“Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?” Wait a minute, that’s not how the saying goes.
Are you a procrastinator? If you are, there are a number of possible reasons and consequences when you do. For example, a student who procrastinates rather than working on a big project or studying for a final exam may have difficulty passing their classes. In the workplace, procrastination may mean that you’re unable to meet your deadlines, which could result in limited opportunities or even possible termination. Procrastination can also lead to serious medical issues. If you ignore certain symptoms and put off going to the doctor, your health may suffer.
Small issues always have a way of becoming bigger ones if you fail to acknowledge them.
Here are 4 reasons why we procrastinate and what we can do about it to get the right things done:
We procrastinate because we are comfortable when things are easy. Procrastinators make excuses and fail to do those things that they really don’t have to work hard to accomplish. This false sense of confidence blinds them to the concept of how much time is needed to do everything else they are responsible for. Easy tasks can become a heavy burden whenever we must rush. If the task is easy to do, that also means that it is easy to not do.
We procrastinate because some force (the environment, the economy, the expectations of others, etc.) make us uncomfortable. Challenges and adversity test our ability to adapt and shift our mindset and behaviors. The real challenge is to weigh the cost of remaining comfortable when a paradigm shift is needed and expected. Know the benefits of being uncomfortable and believe the action needed is worth it.
We procrastinate because we become overwhelmed with too many options, ideas, and opportunities. The best way to overcome this is to prioritize the most important outcome or result that we want and work to that with urgency. You can do all things, but you were not called to do all things at the same time.
We procrastinate because we are out of alignment with what we really want. If someone was to ask you, “What do you really want?” would you know how to respond? Would you have to ask for more time to think about it? The more time that you need to think about it, the greater the indication that you’re out of alignment. Now, everything that you do doesn’t have to be about you, but in order for you to be the best version of yourself, you need to be in alignment with what you want. When you are in alignment, it improves your motivation to act, or as some will say, that you are “motivated.” Your motivation will destroy your procrastination.
Of course, these ideas are only helpful if you’re willing to implement them as soon as possible. Let’s simplify our lives by overcoming procrastination and getting the right things done now!
The Blue Hen team has decades of experience helping organizations succeed. Reach out to us today to learn how we can help you win. Behind every champion there’s a Blue Hen.