100 - TO PROCRASTINATE OR NOT TO PROCRASTINATE..?

TO PROCRASTINATE OR NOT TO PROCRASTINATE..?

Welcome today to our 100th anniversary of the Weekly Coaching Tip. Thank you to all of you for subscribing to this tip and sending it on to like-minded people.

To celebrate to 100th WCT I am offering the 2 people who email me with the best idea they have for a coaching tip, a free one-to-one coaching session, either face to face (1.5 hour, worth £90) or by telephone (1 hour, worth £50/$85).

All you have to do is write a tip on something you feel would inspire, benefit or help people. It can be a true story or an exercise you have found to be useful, that other people could benefit from. If it's used you get the free coaching session.

So on with today's tip.

Have you ever found yourself putting something off, that you know, whatever happens, you are going to have to do at some point, and it will probably be more difficult the longer you leave it, but still you don't do it? So you procrastinate. However, there is a difference between putting off a task, sometimes, and leaving things to the last minute, regularly.

Some of the reasons for putting off tasks are:

1. People feel overwhelmed.

This usually happens because we just see a mountainous task before us.

Often all that is required is to break down the tasks into smaller 'bite' sized pieces, which immediately makes it more manageable.

2 "I can't" syndrome

This is when a person is unable to take effective action because s/he believes that they can't do this or if they did it probably will go wrong.

Writing down what is the worst scenario if it did go wrong and then all the benefits if it worked out, can often help to 'loosen' up the thinking around this limiting belief.

3. Perfectionism

When a person feels they can't do something unless it is going to be perfect, they stop themselves doing most things, just in case it doesn't turn out perfectly'. Perfectionism is just another fear.

Taking action and realising that 'perfect' doesn't actually exist, because there will always be someone whose idea of perfect means you are a failure, because you haven't lived up to their idea of 'perfect'.

4. Fear of Failure/Success

Basically fearing failure means the person doesn't truly believe doing the task/goal will lead to success, so avoids it. Fearing success often happens because a person doesn't believe in themself, therefore, if they were to experience success, they believe they couldn't keep up the pace that success would require. The result is the same no action to avoid disappointment.

5. Is it Worth It?

This kind of thinking involves a person believing the end result or reward are not worth the effort so they will find ways to undervalue their own efforts.

Actually getting clear about if it is worth the effort will eliminate this kind of thinking.

6. Labels

This person has 'labelled' him/herself as a 'procrastinator' and believes it is true. We all know about self-fulfilling prophecies, don't we? By living up to the label i.e. failing to take action, will re-inforce the belief.

7. Resentment

A person thinks that something should be done about their situation but somehow feels resentful and frustrated. This creates in them in negative feelings. The feelings are attached to the 'goal' so they are less inclined to do any thing about it.They are in a loop.

Again getting clarity on why they are resentful or frustrated will help break the cycle.

8. Time for you

Sometimes we procrastinate because we are not actually making enough time in our lives for us the 'child' in us that wants to play. So the child gets 'mad' and doesn't allow the adult to do that other 'thing' so the child can have time. A much better idea is to schedule 'play time' in so both the adult and the child are happy.

So there you have some reasons why people procrastinate. In most cases just thinking about why you aren't doing something will help enormously, after that ACTION is the key word.

Even if that means you genuinely do not want that particular goal, at least you won't be procrastinating and you can move on.