You Might Be a Procrastinator If… (Pt I)
I don’t know about you, but I am a procrastinator. I know and I accept it. I would imagine that we all procrastinate.
Do you turn off the alarm to snuggle back under the covers for another 10 minutes?
What about putting off going to bed because you want to do one or two more things that excite you more than getting proper rest?
What about surfing the Internet when you should write an article, report, or paper?
These things are procrastination–the act of putting things off habitually or intentionally (m-w.com) — at its core.
Some forms of procrastination can set you back if you aren’t aware of it. When you know the signs of excessive procrastination, you can identify it, recognize it, and eliminate it before it adversely affects your life.
1. Goals not well thought out — Intentional, well-thought-out goals will keep you on the path to success. Include actual daily steps that will get you where you want to go.
2. Unrealistic goals–Your subconscious mind knows when your goals are not realistic, and it takes steps to avoid acting. Make realistic goals that include doable actions necessary to get you to your end result. You’ll feel more enthusiastic about your day.
3. Inability to Focus — If your mind won’t allow you to focus when you’re trying to do things, this could mean your goals and actions become disorganized. Or you may become distracted. Eliminate as many distractions as you can in order to regain your focus. As human beings, we cannot multitask. We can’t concentrate on more than one thing at a time.
4. You Feel Overwhelmed — You may have taken on too much. This can cause you to put things off. I experience feelings of overwhelm when I have to manage my writing business, my autistic son’s activities, and the things my elderly parents need (which can range from multiple appointments to paying bills — yes, they still pay some bills the old-fashioned way). Space out activities, so things run smoothly, and everybody is happy. When these activities clash is when issues arise, and tempers rise. Evaluate your schedule and remove the things you don’t absolutely need to do and manage everything else. If you can prioritize your to-do list, that helps greatly.
5. You harbor negative beliefs — To avoid procrastination, believe in yourself and what you’re trying to accomplish. You also have to speak up for yourself. This keeps you from accepting tasks that don’t meet your goals. Negativity impedes action-taking. The moment you recognize you’re procrastinating because of negative beliefs, try flipping those negative thoughts on their head. For instance, instead of saying “I get nothing done,” say something like Yes, it seems like I get nothing done but I wrote 1000 words yesterday.
There are many things that cause us to put things off. In part two, we’re going to look at six more ways you might be a procrastinator. Stay tuned.
Patricia “Pat” Bumpass is a ghostwriter, self-care advocate, author, and parent coach. She encourages and empowers women and parents with special needs kids to love themselves. Pat is North Carolina “born and bred” and loves coffee — hot or iced. You will often hear her say, “Twertles make me happy.” :-) Join my newsletter at www.patriciabumpass.com.
