I have a procrastination problem.
Admitting it is the first step to overcoming it, right?
Well, it’s procrastination we’re talking about now.
Procrastination is a funny thing. You know you’re doing it, as you’re doing it, and you do nothing about it.
You know it’s going to affect your performance somewhere. And that task or project isn’t going to go away. You’re going to have to do it at some point.
Under a lot more stress. Under a lot more time pressure. And it’s not like your putting it off to spend more time with your kids. Or to head to the Caribbean for a quick getaway with your wife. Or anything useful at all, really.
In fact, when I procrastinate, I find myself buried in my phone.
As much as that think helps me with staying productive, other times it is the devil incarnate.
I even tried to convince myself that I work better under pressure. That I’m somehow more efficient.
But still, that time I’m wasting… I don’t get that back, do I?
At the end of life, when I’m dying, I don’t get 32 extra minutes here, and 15 extra minutes there added on at the end.
Many of you wake up every day, and before you know it, it’s noon. And you’ve done nothing productive.
As you look at the clock, you say “I have a procrastination problem.”
Then, at 5 PM, you clock out and go home. And you surf the internet or watch Netflix. And then, when you go to bed, anxiety creeps in. You have a deadline!
Now, here’s the thing.
When I tell you I have a procrastination problem, that’s my way of reminding myself of it. As long as I recognize it, I can overcome it.
Because I understand it, and I can put in tiny countermeasures to keep it at bay.
But first, let’s understand procrastination.
Procrastination is like debt. It’s fun to spend that money, but eventually, you’re going to have to pay it back. With interest.
It means putting off doing things that need to you should do, like starting a project or writing an essay. But instead, you’re playing a video game or swiping through TikTok.
Advanced procrastinators often avoid important work with less important work. This was my go-to. I’d “organize” instead of whatever it is I should have been doing.
Maybe it was clearing out my downloads folder or making a list of Lego sets I’d like to build with the kids.
In short, I’d create tasks to do to keep me from doing other tasks so I would feel busy. It was my excuse.
Like Dr. House taking his Vicodin and refusing to believe he had an addiction.
“I wake up every morning, I’m in pain. I go to work in pain.”
But, there’s another Dr. House quote that is more appropriate.
“Everybody lies.”
Because that’s what justifications for procrastination are. Lies. Mostly to yourself, sometimes to others.
And it never works in your favor.
I read a statistic recently that will blow your mind.
40% of people have experienced financial loss due to procrastination.
But, I’m one of them. Until I beat my procrastination problem, I’d delay invoicing people. I’d delay paying bills. And I would delay creating content to help others. I failed to work on projects and programs until the last minute and didn’t do as good of a job as I could.
It’s good though. Recognizing your problem and coming to grips with it are great starting points.
A lot of times, the cause of procrastination is what we call “overwhelm.” You feel like there’s so much to do that you can’t figure out what to do first. So you do the easiest thing.
So, let’s take a quick inventory. What is it that you put off doing?
For me, these are things I used to procrastinate about:
- Starting and finishing projects, especially if I didn’t think they were perfect.
- Paperwork, especially invoices.
- Making appointments
- Saving Money
- Paying the Bills
Of course, I’m much better now. I’m recovering from my problem. And I’m more productive than ever. So much so that people hire me to help them become more productive!
Once you’ve made your list, think about what causes you the most problems when you put it off.
Make a list of things you’d like to accomplish if you didn’t have a procrastination problem.
Now, pick one, and only one. Then break that goal down into small tasks. Then, use the Pomodoro Technique.
Schedule the tasks in 30-minute blocks, focus for 25 minutes, and take a 5-minute break. And keep plowing ahead.
Once you’ve completed the first task, move to the second. And then the third.
Before you know it, you’ve made significant progress and minimized wasted time.
