Have your ever asked yourself, why do I keep leaving this specific task or tasks for tomorrow instead of completing them today? In one way or another, we have all postponed something for later at one point in our lives. The act of postponing things for the future is called Procrastination and there are different reasons why we procrastinate.
Procrastination is becoming more and more common these days due to the many different ways we keep ourselves distracted. Although distractions are not the main reason why we procrastinate, they do have an impact on why we leave things for tomorrow.
Besides being distracted, there are other reasons for procrastination that include:
- not liking the task we need to complete
- not feeling capable of completing the task
- feeling emotionally down
- feeling the need for adrenaline
- not wanting to make mistakes
- avoiding uncomfortable situations
The fact is that eventually, we will have to complete the task. If it is not today, it will be tomorrow, within a week or even within months or years. Procrastination prolongs the feeling that stops us from completing the task, this feeling can be stress, guilt, annoyance, anxiety, frustration, etc. At the end, we affect our mental and physical health just by procrastinating.
Some people procrastinate without even knowing, that is why it is important to first identify if you tend to procrastinate. Observe your thoughts. How often do you push things for tomorrow as a habit? I am talking about things you postpone not because you run out of time or because you have others things that are of a higher priority. I am talking about things you postpone because you think you are lazy, you spend too much time on the internet, or you have lack of interest. If the answer is too often, then you might tend to procrastinate.
Now, think about what emotions come with procrastination. Do you feel stress, anxious, guilty, frustrated, etc.? Is procrastination causing you trouble with your spouse, friends or family?
If you tend to procrastinate and want to stop doing it, ask yourself these questions:
- What is the benefit of leaving this tasks for tomorrow? (Current benefits)
- How does it affect you emotionally and mentally to keep pushing this task for tomorrow? (Feelings)
- What will be the benefit of doing it today? (Real benefits)
- What are your options? (Options)
Let's land this concept a little more with a very common example.
You have a deadline coming soon for an important project you got assigned. This project is about a new area for which you feel unfamiliar. You find yourself postponing working on the project and you feel more stress every day because the due date is approaching. If you ask the questions listed above, what would the answers be?
- Current benefits: There is no benefit on postponing the start of the project besides not having to deal with it today.
- Feelings: I feel stressed and can't stop thinking about the project even when I am not working on it. I feel impatient, frustrated about doing something I have very little knowledge about, and even mad that I was chosen to work on this project. I don't feel capable of completing the task.
- Real benefits: I would probably feel better if I start even if I do something small. I will have more time and not have to rush to finish at the last minute. I would probably do a better job because I will have more time to do research. I will have more time to rectify if I make a mistake. The sooner I start the sooner I can finish and stop thinking about it.
- Options: Maybe I can see what part of the project I can delegate. Look for help from people who know about the project. Get some kind of training that could help me be better prepared to tackle the project. Change my mindset and take this project with a better attitude, who knows, maybe I will enjoy the process.
Do you really need to procrastinate? I invite you to observe yourself and work out your procrastination habit. The results can be living a life with less stress, in harmony, and better health.