How to Overcome Procrastination:
“If once a man indulges himself in murder, very soon he comes to think little of robbing; and from robbing, he next comes to drinking and Sabbath-breaking, and from that to incivility and procrastination.”
Thomas DeQuincey
The word itself comes from the Latin word procrastinatus: pro- (forward) and crastinus (of tomorrow).
Procrastination is a behavior which is characterized by the deferment of actions or tasks to a later time. Psychologists often cite procrastination as a mechanism for coping with the anxiety associated with starting or completing any task or decision.
For an individual, procrastination may result in stress, a sense of guilt, the loss of personal productivity, the creation of crisis and disapproval from others for not fulfilling one’s responsibilities or commitments. These combined feelings can promote further procrastination.
Source: Wikipedia.
There are 3 variables of procrastination;
(a) To do nothing,
(b) To do something less important,
(c) To do something more important.
Establishing why we procrastinate is probably the first step to overcoming procrastination. This usually involves both better organizational and time-management skills as well as a clearer understanding of its personal or emotional meaning.
Here are some tips:
1. Often the words that we use to ourselves in thinking or talking about the task in hand do have a big impact. They have feelings attached to them which color our anticipation and experience of the work. Try changing the words “have to” and “can’t” to “choose to” and “choose not to”.
2. Identify realistic and achievable goals and make decisions about how to do the tasks, and prioritize.
3. Quite often procrastination is connected to anxieties about the quality of the work you hope (or fear) you will produce! At times like this, it is worth remembering that it’s better to produce something rather than nothing.
Source: University Cambridge.
Let us know how if this information helped you by leaving a comment in the box below…go on don’t procrastinate.
by Audrey Sussman - Director Anxiety Control Center
If the thought of tackling your next project causes your heart to pound, and your stomach to clench, you also get tired or overwhelmed just thinking of all that you need to do. If you find yourself procrastinating or going to the “fridge” and using food as an alternate activity, instead of getting down to the task at hand.
For those of you who have this habit down to an eloquent science. There is Hope!
When people come to my classes over 60% of them reveal that they believe that procrastination means that they are inherently lazy or unproductive. Yet, when we start talking about what they have achieved, we find that these same people are able to juggle many of life’s challenges with ease. The people who find there way to my office or seminars are usually high achievers, and in many cases very successful in their careers and life. So procrastination has nothing to do with being inept, lazy or apathetic.
It is actually just the opposite. For most people procrastination is caused by FEAR. Fear can come from early childhood experiences, and as a result the Childs belief patterns are then formed. It is a pity that so many talented, intelligent people secretly carry around fear at the deepest level of their unconscious mind. Old childhood emotions can create many unnecessary hurdles that the adult needs to push through, as they move through life. Old patterns of thinking as well as childhood coping skills are triggered automatically by life events, even when they no longer serve a positive function for the adult.
At times a person might be an aware of an old pattern re-surfacing. For example; When hearing a negative “voice” playing in the background of your mind. But many times thoughts pass through so quickly, you are not even aware that you just had a thought. The result is the same; the body reacts with tension and causes doubt, fear and stress. No matter how successful you are when these old negative thoughts surface, at some level you believe the “words” running like a recording in your mind.
This can be changed; you have learned a lot as you grew up, and you can understand so much more than the “child you used to be.” These patterns of thought can be changed. You no longer need to have old childhood beliefs running in the “back on your mind.”
I have many hundreds of people who had learned the skills for reprogramming reactions they no longer want. One of my clients is a top-level executive who is highly respected in his field. If you met him at a business or social function you would never dream that he was feeling blocked and stuck.
For the rest of this article and more information on reducing procrastination go to my website at Anxiety Control Center
Audrey Sussman – Director of The Anxiety Control Center
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