Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone” – Pablo Picasso Procrastination is often defined as a trait ‘to defer action'. In simple words, it is a decision we take to do something later on. During my professional career, I have often come across claims ‘I'm happy the way that I am'. I too have been guilty of making that claim at crucial junctures of my life which closed some exciting windows of potential opportunities for me.
Through this post, I wanted to share my learning to overcome procrastination.
So, why do we procrastinate? I would link it to the paradox of ‘comfort of discomfort'. We feel it is safer to cling on to a familiar environment rather than venture out and explore change that is both unfamiliar and uncertain. At the back of our minds, the fear of failure lingers on and we prefer to focus on the short-term gains of avoiding the distress that we associate with the activity to change. In the process, we try to forget the long-term repercussion, i.e. the stress that we would have to endure and the consequences that we would have to face for not doing the task.
Dryden and Gordon (1993) have highlighted the key procrastination causes – Anxiety, Low Frustration Tolerance (LFT) and Rebellion. I personally feel LFT is often the principal catalyst for our procrastinating behaviours. In our social media dominated lives, we seem to have lost our innate capability to endure anything that is out of our comfort zone. While the list is not exhaustive, these may include boredom, uncomfortable feelings, perceived setbacks in our personal and professional lives, self-esteem etc. LFT is indeed a deceptive philosophy that makes you believe that you are right in avoiding certain tasks but in truth, you are unwillingly piling up your unresolved problems. And sooner or later, it would come back to haunt you.
Dryden had also identified the three main areas which get affected by procrastination. These include self-development, personal maintenance and honouring commitments to others (Dryden, 2000).
Before we explore some of the things that we can do to overcome procrastination, let's have a quick look at these fundamental procrastination styles identified by Sapadin and Maguire (1996: 10). As you read you may want to assess if you can relate to any style in particular.
This style is characterized by the tendency to harbour grand ideas that are difficult to achieve. Fantasy often becomes the escape route to avoid the drudgery of our daily lives which seem unchangeable.
The prevalent tendency for this style is the innate fear that things would go wrong. Tolerance levels for discomfort are extremely low and the appetite to avoid change and thereby risks is high.
Characterized by word ‘bravado'. Like a Bollywood hero, one cannot be motivated until it is time i.e. the eleventh hour to be precise. While the style thrives on adrenaline rush, deeper down there is the hope that the task would disappear magically and someone else will jump in to help you. The tendency is to react to suggestions or instructions as you do not like being told what to do. This style is also characterized by the trait of agreeing to something when you are not completely on-board but you are unable to voice your feelings due to apprehension and fear. This is the style which I can relate to! Up to a point in my professional career, I could not say ‘No' and never delegated work as I was afraid that it would not get done properly. When I introspect now, I realize that I was not focusing on the real issues that needed to be addressed.
So, how do we overcome procrastination? The key lies in developing a positive attitude where we overcome self-defeating thoughts around tasks which appear too hard and strenuous to encounter. It is the journey of moving from ‘unbearable' to ‘ bearable' and instilling ‘action' firmly in your mind while dislodging ‘inaction' and ‘avoidance'.
Here are some of the things from my journey to overcome procrastination.
I have accepted that challenges, boredom and work that do not make sense to me are a temporary thing. It is better to deal with them head-on rather than allow stress to seep in to my life.‘Why' is my new friend:I have started asking myself why I am doing a task and what are some of the advantages that I would accrue by finishing it.
I have started admitting that certain things would not happen irrespective of how hard I try. It is better to schedule that activity at a time when it is more achievable. One of my Managers in a big four firm always insisted on seeing the ToC before the actual report was written. When I break an activity into smaller chunks, I feel more empowered and less overwhelmed. I call this the ToC principle 🙂 Excuses: Gone with the Wind: I try to be honest with myself. This helps me to identify the excuses and deal with them as soon as possible, thereby allowing me to start the task.
Get the environment under control:
I have managed to tame technoloy to an extent. I try to block time for completing a task and unashamedly turn on ‘Do not Disturb'. I also ensure that my Smartphone is in the silent mode and I have disabled most of the social media notifications. Unless required, I close the browser and do ot start the internet searches until I complete the task.
Forgiven and Forgotten is my mantra and I try to put away all the thoughts from the past. The phrase ‘I should have' no longer is strictly relevant in my life. What's done is done! Right?
Am no longer a perfectionist:
Earlier in my career and life I was swayed by the philosophy that something is either perfect or is a failure. I have noted that there isn't a perfect time to start something and it is important to focus on being better than being perfect. My sole aim now is to pursue excellence in what I do and pat myself on the back for getting a job done to the best of my abilities.
I do hope you enjoyed reading the post. Hopefully, you would find some food for thought and remove ‘procrastination' from your lives.
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