Putting Off Procrastination
I wait for it. I put off anything I can until tomorrow. If I do it today, it may slow me down or prevent me from doing something I absolutely need to do today. So I am ready. I am poised like a hungry tiger. Something I NEED to do today should come along ANY MINUTE NOW! I can DO this! Give me that task! It could be work! It could be home related. But I am primed for it. I’m the MASTER of being primed for it. I can hear myself roar and see myself jump at the task! Ripping it to shreds, I’ll SHOW that urgency who is boss!
So, it’s ten o’clock, time for bed. That was a good video game. Whew, nothing came along, I’m so good at this! I’m going to be famous for being Johnny On The Spot! Sure, I didn’t get the dishes done or that report I should have handed in, but I can do those things tomorrow if need be. The truth is, I can do it and I am READY!
I got out of bed bright and early, I’m raring to go! I can do the laundry later, I’ll just dig through this pile here and find something to wear. I am ready to tackle the world! I am wound tight like a Jaguar, ready to turn it on full speed! I just have to wait for the time to shine! First I’m going to sit down here and take a rest.
And I procrastinate. Wondering why I NEVER get anything done. The laundry, the dishes, the report. I wonder why they don’t ever give me a good review, I’m always ready to jump on those little fires that come up! Stomp that little flame out before it becomes a roaring inferno. And so I wait. No one else appreciates me. They are the ones who hold me back. It’s not my fault. I’m ready with the fire extinguisher at the drop of a hat!
I guess I’m not in the right job or something. It just doesn’t fit me. I could go look for another one tomorrow. I’ll do that, maybe put in an application and resume. I should update my resume, I can do that tomorrow also, no hurry. I could apply at some of these new companies, they need people who are Johnny On The Spot!
I need to get my car fixed first. The brakes are squeaking and the oil needs changed. I’ll do that next week. First I’ll update my resume, then put in some applications. Then get my car fixed. Maybe I should go get groceries first, the cat has been out of food for a couple days. Time to feed the little furr ball. He only eats once a day. That’s all I have time to feed him, what with all the fires I have to fight!
It’s been so busy lately, I don’t know how I have time to do anything! I think I’ll take a quick break, get my thoughts together. Make a plan to move forward. But I need to call Mom. I’ll call her first thing in the morning.
DRAW BIG LINE ACROSS YOUR DAY HERE.
Sound familiar?
We’ve all done it at some point. Procrastination is our enemy. And it’s one of the hardest things to get over. It comes from viewing failures as flat out “nos” intead of, “find another way to get it done.” It comes from being depressed, having no hope of getting out of the hole we’re dug into up to our necks. IT DOES take presence of mind to first recognize it, and secondly to know we have control over it.
Step Number One
Figure out what’s causing it. Are we afraid of failing again? Are we afraid of SUCCEEDING? Have we run out of mental energy trying to fight the good fight? Are we depressed over not receiving something we thought we very much deserved, such as a promotion? Or worse yet, that unconditional love we expected from our former mate?
Procrastination really comes down to being a symptom of something else going on. It could very well be our subconscious telling us something is unresolved, giving us a feeling of hopelessness. Whether that is a previous relationship, whther we are overwhelmed by today’s society, or even our work situation.
Maybe it’s just the fact that we really DON’T know where we’re going with our work/home/social life. Once again, turning to that journal and exploring what it is that’s holding us back, will help tremendously. Pick up that journal and have a good heart to heart talk with myself.
Step Number Two
Realize what the consequences are for not overcoming it. We get up in the morning, and there is the pile of clothes. What is it doing for us to leave it there? And why do people shun us when we approach them in the top we wore day before yesterday?
What risk are we running with our health if we don’t wash the dishes? How long is the cat going to survive if we, the human in charge of it’s survival, don’t feed him regularly? How long are we going to be gainfully employed when we miss a report deadline.
Step Number Three
Make the commitment to work past it. Pick up ten items and throw them in the washer. That in itself will help with the procrastination. We did something to move past it. We took a small step. Commit to doing a task when it becomes evident. When we are through eating, rinse the dish and put it in the dishwasher. And pat ourselves on the back, EVERY time we do something now instead of later.
Step Number Four
The subconscious mind likes praise. This is what we give it when we accomplish something today that we could have put off until tomorrow. Through the self talk we reward ourselves! I did it now, I didn’t wait! Good job! I am in control of my destiny and I just proved it. I overcame my own unwillingness to take care of business NOW. I deserve a break. No, just kidding! Get up, and go put in another load of wash!
That’s all we’re going to get, this isn’t the 12 step Alcoholics Anonymous program.
Now do ME a favor, do not procrastinate about this, and write down ONE thing you’ve been procrastinating about below in the comments. And then say to yourself, I will over come this! Let us know!
This article was just mind blowing to me. Reading every single line of this article gave me a lots of motivation to get through my day. To be honest reading this article was like recharging myself. Thank you for taking your time for this, writing this amazing motivational article and sharing with us.
Sujandar, thanks for the great boost! We try to recharge everyone’s batteries! Sometimes we don’t accomplish that, but sometimes someone like you comes along. Thanks for recharging US! As you have been recharged, what have you been putting off that you will now accomplish?
Steve
It’s not always easy to stay focused and do what one knows has top priority.
Yesterday I had a very bad night, I only slept two hours and in the morning I was worth nothing. I didn’t even try hard to work yesterday because I had no power.
At night though I went to bed at a reasonable time and turned off all distractions and had a good sleep. Today I’m fit to do what I planned, I got up at 5 am and now let’s get things done 🙂
Stefan, time to hit it then! I do have nights where I toss and turn and just don’t get a good night’s sleep. Sometimes you just have to take it easy and let your mind recuperate. I’m one of those people that I wake up bright eyed and ready to go most of the time! Drives my wife up a wall! Hahahaha, she likes to take her time waking up! But once in a while, I feel like a truck hit me for somer reason! Just gotta take it easy for the day! Thanks for stopping by!
Steve
Wow, I can definitely relate. I think procrastination is something we all suffer from, to a degree. I’ve found something that really helps me is this: instead of setting myself one overarching and intimidating goal for the day, I break that goal up into much smaller and more manageable goals and work on completing them one by one. Before I know it, I’ve achieved my original goal! Do you ever use this system?
Danny, Yes I have used that technique, good point! Sometimes just having a big job to do is too intimidating, so breaking it down is the way to go. It’s all in the ability to trick your mind into going over the road block. Hope you don’t mind, I might incorporate that idea into the post on the next update! Thanks for coming by!
Steve
Great topic and ways to handle procrastination, the time killer.
Procrastination steals from oneself and if. It overcome it leads to a life of laziness and futile efforts because the appropriate timing is missed.
One thing I procrastinate about at the moment is writing a business plan for a new business. I keep pushing it and telling myself I will do it but I have slipped 6 months and not writing a line.
It is bad that th plan is holding up a funding for £25,000 and this is hurting but I cannot just get to write it. I am going to use this practical steps to help me overcome it.
Thanks
Padedayo, Best of success overcoming your procrastination! Business plans are hard to write in the first place, let alone when you have a mental block standing in your way. As you get started on that, look online for some good outlines to use. Lots of good information if you keep searching for it! Thanks for coming by!!
Steve
Great and humorous article, Steve! I especially like your point about the journal and figuring out what is causing the procrastination. I definitely was afraid of failing again and put off trying again to avoid it. Working my emotions out on paper has allowed me to be my own therapist with procrastination and other issues. I love your theme of loving your life unconditionally. Keep up the great work!
Mark, I’d like to take credit for the theme, that’s Carol’s doing! But the article is all mine! You know sometimes just figuring out what the driving force behind our thoughts is enough to move on! That’s why I like the idea of journaling! Thanks for visiting!
Steve
I have procrastinated on certain things precisely because I failed at them before, and was hesitant to have another go at it, knowing that I was not going to quit, but yet, putting off engaging in something, day after day, til i finally get started again. I think fear does drive us, fear of coming up short AGAIN, knowing that you will have to keep going until you succeed. So sometimes I think it is a matter of having time to ‘collect yourself’, regroup, until you ‘charge at it’ once again. Becoming more ‘conscious’ of how you feel in the moment, and trusting your intuition is the next level up from ‘unconscious’ procrastination. I am working on feeling the timing of something on a deeper level. It is a work in progress, but i no longer feel the kind of guilt i used to feel through all the straight up, constant ‘avoidance’ of doing certain things that made me uncomfortable, if that makes sense.
Zardoz, it sure does make a lot of sense! You know, I think procrastination is most of the time tied to low self esteem and depression more than we know. So you’re right, you get up, get at the problem head on and get it done, it’s a big pat on the back! Good for the attitude! Once upon a time, i couldn’t get out of bed without hitting the snooze literally six times. That’s a professional level of procrastination there! I’d set my alarm for an hour early so I could hit the snooze! Hahaha. By the way, I know here you got the Zardoz title. Good movie!
Steve