By Michelle Nollsch
My Struggles With Procrastination
As the month’s end approaches, I sit here writing my blog. I can feel my anxiety welling up. The topic of procrastination sounded like a great idea to write about. I’m determined to finish earlier than last month. I posted my previous two blogs on the last day of the month! I’ve created a habit that I need to break. By taking baby steps, I can succeed in getting my blog out in a timely fashion. My goal is to work on getting it out there by mid-month. Wish me luck!
I have to admit I have struggled with procrastination most of my adult life for one reason or another. My perfectionism and working under pressure seem to be the main culprits. When I make mistakes, I am very hard on myself. I avoid making mistakes by procrastinating, and the circle jerk begins. It’s a total mind fuck! Understanding why you do something is half the battle. So how do I stop procrastinating?
How To Avoid Procrastination
It’s time to stop riding this hamster wheel shown above. I believe in creating obtainable goals. Usually it’s because I feel overwhelmed so any tools that can help prevent that, I am all for! Here is a list of 5 things I can do to avoid procrastination and stay on track:
- Make a to-do list or task list.
- Take baby steps by breaking the list into smaller steps making it less overwhelming.
- Eliminate distractions such as TV, social media, etc.
- Set a reasonable due date.
- Rewarding myself after completing the goal or task with something I enjoy doing.
I feel this is a good start on breaking the habit of procrastination. In reality, it all stems from our thoughts. Adding to the list above, I can also be mindful of my thoughts. When I sense procrastination creeping in, I can take action and prevent it from going further. That is not to say I won’t procrastinate, but having and using the tools will help. I am human, after all.
Procrastination vs. Laziness
Now just to be clear, procrastination is not laziness. Both are entirely two different concepts. Procrastination is delaying unnecessarily and laziness is unwilling to exert any effort. When I researched this topic, I found an article listing the different types of procrastinators, which I found very interesting! Check out this article “The Four Main Types of Procrastinators and How to Not Be One of Them” and see if it resonates with you in any way.
This will conclude my blog for today. Leave a comment on a topic you would like to know more about for next month. As you know by now, it will be my point of view as I share my personal experience with you regarding that topic. Ta Ta for now! A friendly remember it’s progress, NOT perfection.