The Procrastination Trap: 6 Reasons why we procrastinate and the tools you need to escape

We have a new word abbreviation in our household – PC.

It isn’t what you are thinking. It does not stand for politically correct or political correctness. It stands for Procrastinator Craig!

PC got its name on the day when my 16 year-old refused to do anything responsible. The first time I asked my teenager if he had completed his homework or his chores he said: I don’t care about that right now, I just want to hang out with my friends.

I understood how he felt. It was a beautiful day, I didn’t necessarily want to be held up in my office either. So I suggested he make a plan so he could do both. Two hours later when it was time for his golf lesson, he still hadn’t started his homework and he hadn’t hung out with friends. Instead he had been sitting on the coach looking at his phone. Now, he didn’t want to go to his golf lesson and was upset that his day was ruined. There was some slamming of doors as he went to get his golf bag in the car and his younger brother said: “There goes the perfect example of a lazy teenager!” (Out of the mouths of babes!) I warned his younger brother, that one day, that lazy teenager could be him. Try and have some grace.

On the way to the golf course, I asked my teenage son if he wanted to talk about what he was feeling. He said he was mad at himself for all the procrastinating he has been doing the last month when he got home from school. He was mad he couldn’t seem to snap out of it. He seemed to be stuck in a procrastination trap.

The procrastination trap my son described is really. Not only for teenagers but for every human begin. There seems to be an abyss between productivity and procrastination. Productivity breeds productivity and procrastination breeds procrastination. Tweet this  Identifying why you procrastinate is the first step towards productivity.

Here are 6 reasons we procrastinate:

1. Stubbornness & Rebellion: Stubbornness and rebellion are about control. Most people do not like to be told what to do. In work, people take control by ignoring their bosses direction and procrastinating to get the job done.
2. Skill: If we lack faith in our ability to begin or complete a task, we will procrastinate.
3. Boredom: We are so wrapped up in the mundane task of today, we forget why we are doing the work. The beginning and the end are what excites you, not the day to day drudgery of work you need to complete.
4. Search for instant gratification: Human instinct drives our need for happiness. We want it and we want it now. Our desires can easily overcome any productive thought with a list of excuses for the play now, work later theory. My son’s story of procrastination was a clear case of desire for instant gratification. He wants all play and no work.
5. Fear of Failure: Once the adrenaline of new beginnings wears off, the fear sets in. The internal dialogue of “what ifs” begins to play. The honeymoon is over and the questions and doubts set in.
6. Fear of Success: It seems strange, but fear of success is real. When you succeed, it changes something about your life.  What people really fear is not success, it is people’s expectations. Tweet this

6 tools to escape procrastination:

1. Look at the outcome you want to achieve instead of your feelings.
2. Collaborate with others to get the skills you need to accomplish the task.
3. Keep a weekly review of your goals – It is important you are reminded how far you have come and where you are going so you don’t get stuck in the middle.
4. Productive people are happy people. Productive people know the truth about fulfilling the instant gratification urge (it doesn’t get you closer to the life you are dreaming of) and are motivated by the experience of living on purpose and achieving their goals.
5. Stare down thoughts of failure with the truth. Remember who you are and who you were created to be. Surround yourself with positive and empowering people who will cheer you on in your endeavors.
6. Stop living for the approval of others. You were not born to live up to others expectations, you were born for greatness. Remember this quote from Jodi Picoult, author of Nineteen Minutes: “If you spent your life concentrating on what everyone else thought of you, would you forget who you really were?

Lastly, productive people are those that know how to play and work. Make sure to plan your days so you are enjoying life in work and in pleasure.

I would love to hear your thoughts on, The Procrastination Trap: 6 reasons why we procrastinate and the tools to escape. Please don’t hesitate to share your stories or comments below.

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In life and leadership,

Angela