Why Are You Procrastinating?

Why are you procrastinating?

 

When I came across this question in my latest research on procrastination, I paused for a moment, realizing I had never thought to ask myself of why I was procrastinating with something.

 

I always summed up procrastination to being just a bad habit. And I still agree that it is a bad habit that needs to be broken and worked on, but getting to the root of why we are procrastinating in the first place intrigued me.

 

I thought over the possible reasons why I personally procrastinate. And I came up with reasons I had no idea were holding me back.

 

Reasons we procrastinate can include the following:  having abstract goals, the reward is far off in the future, feeling overwhelmed, anxiety, depression, fear of failure.. and this list definitely can go on and on.

 

Why we procrastinate can be answered as we look at each individual situation where we are procrastinating, and choose to dive into what is keeping us from accomplishing that goal, project, or activity.

 

The reason we procrastinate with doing the dishes, for example, versus the reason we are not getting our workout in could be different.

 

If we put out there in general why we procrastinate, then we could be avoiding the harder issues we are not facing. 

 

You not doing the dishes has nothing in common with your fear of failure with a work project. This avoidance of a chore could easily fall into a habit you created with procrastination, while the work project is another deeper issue altogether.

 

As you go throughout your week, I encourage you to ask yourself why you are procrastinating with each task you find yourself delaying to do. 

 

Process your answers and allow yourself time to figure out what is truly holding you back. 

 

Once you discover the problem or problems, then you can create a plan to work on them and move forward. 

 

Photo by Magnet.me on Unsplash

 

 

4 Replies to “Why Are You Procrastinating?”

  1. Amanda! This was great!
    I’m a list maker, I prioritize things on both my personal and business list, but I have gotten WORSE at procrastinating. Upon reflection I realized I procrastinate on the items that require me to do extra work, like search for and download forms, look for documentation, and things that cause me to have to change something I already set-up. It has gotten 100% worse after my mom passed in May.
    In my business I sometimes act as an accountability partner. What do you do when an accountability partner NEEDS AN accountability partner? ugh

    Tell Josh I said hello!

    1. Saa’dia!! Hello! I’ll tell Josh you say hello :). Thanks for commenting and watching and so happy this encourages you. I think you being aware of what is causing you to procrastinate is sooo good.. and the loss of your mother (sorry about her passing), definitely is grief showing up as procrastination. And what to do when an accountability partner for others needs an accountability partner?? Well.. find an accountability partner for themselves till things get better is my answer to that one. Maybe someone outside of your work place. Miss you!

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