Procrastination is the art of storing work, productivity and motivation into tomorrow.
Everyone has procrastinated about something. Maybe it was a delayed project or a postponed difficult conversation. But some of us hoard so much of our ‘yesterdays’ under the carpet it’s surprising we don’t stumble over the bulge.
Sometimes we use the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ technique which could relieve us temporarily from a task such as avoiding filing our taxes. But they are never too far behind biting us in the ass with a larger problem and yet another ‘thing’ we do not want to deal with.
Chronic procrastinators become experts at distracting themselves from their to-do lists.
They will find themselves standing in front of the pantry for the fourth time in an hour, stalk friends on Instagram or absent-mindedly watch video after video of dog and cat compilations.
In fact, the absolute dread of doing a certain ‘thing’ will often motivate us to become productive in other areas. When something we loathe more than cleaning the bathroom arises, that toilet may finally get the well-deserved scrub.
For the most part, we are well-aware of something that demands our action. Though our avoidance may initially be to evade feeling fear, worry or insecurity surrounding a task; in actuality, the longer it is left incomplete or unresolved the more intense these negative feelings become.
At some point we run out of time and are forced to face our demise which can often be filled with deep regret not having acted on it early and wish we had more time. But how much time is enough?
It’s understandable we would rather be out having drinks with friends than studying or writing school reports on a Friday night. We would rather be watching a marathon of Seinfeld episodes than heading to the gym or calling clients. And sometimes we would even rather do overtime at work than to come home to screaming kids or an empty house.
We search for harmony and short bursts of satisfaction. Unfortunately, our to-do lists seem to be major disruptions to our fun and peace of mind. Since our priority is feeling good or at least masking negative feelings with something that gives immediate relief; we can linger in this space of procrastination for quite some time while our to-do lists become overwhelmingly longer.
Both my parents are incredibly hard workers. They are highly disciplined in maintaining order and organization at home and their work environment. They are the complete contrast of a procrastinator and detest such dawdling.
‘Why leave anything for tomorrow what can be done today’ is their motto and I had heard it too often. My father admires drive and good work ethic in others. He appreciates honest, hard workers who strive to succeed.
Though I value their discipline, it certainly did not rub off on me. In my mind, there were some things that were not priority such as my mother’s obsessive cleaning habits. I tried to live up to her advice on taking ten seconds to neatly fold and put away clothes than to spend a day cleaning and organizing my closet later. Or spend ten seconds to immediately wash and put away a dirty cup and plate rather than accumulating them. But the latter seemed to always prevail.
Ten seconds a day was hardly any time to keep a closet in perfect shape and a room well organized. But sometimes ten seconds just seemed like a long time when in a rush to meet up with friends. And washing a single cup was like a pointless effort.
As a child, it always appeared that my parents were more unnecessary job creators than minimizers. Though I was an obedient child, wiping baseboards just wasn’t worth my youth when I could be singing to Madonna or filing my journal with stories. Additionally, finding the balance between not completing a task too fast so as not to be assumed inadequate or completing it too slow so not to be deemed sluggish, was tiresome.
Seeking to be the ‘perfect’ child by attempting to meet their expectations was discouraging for a perfectionist such as myself. Though their standards and expectations were not unreasonable, it set the new standard of ‘not good enough’ in my mind. My mother never hesitated to teach me over and over how to fluff the pillows and make the bed look its showroom-like best. And my father never skipped a beat to question me on whether a specific phone call was made, or an application was filed. I would hear his sigh of disappointment when I gave excuses and it was always disheartening disappointing my father.
Obviously aware of my own checklist, interests and desires in addition to the numerous expectations of me; it was important I did things in my own time. This time may have been to summon confidence, intuitively figure out my path and act on things when I felt ready. The heavy pressures of ‘doing it now’ due to external expectations felt burdening. And of course, the longer it took me to do something, the more frustrated, worried and stressed I felt about disappointing others or being judged and labeled.
Nevertheless, I admire them both and appreciate their efforts to instill energy, drive, passion and determination in me.
But this we all have.
It is not something we can be taught or encouraged to become. We are born with an innate curiosity and eagerness to explore and create. As infinite, Masterful Creators, when one is not living large, then we are living within the limitations and expectations of society or within the confinements of our negative, insecure minds.
There is a misconception of laziness that hovers over procrastinators. We can be seen as having no ambition or enthusiasm. However, there is something more going on internally than lack of action.
Sometimes uncertainty of an outcome could make one fear the outcome.
Sometimes, some things are more deserving of our time than cleaning our oven or refrigerator.
Sometimes, some things can be quite daunting to confront that we may not be physically, mentally or emotionally prepared for.
And sometimes, some things are so full of uncertainty or our personal standards are so high, we fear making decisions that could potentially fail.
None of these reasons are due to laziness. Certainly, some tasks will endure some sort of unwarranted delay due to having more things to do than we could physically accomplish, and some tasks would be prioritized according to urgency. However, most of our excuses are due to fear and insecurity.
Admittedly, there are those among us that settle into comforts, particularly ones that may fall onto the shoulders of others. This can be burdening to those who feel they are always saving our asses or supporting them. We could also settle into the comforts of minimal living – remaining in the same unfulfilling job or unhappy marriage; in the same familiar routines and habits. But, when joy is not present, neither is our motivation to be, change, or do anything.
So, what is it that holds us back from taking that next step?
Aside from low self-esteem and irrational worries, avoidance is generally due to not knowing how or where to start. When we reach unfamiliar territory, it can be quite scary. Ironically, our entire life existence and our every moment in time is unfamiliar territory for it is our first time in this space of time. Yet, we are also the responders and creators of it.
No-one likes to feel incompetent or uneducated and we have all felt an overwhelming fear of failure, particularly in areas of importance to us.
Starting a new job or business, going out on a date for the first time in a while or choosing a career path is not as simple as choosing a new restaurant to dine at. The higher the risks, the longer we tend to procrastinate on taking action.
According to Stephen King, “Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us get up and go to work.”
This seems to be the underlying view of many. It is suggestive of tardiness and laziness from delusional fantasizers who wait for something to happen while the rest are getting things done. The same people who would be quick to label, judge and point blame.
But does getting it done for the sake of checking it off our list serve to benefit?
The greatest music ever written, the most mind-blowing art ever produced and greatest achievements ever reached was by virtue of inspiration.
Going through the motions will get the list checked off but doesn’t always produce the results.
Certainly, one would not be encouraged to merely sit and wait. Taking a small step could be enough to get the momentum and focus going. But there are more important mental and emotional steps that need to be addressed in order for effective productivity to take place.
Procrastination can fall into the same category as other habit-forming indulgences such as food, alcohol, smoking or drugs. They are disguisers and diversions to deeper fears and insecurities.
It is like our internal guidance saying, ‘not now’. We trust it like any of our other natural, intuitive instincts. However, if ‘not now’ seems to drag on for quite some time, then we are not only trapped in fear but stuck on a belief that is disconnecting us from who we are.
Procrastination is about finding an easier route. It is escapism. Anything that seems difficult or we may be fearful of will force us to find an alternate path, even if it means keeping busy with smaller, insignificant things.
So, what can kick start our preparedness?
Well, it isn’t action based. In fact, action should be the last thing we do.
Emotional and mental alignment is first and foremost.
When we are feeling like we do not want to do something and we are forcing ourselves to pull ourselves together and get it done, we are acting against our best interests.
Confronting someone when we are highly stressed and defensive will work against our favor than making the same confrontation when we are calm and confident.
Applying for our dream job when we are completely insecure and skeptical will work against our favor than applying for the same job when we are enthusiastic and self-assured.
Productivity and results are far more beneficial when we prepare mentally and emotionally.
Therefore, it is important we understand that it is not about the action or fulfillment of a checklist, rather a direct indication of lingering negative thoughts and emotions that prolong such tasks. It is also about societal pressures, expectations and our need to fulfill them in order to fit in that hinders our intuitive guidance.
So YES, procrastination is far more a ‘good’ thing than it is ‘bad’ thing.
It would be better to spend some time getting excited about whatever it is first and move when we feel inspired. Otherwise, it is a waste of our time doing something we do not want to do.
It is also a waste of our energy pushing others to carry out tasks we request. This means that we need to stop poking and prodding at our partners and children. It is not the responsibility of others to fulfill our requests so that we feel better. And it is not their responsibility to meet our demands and expectations within our time frame.
If the passion, desire and confidence is absent, urging action would be ineffective. It would be wiser to spend more time building confidence and trusting them in knowing their own timing.
Procrastination is absent when we are in sync or in alignment with something. When we feel excited and eager, our natural juices of inspiration flow. This ignites inspired action. It is through this inspired action that there is a sense of right timing, right person and right place.
Nothing is forced or out of order. There is a natural flow and synchronicity that happens when one is in alignment with self and with that which we are inspired to do. In fact, we are so filled with inspiration, no one could stop us from it.
When we sort out our negative feelings, procrastination is not so prevalent. It is only due to our thoughts of inadequacy, insecurity, doubt and fear that we keep ourselves distant from living abundantly and joyfully.
Inspired action is powerful, it is driven, it has fire and momentum. It is ignited with so much intention, creation and passion that it feels like a magic carpet ride; where there is a continuous linking and merging of events.
Avoid being critical if something is taking us a little longer to figure out or act on. There is never lack of opportunities or ways in which something could be handled.
When we are ready, we will feel it. It will feel like exhilaration and assuredness. And with every new idea that arouses our joy, another and then another will continue to erupt making us exceedingly anxious to reach for more.
Feeling the feeling first is where we want to start anything. When inspiration causes us to move, we are alert, able to see the path with clarity and eager to progress with optimum productivity.
It is not action that creates movement; it is passion, power, focus and inspiration.
Let inspiration be the order and guide the way!