Procrastination
This is really hard for me to admit. I am a closet procrastinator. On the surface I appear to be a take charge and get it done kind of person. That is the same me that everyone thinks is an extrovert when in reality I AM an introvert.
I’m coming out of the closet because I know there are a lot of you out there and guess what ? It’s holding us back.
For me procrastination has kept me from fulfilling my potential in several areas of my life. Nothing earth shattering or life threatening, but if I’m really honest, possibly life altering. For some of you it may even have had some substantial consequences – monitary or career inhibiting.
Procrastination is guilt inducing yet many of us use it as a way to cope. We use it to avoid something unpleasant. Some of us procrastinate because we don’t have confidence in our ability to do what we are putting off 1) perfectly 2) successfully 3) as well as someone else. We procrastinate because we underestimate OR overestimate how long something will take (“I can wait and do that later because it will only take a few minutes” or “I can’t start that now because it will take too much time”) This type of procrastinator is usually disorganized. Some of us take on too much. We can’t say NO. Instead of doing some of what we are faced with we put EVERYTHING OFF and do nothing. Or maybe we just don’t know where to start (another type of disorganized procrastinator). Regardless of the reason, it is holding us back in some area of our life. Stress, guilt, relationship conflicts, career stagnation – all problems that can arise from procrastination.
My procrastination is usually of the avoidance type. I’m a “don’t look at it and maybe it will go away” kind of procrastinator. I’m really good at catching up at the last minute when it doesn’t “go away”. For instance I hate confrontation and will put off telling someone something they don’t want to hear until it can’t be avoided any longer without serious consequences. Because I’m a good BS’er I can walk in at the last minute, pull something out of my hat that will get the job done, and then breathe a sigh of relief when its over. In the meantime, I’ve worried, stressed, agonized over it while avoiding doing what needed to be done. No one except me realizes I’ve procrastinated but for me it has caused lost sleep, poor concentration in other areas, and ulcers. I hate unpleasantness. Reality is however, by avoiding the unpleasant task or situation all I’ve done is spread out the unpleasantness for ME. What I’ve also learned is that usually the thing I’ve been avoiding is not as bad as I’ve anticipated.
For some procrastination can ultimately effect life style. An old friend of mine used to have a problem paying bills on time. Not because they didn’t have the money to pay them but because they were disorganized. Some bills got buried under a pile of papers, thrown out, overlooked while others just weren’t paid on time because the person didn’t make time to sit down and write out checks or to set up auto-payments with the bank. The result was mounting late fees (effected the amount of cash on hand to use for other things) and decreasing credit score. This was the thing that most effected the life style. When this person applied for a loan on a new home they were turned down. They certainly made enough money to put a down payment on the house they wanted. They could have easily made the house payment with the salary they made. The problem was such a low credit score because of long, overdue/outstanding bills and credit collection notices, that a conventional bank loan was out of the question.
I’m working on my problem. I’m getting better at addressing issues in a more timely manner, before they escalate or blow up out of proportion. It isn’t easy but it is making for much more satisfying personal relationships. I continue to need practice. I’m an innate “people pleaser” so it will probably never be easy for me to address issues that are unpleasant or a source of conflict. An awareness now that procrastination only makes it worse usually pushes me in the right direction. As for my tendency to put off a task because I might not do it perfectly or as well as someone else, the older I get the less important this becomes. If someone comes along who points out my imperfection or their ability to do it better, I instead of being hurt, will hand them the mop, the paint brush, or the pencil and tell them to have a go at it. Being best or perfect doesn’t hold the same allure as it once did.
Procrastination is easy. Taking the first step to do something about it is possible and can be life changing. If you want to explore this topic more I would be happy to answer any questions. Two well written books on the topic, Procrastinator’s Guide to Getting Things Done by Dr. Monica Basco and Getting Things Done by David Allen are worth reading.
For those of you not ready to come out of the closet yet there is a great little book calledThe Art of Procrastination by John Perry. I gave it to Tom for his birthday last year. I have a feeling he hasn’t read it yet…….
Think about it.
|