Procrastination Is a Curse That Benefits No One.

But it’s not your fault.

 

Like so many others, I beat myself up about not getting stuff done, especially when it comes to writing.

 

I always intend to do more than I end up doing.

So why is finishing stuff so hard and where does all this procrastination come from?

 

Abraham Lincoln famously said, “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”

 

A “Psychological Science” research report written by Dianne M. Tice and Roy F. Baumeister Titled “The Cost and Benefits of Dawdling” handed down the finding that procrastination is not a weakness or a character flaw, it’s a sign that something is wrong or missing.

 

Most people think of procrastination as laziness, but in fact it is more likely a symptom of emotional discomfort. There are usually underlying reasons why you cannot start or complete a task.

 

“Every time you postpone your work, the chains of procrastination strengthen.” Tim Denning

 

Tice & Baumeister found that most procrastination is fear based. The fear that your work is not going to be good enough. This fear causing stagnation is often more profound and more detrimental in creative pursuits. “You’re so nervous about what others will think of your work that you can’t bring yourself to finish it.”

 

Almost all creative people think they are procrastinators. But the truth is that creativity takes time, and you cannot force it to happen.

 

There are broadly two types of procrastination,

 

A - trouble getting started, often caused by not having clear instructions or clear boundaries so there is no logical starting point. The task may seem too big and intimidating so you have difficulty breaking it down into actionable tasks

 

B - struggling to finish, we all start a lot more things than we finish. Not finishing tasks is often a sign of overwhelm or burn out and it could be a good time for a change?

 

Both forms of procrastination are often a result of “imposter syndrome” and a fear that “it’s just not good enough”. An emotion some of us feel quite often!

 

Tice & Baumeister’s studies conclude that “overcoming procrastination is all about having the right mindset.”

 

“Remember, the way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.”

 

Chronic procrastination is a sign of poor self-awareness and poor self-regulation. But willpower rarely works – planning and systems do.

 

Here are 7 tips for overcoming procrastination.

 

1. Have a plan.
2. Do the hard stuff first.
3. Remove distractions or change your environment.
4. Break tasks down into micro-tasks.
5. Reward yourself for small achievements.
6. Work on self-awareness, understands what motivates you (discover your inner drive).
7. Use self-imposed deadlines.

 

Darius Foroux recommends “Instead of just diving into your work, take a step back and think about why you do what you do and rely on a system that supports that.”

 

Thanks for reading,

Stay safe and stop doubting yourself.

David