The Truth About Procrastination
April 5, 2022
Take a moment to think about an area of your life where you’ve felt stuck for a year or more.
Maybe you’re wrestling with your finances, struggling in a relationship, feeling unsatisfied with your career, or wanting better health.
Chances are, you know that addressing that area of your life would make you feel better, but you just can’t seem to take action or follow through. You feel stuck, and disappointed in yourself for letting things drag on.
The truth is, you’ve been avoiding addressing that area of your life because of something else. And there is no shame in this.
What I mean is - your procrastination is ultimately due to a fear of something - whether it be experiencing a difficult emotion, facing the unknown, or the risk of failure.
Here are a few examples:
You’re not quitting a job that makes you feel unhappy because you’re dreading applying and interviewing for jobs. You worry you’ll get rejected and feel worse than you were to begin with.
Your partner is doing something that is bothering you but you haven’t told them because you’re worried you’ll hurt their feelings.
You’ve been avoiding having a difficult conversation with a direct report at work. You know the conversation will be hard, and tell yourself it’s better to keep the peace and pray their performance improves.
You’ve been wanting to take up running, but never put on your running shoes because you know that when you go for that first run it will be hard.
You’ve found your dream city but decide to hold off on moving to please your family and friends.
As humans, we avoid things all the time. In fact, I can’t think of a single coaching client I’ve worked with in two years who hasn’t avoided making changes in an area of their life where they felt stuck.
Procrastination is one of the most normal human tendencies. Without getting overly scientific, this is because our brains don’t like uncertainty, so we avoid things where we risk failure, discomfort, or a lack of control. We gravitate towards habits, actions, and decisions that make us feel safe - even if it gets in the way of getting what we really want.
To be clear, procrastination is not the same as laziness. Procrastination is a symptom of fear and perfectionism. When you procrastinate something, you are avoiding the fear of something else.
In other words, your avoidance does not indicate your capacity to be successful in that area of your life. Your choice to procrastinate is because you don’t want to go through the process of getting from point A to point B.
The key is knowing the difference between when your self-protection is hindering or helping your wellbeing. If you know, deep down, that the delay is getting in the way of your success, it may be time to make a change.
So - how do we make the shift?
If you are struggling with addressing an area of your life where you know you could benefit from a change, take a moment to reflect on how you’re feeling. Pinpoint what’s underneath your procrastination, and give yourself permission to be human. Then imagine the possibilities of what might be on the other side of your fear.
7 Questions for Addressing Your Procrastination
Why does this feel so hard for me?
What am I fearing in this situation?
Where or when did my fears first originate, and why? Get specific.
What false beliefs about myself or others might I be holding onto in this situation?
If I decided to take action in this area, how could my life change for the better?
Who can I recruit to help me make this change?
What is one courageous action I will choose this week to take a step forward?
Remember that addressing your fears, practicing self-compassion, and then choosing to start what you've been avoiding is the key to unlocking your potential. The first step we take is often the hardest, but leads to more courageous action in the future.
