Procrastination is like masturbation. At first it feels good, but in the end you’re only screwing yourself.
Monty Python
Twenty percent of the population are chronic procrastinators. Procrastination isn’t just about poor time management or laziness. It’s worse. It’s those feelings of paralysis and gnawing guilt because you know that you really aren’t doing what you should be doing. Procrastination can be triggered be anxiety and false beliefs about productivity. We often rationalize (a polite way to say we lie to ourselves and who would want to be called an out and out liar). We justify our procrastination with false beliefs “ I work better under pressure” or “ I’m just an 11th hour type of guy.” In truth, it makes you far less productive and frequently produces a poorer quality result.
The fear of failure might also be called the fear of looking stupid. We would prefer to bank on the excuse that we didn’t have enough time rather than confront the possibility that our talents are suspect.
Perfectionism can lead to procrastination. If you have some difficult standards to achieve, the procrastination is understandable but not in your best interests. Being overly concerned with what other people will think if it’s not perfect may lead to many uncompleted projects.
Procrastination is the lack of discipline to start and explains why you are doing everything but what you need to be doing. The good news is that discipline is a learned skill. With practice you can become more disciplined and focused. Some tasks just plain aren’t fun, but procrastination creates more suffering. It’s better to just start and do the boring mundane task. Some people may experience some kind of death defying (I made it again) rush that escapes those we disdainfully call plodders. I suspect the plodders over the long haul accomplish more in their lives.
Unclear expectations of what you plan to accomplish can allow worst case scenarios to bubble up and make procrastination look attractive. Commit to accomplishing a specific amount. The reality is that once you start you’ll probably do more. If the commitment feels overwhelming commit to less. The point is to commit to whatever is needed to get you started.
The conversation you have with yourself can be shaming and debilitating or empowering and supportive. Saying “I should” can generate guilt or shame, but saying “I choose to” gives you a feeling of control and empowerment. This may sound trite or irrelevant, but self-talk is potent. It’s how we program ourselves for either success or failure.
Set realistic goals and focus on being persistent and starting every day. If perfectionist tendencies control your life, be aware and develop selectivity concerning the efforts that require higher standards. A final draft of a book or proposal should be free of typos, but do typos really matter in a rough draft or in emails to friends?
And remember any evaluation of your work often says more about the critic than it does about your work. So don’t allow yourself to be defined by others.
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{ 36 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey Riley,
Procrastination what a glorious topic to discuss. Like your initial quote said, we are only screwing ourselves. I do not like waiting till the last minute to do things because this will place undue pressure on me and then I explode like a volcano.
We have to stay on top of things even if that means making lists, getting an assistant, paying people to do some chores like cutting the grass.
Ignore the critic and define ourselves according to our own standards.
Justin@Mazzastick recently posted..Time Is Accelerating And We Must Change
Hey Justin,
I’ve always been a kind of a 11th hour guy, but I married a plodder and was amazed how much more effective that is. Kathy gets an incredible amount done but also leads a healthy balanced life (work and recreation).
Riley
This was the truth Riley!
I honestly would have thought the percentage to be a bit higher than 20…but hey, 20 is HIGH ENOUGH!
You made an excellent point in deterring ourselves from the dreadful “P” – set realistic goals. To take it a step further, I have to break those goals into chunks so I can feel the many wins as I accomplish the completion of each chunk, leading me closer to the end goal.
Thanks for the wisdom sir!
Jk Allen recently posted..Personal Branding- Self Promotion and the Art of Marketing Yourself
Hey Jk,
I agree, I also thought the percentage would be higher than 20. It seems to me that progress and growth have two critical components: Having the ability to set the right goals (as Steven Covey said : you don’t want your ladder up against the wrong wall) and then of course a good plan to achieve. Thanks and good luck on your goals and life in general.
Riley
I used to be indecisive but now I’m not so sure! Seriously though Riley it’s true we can freeze in our mind and actions and I was once a stand still expert. To me procrastination is a fear that you are not enough – that whatever decision or course of action you take won’t be the right one or fail because you are not enough. Review the many correct choices you’ve made before and armed with them make some more just small ones to begin with and then expand. Soon you will see that anything you do works out somewhere for your overall good. Your mind is power, your decisions it’s force, combine them and have an almighty life!
John Sherry recently posted..You’re Not Meant To Live Life Alone
Hi John,
Thanks John for your input; always enjoy reading your posts. Wish you the best.
Riley
Good morning Riley,
As John Sherry said above, I’m not procrastinating, I’m just taking a break from things I should be doing.
That’s how I justify my procrastination. Some days I need to just close my Reader lest I’m tempted to come here and see if Riley has challenged me with any capacious words just to make me look for my dictionary. It is indeed a ponderous avocation to keep up with you and at the same time defend my right to have some fun in the middle (oh, OK, the START) of a busy day.
If I procrastinate, I have no idea how.
Lori
Lori Gosselin recently posted..Happiness- Who’s in the Driver’s Seat
Lori,
If your blog gets any more popular, you aren’t going to have to worry about having any time to procrastinate. You are really getting the readers involved and they are providing some wonderful and insightful comments.
Riley
It is really easy to procrastinate on problems.
When a problem seems to large nothing is easier than to say, “Hey, I’ll just do it tomorrow”.
I love your quote from monty python though, it is so right!
What I have found to be best is to break it down into small bite-able chunks and take it one part at a time.
Daniel M. Wood recently posted..Motivational Tip 6 – The Master Decision be happy
Hi Daniel,
Monty Python always makes me chuckle. You are right. When something is overwhelming, just break it down into manageable chunks.
Riley
Hi Riley,
Procrastination is in fact harmful for people. Some procrastinate because they want for everything to be perfect, others wait for the right time, right mood among other reasons like you highlighted. For me personally, one of the most effective ways to beat procrastination is to focus on the end result and the benefits I will get. This has helped me overcome procrastination in a big way. Thanks for sharing
Dia recently posted..Kindness builds strong relationships
That’s a good point Dia. Focussing on the end result can be very motivating and consequently a good way to overcome procrastination. Thanks
Riley
I remember I used the top comment on a blog post before in a social networking site.
We end up screwing ourselves because we end up being the same person that we were in the begining.
Nice Post!
Armand Polanski recently posted..5 Lessons I Learned Ever Since Lifestyle Scientist Started
Hi Armand
If we aren’t changing we aren’t growing. Thanks for your input.
Riley
Goals will remain goals and plans will remain plans unless action is taken. Procrastination drags and pulls us farther away from our goals – we have to remind ourselves that we want to reach our goals because we want something better from what we are or what we have right now.
Thanks for sharing this wonderful post.
Jasmine@GoalsOnTrack recently posted..To Reach Goals- Bypass Resistance & Gather Assistance
Hello Jasmine,
Procrastination is a big time waster and does put goals further into the distance. Thanks
Riley
How about paralysis by analysis; putting it off until you can dial in the perfect scenario (which will never occur). Or just flat out ‘call reluctance’? I use these terms from the sales arena and have been face with them from time to time.
You do have to maintain a certain amount of discipline and don’t be afraid to handle the uncomfortable tasks instead of putting them off; and the sooner the better.
We all procrastinate to a certain degree but you certainly want to avoid being chronic; it will adversely affect many things.
Good post Riley and thanks so much for your support.
Bill Dorman recently posted..Well- that was awkward…
Hey Bill,
You are dead on. For types like me who live way too much in their head, paralysis by analysis is a deadly time wasting trap. Thanks for bringing that point to the fore.
Riley
I was a dreadful, perfectionist plodder once upon a time. Eleventh hour was simply not in my vocabulary. Then it all changed whe I had children and a full time job…I had to simply Give Up on the old ideas. Poof, gone. Now I have a Master List and I will write down a few on a small notepad for the week, throw it in my purse, and cross them off as I get them done. That probably still sounds incredibly scheduled but about 80% of it doesn’t even make it to the list anymore.
Julie recently posted..A Guide To Your Guides on Ezine Articles
Hi Julie,
Yes my “to do” list is also a very informal process. it certain feels less stressful that way.
Riley
Hey Riley,
“I should” vs “I choose” lit up a light bulb in my head that said it makes a huge difference. I will be thinking about that tonight and tomorrow. I’m not a procrastinator anymore (thankfully), but you had some quality insights about the topic that I enjoyed reading. The insight about perfectionism is right on! I can’t imagine doing anything if I have to do it perfectly!
~ Stephen
Stephen Guise recently posted..Risk Every Spare Dollar Wisely
Hey Stephen,
I love those light bulb moments when light dawns on marble head.
Riley
I somehow laughed at the comparison between procrastination and masturbation. But yeah, its true, we’re only screwing ourselves. What’s hard with procrastination is that you are sometimes not aware that you are already procrastinating that’s why we lose track of time.
Hey Ira,
That’s true we lack awareness about the amount of time we procrastinate and the price we pay in terms of lost opportunity.
Riley
Hello,
I must admit it, you really know how to make us laugh when you want. You have a great way of saying something serious in funny manners sometimes. Indeed, procastination is the deadliest form of excuse, I tend to procastinate a lot but in the end I always regret it, so, lately I avoided procrastination as much as possible.
Keep up the good work!
Joshua
Joshua@Plumbing courses recently posted..How to Become a Plumber
Hi Riley,
Alternative angle on procrastination.
Procrastination is a good thing. We don’t procrastinate, we are wildly passionate about things.
Van Gogh possibly had his dishes piled up and bills unpaid in south France, while painting Sunflowers (the most expensive painting in the world).
A writer just finished Hundred Years Of Solitude (amazingly charming book IMO) but he possibly procrastinated to visit his mother in law, or didn’t do a thousand of other mundane things.
A guy with a clicker sits in front of TV for days, months, years. What a focus, passion and commitment about the tube watching!
Solution?
Since we are passionate from the start, all we have to do, is to use this inherent ability and switch our focus to do things that are important. So it’s about awareness.
Great topic for a conversation.
You’re killing it every time Riley.
Derek
Derek Potocki @SmartGoals recently posted..Disease In Personal Development Blogs
Riley,
This is so true! I feel this intensely. You see I am a really bad procrastinator. The reason I get almost “anal” with making lists and productivity is that if I do not, it will simply be put off forever.
I have had bad experiences with procrastinating far to much in the past so now I over compenstae to ensure i never get the chance to procrastinate.
“I work better under pressure” LOL I used to say that all the time. In fact perhaps there was (and is) even enough of a grain of truth to that. I was always able to get a lot done and do a decent job of it “under pressure”.
To compensate for that I have even built time pressure into my organization system. I do all my work in time blocks. So if I give myself 1 time block to write something, I only have 50 minutes to get it done and I work against my egg timer.
The good thing is that these days I work almost a full week before things are “due” so my procrastination is at bay (lets hope it stays there)
Have a great weekend!
Steve@earn an internet income recently posted..How to Turn your To-Do List into a To-Done List
Hi Steve,
Wow you should consider writing a post on overcoming procrastination. That’s good stuff. I battle it (procrastination) everyday and sometimes win and sometimes lose.
Riley
I used to procrastinate because I was a perfectionist. Now I procrastinate because I’m just plain lazy. Perhaps I have become a perfect procrasitnator! Someone told me that if you start doing something and manage to do it for just 90 seconds, inertia will make it easier to keep doing it. I’ve tried that. I tell myself I will just clean, grade papers, exercise, whatever it is I don’t want to do, for 90 seconds. That doesn’t seem so bad. Once I start doing it, then it really is easier to keep going. Great quote at the top!
Galen Pearl recently posted..Its Not About You
Hi Galen,
Going from perfectionism to laziness sounds like progress. I would think that the amount of stress is reduced.
Riley
perfect Analysis Monty
just like you said procrastination is the symptom not the problem and it always indicates the presence of another problem behind it
Procrastination is to be avoided at all costs. All you need to do is to have a fresh perspective, learn from your mistakes and then get down to your business. There is absolutely no point in thinking about your past, think and act in the present for the sake of a beautiful future.
Anthony@chicken coops recently posted..Chicken Coop Designs – Proper Planning and Preparation
Anthony,
Thanks for dropping by. Good luck with the chicken coop venture.
Riley
It is always nice to hear from fellow bloggers, and I really appreciate your good wishes . Let’s see what time brings in for me.
Anthony@chicken coops recently posted..Chicken Coop Designs – Proper Planning and Preparation
‘The point is to commit to whatever is needed to get you started’…that is really the key isnt it? Almost a bit like outwitting the ol’ Ego. Love it!
Beverley recently posted..Can you feel the hug
Procrastination obviously has no benefit to a person. Living a life with it can give no satisfaction. I agree that sometimes this is the result of perfectionism. This is a complete explanation of procrastination Riley. Great work!
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