What are you procrastinating?

I had a very interesting session with a client last week where we discussed procrastination. We deep-dived on why we do it and how we can avoid it.

I found it very intriguing. I guess we all procrastinate on something in our lives to some extent, whether it’s temporary or not.

Why do we procrastinate?

I personally love this Ted Talk by Tim Urban that I found several years ago! It’s so funny and enlightening at the same time. I always ask my undergrad students to watch this video (well you know, students lol), and suggest you do too! It’s so worth your 15 minutes.😄

According to Tim, procrastination comes from our internal struggle between seeking immediate pleasure and delayed gratification. Our brain is wired for instant rewards, and it takes conscious effort and strategies to overcome that and get things done.

We can have a healthy relationship with procrastination when we have a deadline, but what if we don’t have one? The thing is, many “personal life projects” are not in deadline, unless we create it.

I also did a bit of further research about procrastination through out the weekend, and found more reasons on why we procrastinate such as:

We simply don’t like the task, it might be boring, overwhelming, or seem difficult.
Perfectionism or anxiety about not doing well or fear of failures
Feeling unsure about where to start or how to approach a task
Underestimate the time a task takes or not well prioritization
It can also be a coping mechanism for negative emotions like anxiety or overwhelm

Sounds familiar?

It is for me! Especially no. 2 and 3. Writing this Monday Break newsletter is something that I procrastinate every week until the very last minute (I suppose I could write it the week before so I can be more relaxed on Monday morning).😆

So, what to do about it?

Well, if you ask ChatGPT or Gemini, there are many ways to avoid procrastination from time management, minimize distraction, set specific goals to self reward. But there’s no one-size-fits all, you want to find the right strategies for you.

My advice is to first develop self-awareness before deciding on your approach. Simply ask yourself these questions:

What important things do you keep procrastinating on?
What is the end goal? What happen if you don’t do it? (look for the bigger picture)
What could be the deadline even if there’s none? (consider the answer from question #2)
How can you stay committed? What or who could support you, how to make it fun or easier? (maybe you need to schedule, prioritize tasks or support from accountability partner)

Feel free to share with me your answer.

My wish for you is that you prioritize the things that truly create the life of your dreams.

And if you ever need my support, I’m here for you. ❤️

You are meant to thrive, and I’ve got your back.

With love,
Inuk

P.S. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I’m fully booked this month! Worry not, registration for From Stuck to Thrive is still open for July & August sessions. Spots for Executive Coaching Program are only available from August, but you can join the waitlist – book your free consultation call. 😉

TRI NURAINI