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Procrastination

by Sue Chambers - Certified Life Coach,   Williams Lake

Discovering what holds us back, embracing our power to change and developing our lives is the key to a happy, healthy life!

What is procrastination and what causes it?

We all procrastinate.  We put off  things because we do not want to do them or because we have too many other things going on in our lives.  Most of us have full, busy lives that give us a perfect excuse to procrastinate.  Some of us love the rush of a last minute deadline, getting something done in a hurry, but it is probably not a very Healthy habit to get into.

You can always tell whether or not you need to do something about your procrastination by studying the consequences of your actions.  Do you feel anxious much of the time?  Is your life and surroundings in a mess most of the time?  When your procrastination leaves you feeling scattered and stressed, it is time to take some action.

Many of us think that because we procrastinate this makes us lazy and unreliable.  It is a habit that we can all overcome.  Sometimes it will require some focused, hard work on your part, but it is fixable.

Many procrastinators seem to be self-critical, making the best approach to overcoming this obstacle, to be easy on yourself.  Start with simple things that will help you finish earlier and with less stress; and then allow yourself to feel the satisfaction of accomplishing those things on time.

Why do we do it? 

It is important to figure this out in order to move forward with a solution.  Many of us are afraid.  Afraid of failure or losing something of ourselves, or maybe we use it as a way of keeping ourselves separate from others.  Whether we are conscious of these reasons or not, they keep us from taking action, making anxiety and stress overcome us each time.

Sometimes when we expect ourselves to be perfect at everything we feel scared about whether we can meet such high standards, giving us the belief that a partial try at something is better than risking failure.  Sometimes we are too busy and sometimes procrastination helps us avoid a task that is unpleasant or dreaded. 

What to do about it:  Figure out exactly when and how you procrastinate.  Think about the clues that tell you that's what you are doing, such as a nagging voice in your head, feelings of avoidence, stomach tightness, headaches, tension or feeling that you just can't enjoy what you are doing.

Figure out how you procrastinate.  Do you ignore tasks, just hoping they will go away?  Substitute something that isn't important for something important that needs to be taken care of?  Take long breaks from a task or let the break turn into something else? Spend too much time on one thing to avoid the next task?

Once you understand how you procrastinate, you will be able to catch yourself when it comes up again.

Create a place where you know you will be productive and successful.  This will help remove the frustration.  Ask yourself, what is the time of day that you are at your best and have the energy to complete what you need to do?

Break down your jobs into smaller chores.  This stops your mind from believing the job is too big and simply can't be done. 

Get a new attitude and tell yourself a different story about the job ahead.  Remind yourself that it isn't so bad or difficult and that you know how to do it or that you can learn as you go.  Simply starting can move you to feel more positive about what needs to be done.

Ask for help if necessary.  Fine a friend who you know loves the task you are going to do and let them work alongside you for support.

Remove any distractions you know will keep you from following through with the job at hand.

Set a deadline and make yourself accountable and leave your work out where you can see it to give you a reminder that you are in the middle of a job or that you need to start one.

One of the best ways to combat procrastination is to develop a realistic understanding of time.  Realize that your day is filled with more activities than just the job you are starting.  Figure out a reasonable amount of time you will spend on a task each day until it is finished.

Explore why you procrastinate and experiment with strategies for success and remember this will not be an overnight transformation.  Change your behavior little by little.  Don't punish yourself when you catch yourself procrastinating.  Be proud of your small successes.  You will eventually develop new habits, removing the feelings of being scattered and stressed and replace them with a relaxed way to organize your life that feels easy and comfortable for you.  A new Healthy way to live!

Sue Chambers, Success Coach and  Motivational Speaker, thinks of herself as a champion of change, and specializes in people development. She believes the only limits we have are the ones we place on ourselves. As your coach, Sue will help you get from where you are to where you want to go.

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