How often do you put off a task and tell yourself you’ll “do it tomorrow,” ... or the next day or the next ... but don't? Procrastination is one of the
most common struggles I see, whether it's in business, leadership or just in people's personal lives.
It’s not really about laziness or a lack of discipline either. More usually there's something else going on that causes people to procrastinate.
- Fear of
failure - “I might get it wrong, so I won't even start.”
- Overwhelm - The task feels too big, so you leave it ... for now.
- Perfectionism - Waiting for the 'right' time to do it ‘perfectly'.
- Low energy or poor focus - When you’re emotionally or physically exhausted or feeling stressed even small tasks feel
too much.
The problem isn’t just the delay, not only are you not getting the task done but it's still there on your list reminding you, niggling away in the back of your mind.
What It's Costing You
When you put things off,
it’s rarely the task that’s the problem, it’s what you're attaching to it in terms of mental and emotional energy.
You feel guilty or frustrated not doing it, which can be more draining than actually getting on with it (JFDI)! The longer you put it off, the worse it becomes in your mind and the more you
put it off.
You get to the end of the day and feel worn out even though you haven’t ticked half the things off your list. You’re stressed and frustrated knowing what you could have done, if you hadn't kept putting things off.
There can be a real financial cost too. You put off paying a bill or cancelling a booking or subscription, and then it's too late and you've missed the deadline and paid the penalty, or lost out on an opportunity because you didn't respond in time.
Break The Resistance
There are a few practical things you can do to make it easier to get going, even when you're feeling overwhelmed and unfocused.
- Identify the reason - what is it your putting off and why? Writing it down can help create perspective and clarify what you need to get moving again.
- Break it down - Instead of a large task
... “write a report”, break it down to “create an outline” ... "draft out the key points".
- Set a time limit - Give yourself 10 minutes. It reduces the resistance, gets you started and builds momentum. Once you start, you can't stop! Or you say "phew, it was only 10 minutes" but you made a start.
- Change your environment - A different space can help reset your focus
away from your usual distractions and excuses.
- Resist perfectionism - Making progress matters more than creating the perfect final product. When time is not on your side you don't have the luxury of being 'perfect'.
- Share your intentions - Telling someone else what you plan to do will not only boost your commitment to actually do it but also makes it harder to
back out or let it slip.
Even when you don't feel like it, taking one small step in the right direction gets you moving forward and reduces that draining cycle of putting it off day after day.
Procrastination In Teams
If
you're in a leadership role, learn to recognise the signs of procrastination in your team and where they might be struggling.
Deadlines might slip but rather than assuming they're not being productive, it might be a sign they're stuck, through fear, overwhelm, not clear about the direction or outcome, or a
lack of resources.
You can make a difference and support your team by:
- Setting clear priorities so the outcome is obvious and they fully understand it.
- Breaking larger projects into smaller, more manageable
actions.
- Encouraging progress over perfection.
- Avoid micro-managing or allocating blame, focus on giving them ownership and responsibility.
When they feel listened to and supported, with clear direction, they're far more likely to move forward with greater confidence.
It's Not All Bad!
Procrastination doesn’t mean you’re being unproductive or incapable. We all do it. Yes, me included. What it does mean is that something else is going on and understanding what that is and how to deal with it means you can then move forward.
When you have the right tools and strategies in place, it's easier to recognise why you put things off, where you're getting stuck and have a way to deal with it.
And, there's also a good reason
to procrastinate! I'll tell you what it is, and much more, on this month's webinar. 👇
