing it, understand why it happens and take the necessary steps to manage it. Then stop and redirect for better outcomes. Don’t worry about doing it perfectly, or having it all figured out. Trust that if you make a mistake, you can learn from it, make the necessary adjustments and keep moving forward. Take time to celebrate the baby steps of progress along the way.
“Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday.” – Napoleon Hill
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To Your Success,
Althea
Althea A. McLeish Wilson, RN, MSN
Promoting inner health & outer beauty!
Helping you thrive, not just survive!!
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