Procrastination is delaying or postponing tasks or activities,
often despite knowing that doing so may have negative
consequences.
Conversation between A and B about procrastination. B says: "How is the report going?" A says: "Not even started." B responds: "This is procrastination. Procrastination is all about emotions. Procrastinators try to avoid negative emotions, or frustration, or fear." A says: "In my case, all three together."
Procrastination is characterized by putting off what needs to be
done in favor of other, less important, or less urgent
activities. Various factors, such as fear of failure, lack of
motivation, overwhelming feelings, or a desire for immediate
pleasure or gratification, can drive this behavior.
Procrastination can lead to increased stress and decreased
productivity and can be a difficult habit to break. However, it
is possible to overcome and manage procrastination with the
right strategies and support.
Why do you need to fight procrastination?
Fighting procrastination is important for achieving our goals,
reaching our full potential, and leading a more fulfilling and
productive life. Procrastination can seriously affect our lives,
from decreased productivity and missed opportunities to
increased stress and reduced confidence. By putting things off
until later, we create unnecessary stress and pressure for
ourselves, often rushing to complete tasks at the last minute,
leading to subpar results.
Examples of procrastination
Procrastination vs laziness
Procrastination and laziness are often used interchangeably, but
they are actually two different behaviors. Procrastination is the
habit of delaying tasks or putting them off until later, often due
to feelings of overwhelm or fear of failure. Laziness, on the
other hand, is a lack of motivation or effort to do anything at
all, not just specific tasks. While both can lead to decreased
productivity, the root causes and solutions are different. To
overcome procrastination, it may involve setting goals, breaking
tasks into smaller steps, or seeking support from others. For
laziness, it may require finding inspiration and setting
meaningful objectives, or finding ways to make tasks more
enjoyable.
Conversation between A and B about procrastination vs laziness. A says: "I procrastinate because I am lazy." B responds: "Procrastination is not laziness."
ADHD paralysis
ADHD paralysis, or executive dysfunction, is when someone
struggles to start, finish, or continue tasks because of intense
anxiety, stress, or tiredness.
Conversation between A and B about ADHD paralysis. A says: "I can't start, finish, or keep up with tasks." B responds: "This is ADHD paralysis. Try breaking tasks into smaller steps, prioritize tasks, and limit distractions."
ADHD and tasks
Always practice self-care. It's ok to have ADHD; just find a way
to improve yourself.
Conversation between A and B about ADHD and tasks. A says: "And there I forgot the laundry... again. My ADHD clearly has a thing for clean clothes." B responds: "Relax, it's all right. Today is another day to do everything tomorrow."
Fight procrastination
Sometimes, a "Just Start" is a simple way to help overcome
procrastination
Conversation between A and B about fighting procrastination. A says: "I am still procrastinating." B responds: "Just start small."
Project effort overestimation
We often think projects will be more demanding than they are
because we overestimate the complexity and underestimate our
efficiency. This can be due to a lack of experience, fear of the
unknown, or simply the human tendency to imagine worst-case
scenarios.
Conversation between A and B about project effort overestimation. A says: "This project is gonna suck up all my energy." B responds: "You'd be surprised how easy most projects are."
Fight anxiety
When you're stuck in one place, anxiety turns into a heavyweight
champion, knocking you out with worries and overthinking. So, the
key is to break free from the motionless trap. Don't let your mind
become a playground for anxiety. Instead, kick into action, think
less, and do more.
Conversation between A and B about fighting anxiety. A says: "This task gives me anxiety, and I haven't even started." B responds: "Anxiety is 10x worse when you do nothing, so think less & do more."
Benefit of procrastination
You know, procrastination isn't all bad; it actually has some
benefits
Enhanced creativity
Prioritization
Stress relief
Improved decision-making
Adaptation
Productive breaks
Last-minute motivation
Better timing
Conversation between A and B about the benefits of procrastination. A says: "I hate procrastinating." B responds: "Well, sometimes procrastination is just your brain's way of dodging the boring stuff that wasn't worth doing anyway."
You know, procrastination isn't all bad
Parkinson's Law
We tend to focus on the available time to finish the task rather
than what we truly need. That leads to inefficiency and wasted
time. Be sure to set the right deadlines to complete a task.
Conversation between A and B about Parkinson's Law. A says: "I like chill deadlines." B responds: "Set the right deadlines, or tasks will stretch."
