Everyone procrastinates now and then, but if it’s a real problem for you, there might be deeper reasons behind it. Here are some of the most common reasons for procrastinating.
Limiting beliefs
Limiting beliefs are sometimes known to hide behind what we call perfectionism. It’s great to want to do something perfectly, as long as it isn’t a hindrance to your productivity or because you’re internally conflicted as to whether or not you can really do it.
You may experience one part of you saying ‘Go for it’, while another little voice lurks around saying ‘Don’t be ridiculous, you’re not good enough to do that!’
Lack of clear goals and direction
Procrastination may be an indication that you don’t really know where you’re going in the grander scheme of things, and how today’s tasks will help you get there.
It might mean that what you do on a daily basis has no direct relevance to your long term goal or dream, or that the links between the two aren’t clear enough.
Lack of focus
Focus tends to slide when your plans for how you’re going to reach your goals and dreams aren’t clear enough.
To overcome this, break your goal down from the big picture to the smaller steps you need to tick off to get to your end result.
Want more articles like this? Check out the time management tips section.
Lack of belief or passion
Are you really into what you’re doing? Or are you spending time doing things that just don’t float your boat?
Could you get someone else to do those tasks so that you can focus on what really drives your passion? Or could you shift your activities around so you spend more time doing what it is you really love?
Overwhelm
Procrastinating becomes common when your To do list is just so long that you don’t know where to start.
Lack of energy or oomph
Are you just a bit too weary or flat to get on with it? Sometimes we have mornings or days where the energy simply doesn’t flow. If it’s a one-off, go and have a doona day to catch up on what’s most likely much needed sleep. Treat yourself to a few super-healthy fruit smoothies to boost your system too.
If procrastinating is not a one-off, you may need to look at your diet or lifestyle to get that much needed energy back.
If there’s nothing more behind your procrastination than a clear-cut case of the can’t-be-bothereds, then sometimes there’s no point battling it. Go and do something else to get yourself refreshed and revitalised for tomorrow.
But if you have a sneaky suspicion that there’s more to it, have a think about what you can do to address the real issues.
Are you guilty of putting off until tomorrow what you can do today? Please share your insights below… and don’t procrastinate over it!
