Are you a procrastinator?
If you’re reading this then the answer may be yes.
And if so, you’ll definitely identify with one of the following.
But, before we get into it let’s attempt to get to the crux of procrastination?
The ways we procrastinate allow us to avoid being productive and result in us not achieving our dreams – no matter how much we really want to.
In 2020 I learned that, for me, procrastination (as frustrating as it was) was a protective mechanism. For most, it’s usually a fear-based reaction derived from a fear of success or failure. I was HEAVILY operating from a fear of both (thankfully although still present, it is a lot less than it was in 2020).
After reading this post my hope for you is that, if you do recognise any of these traits within yourself, you do a deep dive to gain more awareness and then set up some simple ways to combat them when they arise going forward.
Remember that simple does not mean easy!
Perfectionism
On the surface, perfectionism is about needing everything to be perfect. But if you dig deeper there’s a lot more to it than that.
Why is there no room for error? Where did you get this belief from? How deep does this go?
In business perfectionism had me in a chokehold. It took ages to get anything done, if at all, and I have failed aka learned many lessons from trying to make everything perfect.
Of course, you want to perform at an elevated level, but it’s ok to make mistakes, and remember NO ONE is perfect, so trying to be is actually unrealistic! Mistakes are how you learn and be better, in all areas of life but especially in business.
So, when you notice issues with your performance, ensure that you’re being realistic about what’s possible and avoid trying to be perfect at all costs because all that will happen is absolutely nothing.
Nothing will get finished, nothing will be accomplished, and no goals will be achieved.
Although I’ve done quite a bit of work to overcome this trait, it’s not been fully eliminated yet. So when I notice it creeping up on me I focus my efforts on getting one thing done.
If I do more, great. But essentially as long as I get one thing done, I’m one step closer to my end result.
Do you identify as a perfectionist, and how is it holding you back?
Dreaming
Are you a dreamer?
I am. And although, there’s nothing wrong with being one. If dreaming is all you’re doing, what is really happening in your life?
I’ve been guilty of dreaming and doing zilch. Ideas flowing. Dreaming of what could be.
And then…NOTHING!
Whilst a certain amount of dreaming is involved in planning and goal setting, there is no dreaming in real productivity. There is only taking aligned action. So, yes dream about a goal that you want to accomplish but always set it in reality by doing the work to see it to fruition.
And for those of us that don’t work well with dated goals – ditch them. Focus on breaking down the steps required for the bigger vision and take those steps.
Figure out what steps you need to take and the resource(s) needed. Then only focus on that next step and the resource needed to avoid overwhelm (another way to procrastinate!).
Dreaming combined with SMART or SMARTER goal setting will ensure you get where you want to go. When you develop concrete goals and work on each goal every day, you also become a doer instead of just a dreamer.
Worrying
Are you a worrier?
I was a MAJOR worrier and let me tell you, if you’re not one, it is EXHAUSTING!! It took me years to recognize that worry was a symptom of the anxiety that I felt. But because it had become my norm I just thought I was someone who thought things through extensively and from all angles. I was so in my head I ignored the symptoms in my body that pointed to anxiety, but that is another post altogether.
Worrying yourself into anxiety can overtake your actions to the point that decision-making becomes difficult, which causes procrastination. If you are a worrier, you need to solidify once again what is real and what is not real.
For example, if you’re goal setting to start a business you may start thinking about all the ways it could go wrong. How you could fail. What people might say? And by the time you know it you’re doing nothing and your body is feeling all the feels of anxiety as well as the 10,000 thoughts of failure that consume you.
But what is real? Are any of the thoughts real?
The reality is: No one has said anything, because you haven’t done anything yet. You haven’t “failed” because you haven’t done anything yet. Nothing has gone wrong, because you haven’t done anything yet.
So by basing all your goals in reality and with facts, you can achieve them without the never-ending worry.
However, if you avoid making choices due to fear of being wrong or unwillingness to take a risk, a choice will be made for you that might not be what you want. No decision is deciding by default instead of by design.
Can you see how being firm in what is real and not real helps to reduce your worry/anxiety?
It’s ok if things do not go to plan but taking action and having somewhere to adjust from is better than not taking action and just letting life pass you by.
Catastrophising
Do you make problems for yourself as a self-fulfilling prophecy?
For example, do you find yourself telling yourself (and others) that you work better last minute? If so, how would you feel if I told you this is a cop-out and a form of crisis-making that never ends that great? Even if you manage to perform well without a problem, the stress you’re causing yourself will lead to burnout. And I’m sure if you take a moment to reflect you will know this to be true.
And trust me, I can relate. I used to put on my CV, with pride might I add, how well I worked under pressure…I cringe now because ugh. Yes, I’m resilient and if I have to then I will, and can, but for this to be my default now, absolutely NOT!
If you find this is you, the best thing to do is just get started. Try the Pomodoro method in which you just get started and work for 25-minute sets with a break in between each set and then a longer break after three or four sets of Pomodoro’s. In fact, any time you find yourself obsessing about it, just do it. Get it done. You’ll feel better.
Know that this will take some getting used to as your brain is wired to “wait until the last minute” but you CAN break this habit and the Pomodoro technique is super helpful. Even if you start with 15-minute sets and find yourself working/snoozing until 25, that’s great. Getting into a flow is what matters. Also, DO take the breaks, as and when you need to. If you’re anything like me I hate my flow to be interrupted but if it’s time to eat or I’ve been going for hours a break is NEEDED.
Rebelling
Honestly, I believe that the majority of our procrastination issues can be tracked back to childhood.
Do you have a dislike for authority and/or expectations, whether internal or external?
I’ll give you what may seem silly, but was a very real scenario for me.
From a young age I was responsible for deep cleaning the house every Saturday. This included the bathrooms, dusting/polishing, hoovering & mopping the floors. It wasn’t optional.
It’s one thing to teach children about life and responsibilities and another to place adult responsibilities on them.
Anyway, as an adult with a growing family, I started to resent having to clean. It got to a point where it would take me ages to get it done or I would half-heartedly do it.
What I later realised was that I was having an internal battle about my now adult responsibilities that had its roots in childhood. I couldn’t connect the dots for a long time until one day it hit me. I resented doing something that I know I need to do (and makes me feel good once done) because as a child I had no choice! But now I have a choice and I get to choose this thing because it’s what I need and want.
Do you identify with being passive-aggressive in defiance of rules? You may find that if there are schedules or expectations of any kind you’re like nope, not adhering to that. Heck, you might not even be doing it consciously!
Either way, if you identify that this is a conscious or subconscious thing then you’ll agree this isn’t serving you.
Responsibility and success are a package. Setting doable tasks, with straightforward steps to follow each day means you can do the minimum necessary to reach your goals.
Overdoing
Are you overdoing as a way to procrastinate?
You have no boundaries and are always trying to do too much for other people?
If you find that you never say no and keep allowing your pile of work and decisions to get out of control, you’re in danger of becoming so overwhelmed that you do nothing.
The solution?
Learn to set appropriate boundaries. With yourself and others.
Start saying yes with intention.
Say no when you need to (no matter who you’re saying no to – obviously children are exempt from this!).
You’re entitled to say no without feeling guilty, so don’t allow anyone to pressure you. You know how much time things take, and you know how much time you have available.
If you find that you do this, you may not even recognize it as a form of procrastination. But having a full and busy schedule, leaving no time for what you need to do and want to do is just that.
Putting off the inevitable with a justified excuse.
Again, this may be a pattern born from childhood of never being able to put your needs first or not knowing what that looks like.
However practice is the key here. Saying no ‘just because’ to exercise the muscle is a great place to start. It’ll feel hella uncomfortable at first, but it’s necessary! And then once you get comfortable saying no you’ll feel confident to say no to others and yes to yourself.
Have less on your to-do list that is about meeting others needs and more that are about you and your goals.
On the surface we know that these six types of procrastination can be overcome.
You know that no kind of procrastinating is good for you, your goals, or the people around you.
So what next?
Well, I encourage you to dig deep so you can gut out the root cause of your procrastination in the first place. And then set up ways to support yourself to break the habits that have been set in place by your years of procrastination.
Learn yourself so you can best support yourself.
If this means you set up your schedule and days to include plenty of breaks, with enough time to get the things you say you’ll do done correctly, then do so.
Once you get clear on why you’ve been procrastinating, how it’s been serving you and find ways to get things done, you won’t have a reason to procrastinate anymore.