A deeper look at Procrastination

Procrastination is the fear of success... Because success is heavy, and it carries a responsibility with it, it is much easier to procrastinate and live on the "someday I'll" philosophy. -Denis Waitley

Sounds kind of harsh, doesn’t it? Fear of success. You’re not afraid of success. Why else would you be at the office all hours of the night, working weekends and chasing deadlines. To succeed, right? Or are your constant last minute deadline “heroics” thinly veiled attempts to cover up the deeper issues that procrastination masks? Issues like fear of failure and success, rebellion against your boss or company, the need to have a full social calendar, and the pressure that some women still feel not to succeed in a historically masculine environment like the business world. So while you may view procrastination as a necessary evil for a successful working woman in America, acknowledging the problem and taking steps to change the way you take on tasks will elicit measurable advances in your happiness, free time, and productivity.

You learned how to procrastinate in college and it has probably worked for you ever since. Once Mom and Dad weren’t there to give you structure and be there to force that homework down your throat, you took your freedom and ran with it. Everybody seemed to be doing it. 50% of college students say they procrastinate on at least 50% of their assignments. It’s almost an institutionalized practice at many schools. You went to the parties you wanted to go to, crammed at the last minute, and earned above average grades. You landed a plum job. Unfortunately, the problem is that you never did shake that behavior. You may say “I got where I am right now, so what’s the big deal if I do things at the last minute?” Or “I work best under pressure.” First of all, if where you are right now is where you want to be, congratulations, you can stop reading. Second, you may work well under pressure, but imagine how you would work if you gave yourself a decent amount of time to properly think through the task at hand.

Most of the articles you read on beating procrastination focus on goals, calendars, and to do lists. While organization is important, once you realize that procrastination involves deeper issues with tougher solutions you will then realize that a calendar, a to-do list, or a goal can easily be ignored.  According to Neil Fiore in The Now Habit, “If the work pressure is already too great, telling yourself  to try harder, get yourself organized, or that there are no friends and no fun until this work is done" is counterproductive. Such typical advice only increases the pressure and unpleasant feelings about the task to be done.” You simply have to want to make a bigger change in your work style. “

According to Dr. Fiore:

1.       Reduce your fear of failing. Recognize that your self-worth isn’t tied up in your assignments at work. Ask questions like “What’s the worst that can happen?” and “How would I carry on if the worst outcome came true?” Get rid of the nagging pressure and draft a plan B for completing your work.
 

2.       Avoid the tendency to live entirely in the future.  “It will be great when I make partner…When I’m a VP… When I’m a millionaire…”  If you find yourself obsessed with thoughts like these, odds are you are suffering in the present because you’re dreaming about the future. The more you can invest in being happy and productive now, the greater the chance you will have of long-term success.
 

3.       Schedule your fixed hours AND your play time.  Make having fun the priority. Focus on starting a task and when you have completed a certain amount of work go play. Whatever you do, get rid of the guilt associated with having fun. Productive people need to take vacations. Insist on having fun!
 

4.       Get Started!   Focus on starting a task. However small the beginning, just start. Work in thirty minute chunks. Use a calendar based on when projects are due. Respond quickly to setbacks and decisions. It’s better to decide on something and move on than to labor for hours. Work in an environment that is relaxed and allows for concentration.
 

Those little voices inside your head convincing you to put off the tough assignment, take care of more manageable tasks first, enjoy the weather for an extra half an hour at lunch, read US Weekly again – they can be very persuasive and also very destructive. Why put off ‘til tomorrow what you can do today? Because the task at hand is hard, small rewards take priority, and fear of failure is lurking beneath the surface. But if you can get organized and get started, you might find that you actually enjoy your work.