“Procrastination” is defined as the action of delaying or postponing something.
There are a lot of reasons why we as humans procrastinate stuff; fear of failure, lack of preparation, lack of self-confidence, chronic perfectionism, etc. According to Ali Schiller and Marissa Boisvert, accountability coaches and co-owners of Accountability Works, even the most powerful CEOs on their client list can suffer from some of the worse cases of procrastination.
Luckily, there are strategies that one can implement on a daily basis to shake this unproductive habit. But your game plan will depend on which type of procrastinator you are (yes, there are different kinds).
- The Performer
- “Deadlines are my motivators” – If you find yourself saying this and waiting until the night before to complete a task that you have had 3 months to finish, then you are what is known as “The Performer” procrastinator. By shrinking the amount of time, you have to accomplish a goal/task, some believe that they work better under the pressure of the 11th hour. However, this type of productivity is not sustainable. If there are unexpected complications then you run the risk of having a flawed end product, which is often times worse than having to push a deadline.
- To combat this type of procrastination, it can be helpful to set a start date rather than an end date. This will help alleviate some pressure and rather than rushing to get everything done on time, you will be rushing to get started so you can meet your start date.
- The Self-Deprecator
- “I am way too lazy to do this right now” – More often than not, procrastinators are not lazy people. They simply have a hard time getting started on tasks because they are too hard on themselves. They don’t think that they have the skills or talent to accomplish their goals. In their mind, they are postponing getting started so they can postpone failing. So, rather than believing in themselves and their ideas, they blame their inactiveness on feeling tired or lazy.
- To help get rid of these negative thoughts, try going for a walk outdoors to get some fresh air and clear your head. Once you settle back in, make a list of all the things that could go right once you finish your project/task. Next, put on some music that makes you feel like a boss and dive right into your work. You can do this, you are capable and the worse type of failure is not trying at all.
- The Overbooker
- “OMG I am way too busy!” – A very good thing to remember is that being busy doesn’t always mean you are being productive. When people pack their schedules and don’t make time for their goals, this is often an indication of avoidance. Rather than admitting that they do not want to do something, they over schedule their day so they can tell themselves they don’t have time to do that thing.
- The best way to shake this habit is to sit down and make a list of what is really important to you. Write down what you want your life to look like in the next year, five years and ten years. If the stuff you are filling your days with does not get you closer to that vision, then stop doing it and schedule more of the things that will help you accomplish your goals. You do not have to be busy every second of every day. Putting aside 2 hours to really dive into a project is better than having a full day of interrupted thought because you overscheduled yourself.
- The Novelty Seeker
- “I just had the best idea!” – If you are great at starting a project but not so great at finishing them, then this one is for you. Starting a task can often times be easy but staying consistent beyond a week or two can cause some to get bored and want to move onto the next shiny thing. Lack of follow through is the killer of many dreams. Taking constant action is not always easy, but it is the best way to get something done.
- Limit yourself on the ideas that you can pursue. Write down a list of all your goals, rank them from high priority to low priority and start tackling them one at a time. Do not let yourself move to the next thing on your list without first completing the project/task before it. It is ok if you think up other great ideas along the way, but instead of letting the new shiny idea distract you from the project you were already working on, add it to the list and make that idea wait its turn. Success can be achieved by taking on one thing at a time, one day at a time, one step at a time.
“The first step to solving any problem is to not hide from it. The first step to any form of action is awareness”.
Melody Hobson, Investment Expert
Now that we have gone over the different types of procrastination, take a moment to think about which is most applicable to your life. There is a very good possibility that you could be a hybrid and possess characteristics from multiple categories. But remember, knowledge is power. Knowing why you are putting off important tasks and projects is the first step to overcoming your urge to postpone getting started. Like everything we do, procrastinating becomes a habit. Use the tools above, as well as the ones you develop on your own, to overcome these patterns and create a path forward that makes you excited from start to finish.
