Procrastination – The Thief of Time

I used to be a procrastinator. Whether doing homework, studying for exams, finishing a work report, or writing jokes, I fooled myself into believing “I work best under pressure”.

I know now, that’s just not true. Leaving things for the last minute, putting off the inevitable, or scrambling to meet deadlines is not healthy, sustainable nor an effective use of anyone’s time.

The negative outcomes of procrastination can include:

  • Increased stress levels leading to health problems
  • Damaged reputation when deadlines are missed, and/or work is of inferior quality
  • Feelings of guilt and shame for not meeting expectations

We know these outcomes are possible, yet we still procrastinate. Why?

For me, the first step to overcoming my procrastination was understanding the cause. Through 1:1 coaching and deep self-reflection, I discovered that my procrastination is directly tied to my need for perfectionism. Over the course of my life, I developed an unrealistic expectation of myself to be perfect and do everything perfectly. The fear of not being able to deliver on this self-imposed expectation resulted in me putting things off.

Another interesting discovery was that I don’t procrastinate in all situations. It’s when I am unsure of the desired outcome, or when I don’t know what to do that I procrastinate. I rationalized this by thinking: “if I don’t do it, I can’t fail, and I’ll still be perfect”.  Understanding this has been a game changer. Now, at the first hint of me putting things off, I ask myself:

  • What are you unsure of?
  • Who can you ask?

And then I get the help I need. This could be asking for clarification on what needs to be done or having them show me how to do it.

There are many factors that could lead to procrastination, and it will be different for everyone. Possible reasons for putting off doing something could be:

  • I don’t like doing this
  • This doesn’t align with my goals or values
  • I don’t want to fail
  • It’s too hard
  • It takes too long

Figuring out the underlying cause of your own procrastination can help you to develop strategies to proactively deal with it, and the positive outcomes are well worth the effort. Do it now!

Kwela offers 1:1 coaching and workshops on both Time Management (Get Organized) and Stress Management.

Helen Schneiderman, Partner
helens@kwelaleadership.com