If you’re aware that you tend to procrastinate, you probably already know it’s a good idea to take care of tasks right away rather than wait, but somehow you keep “putting things off.” Still, procrastinating is attractive for many reasons.
- You can’t find the “right place” to start. If so, start anywhere because somewhere is better than nowhere.
- Perfectionism is holding you back. This is because you’re waiting to no longer feel anxious about the outcome.
- Sustained effort can be hard! Remember: Waiting can make things even harder.
- It’s difficult to get started unless you feel pressured to finish on time. But there are other ways to get “amped up” enough to start performing.
- You think you’ll have more time “later.” But an “ideal time” seldom arrives. If you play these mind games with yourself, check out the mind-body ABCs.
- You feel overwhelmed by your specific task. Can you look at this “threat” as more of a “challenge” instead? Doing so can help you feel excited rather than anxious.
Does procrastinating help—or hurt—your efforts to get things done? Ignoring problems typically makes things worse. So, step up and tackle your to-do list. Use some of the tips laid out here, and consider the obstacles to engaging a new approach. Then develop action plans to overcome those obstacles. It’s helpful to use all of these strategies, but remember that even using some strategies can be useful too.