First, consider whether a task is important to you before you beat yourself up for not completing it, and continue to try to figure out how to "just get it done.
" Perhaps, you could decide not to do it.
It is your choice...
So, what are the reasons that you may have for putting off tasks that really are important to you? That is, you really do value the outcome, but are still procrastinating.
Let's take a look.
My hope is that once you have identified what is important to you, as well as the reasons that you delay your work, you will be able to address your procrastination in order to move forward.
So, here are some possible reasons: 1.
You fear that you will not be able to complete the task in a satisfactory manner either because of perfectionist tendencies or feelings of incompetence.
We know that if you never try, you will never fail.
The converse, while obvious, is worth pointing out, too.
If you do not try, you will not succeed.
2.
Feeling overwhelmed may lead you to put aside a task, rather than choose to figure out how you can find the time.
In this case, you may be in a reactive mode, just doing what is in front of you.
3.
You may not know how to approach a task or find the resources to help you figure out what to do.
In this instance, you may feel stuck.
4.
Quite possibly, you do know how to do a particular task, but you also know that it will be difficult.
In the short term, you may feel it is more satisfactory to spend your time on an easier task.
5.
You could be angry at a person, such as a spouse or a boss, who also wants the tasks completed.
You may be deciding not to do it to spite the other person.
6.
Though the outcome of an entire undertaking may have value for you, perhaps, a particular part of it does not appeal to you.
So, the whole undertaking may come to a halt because a piece of it does not spark your interest.
7.
This may sound strange, but you could actually fear success! Success may lead to a variety of changes in your life, as well as a potential change in the expectations that you and others have for your performance.
This change in the status quo, though positive, can be scary.
You now have to figure out how to adapt to this change, and you may even question whether you can replicate this success.
Of course, if you put it off, you do not have to change.
I, however, am a fan of change, if it leads to growth.
In this spirit, I offer you an optional exercise to help digest the above material.
Choose a specific task that you are putting off.
Using that example, complete the following sentences: 1.
Completing this task is important to me because 2.
I am delaying doing this task because (see above) 3.
Delaying this task is a disservice to me because 4.
If I complete this task, I will feel Hopefully, this exercise will help you to shed light on procrastination in your life.