How do you deal with procrastination?

The classic signs of procrastination are – 

- Waiting for motivation to get started, 

- Depending on external pressure to get focused, 

- Favoring present gratification vis a vis future reward

- Using rationale, e.g., -

• Planning and prioritizing take the joy out of living. 
• I perform better under pressure 

If you see yourself in the above description, you have probably read every book available on prioritization, focus, time management, and building habits. But they have not helped you! You still depend on external pressure to get focused, make unrealistic plans, and favor present gratification vis a vis future reward. 

You probably also think of yourself as lazy or undisciplined or both! Your past patterns have affected your self-esteem and efficacy. You set goals not based on your capabilities, potential or heartfelt desires but based on your history of keeping promises to yourself, i.e., you play small.  

Everyone procrastinates at some time or the other but delaying things all the time can reduce morale and be detrimental to your career. It can lead to energy erosion and even depression. Therefore, we need effective strategies to deal with it. First and foremost, stop beating yourself up. Procrastination is not a character defect. It is a coping mechanism, an emotional issue.   

Following prompts will help you reflect on what you are trying to cope with and figure out how to handle it better – 

• Why is what you are avoiding, important to you?
• When you think about the task you need to do, what are you tempted to do instead? How can you put the temptation out of the way? 
• What is the smallest step you can take to progress the task you have been putting off?
• How can you make what you are doing easier/ enjoyable? 
• How can you get emotionally attached to the future that will benefit from your actions today? 

As you look within, you will know whether you avoid things because you find them boring, difficult, inconvenient, or something forced on you! Do you hold yourself back due to the fear of looking foolish while doing the new thing you want to? Are you interested in too many things to focus on any one thing?  

Be kind to yourself. Know that taking the first step is difficult for most people. Every master was a newbie once. Every setback is an opportunity to become better. With so many distractions in today’s hyper-connected world, attention management is a big challenge for everyone. Remember, it is not the most intelligent person who succeeds, but the most persistent one. 

Allow yourself to start small. Do not expect to transform yourself overnight. Review and reward your progress regularly to build on it. Finally, know that you do not have to deal with this alone. Get yourself an accountability partner. Seek help from a coach! 

If procrastination is a challenge for you that you are ready to resolve now, reach me for an exploratory consult.