Procrastination Much?
(Never! 🤥) We’ve all been there, twiddling our thumbs while the to-do list mocks us from across the room. But fear not, fellow dawdlers! With a sprinkle of self-awareness and a dash of humor, we can navigate the murky waters of procrastination. Buckle up as we dive into the wild rationale behind our delightful delays.
Why do we procrastinate? Research suggests it boils down to some of the following factors:
- Fear of Failure: Some delay tasks to avoid the potential of making mistakes or facing criticism, especially when they feel the work must be perfect.
- Task Overwhelm: Large or complex tasks can feel daunting, leading people to avoid starting altogether.
- Lack of Motivation: When tasks feel tedious or lack personal significance, people tend to put them off.
- Reward Delay: If the rewards of completing a task are distant or unclear, people may prioritize instant gratification over long-term gains.
- Indecisiveness: Difficulty making decisions or clarifying steps can also contribute, as people avoid starting without a clear plan.
Procrastination often results from a blend of these factors, making it a challenging habit to break without addressing root causes. Taking all of these factors into account, here’s a peek at how this often plays out in the legal profession and how we can use this awareness to fix it:
Blame It on Biology, Baby!
First things first, let’s point the finger at the primary perpetrator—biology. Our motivational triad drives us to seek please (hello, Instagram!) and avoid pain (not today, massive project!) even to our own detriment. When faced with a daunting task, our brains whip out their best escape routes faster than you can say “deadline panic.”
In the case of daunting projects, demanding bosses, and frustrating clients, our brain screams, “Run for your life!” But instead of sprinting away, we end up binge-watching cat videos or obsessively scrolling through TikTok. (Because let’s be honest, sprinting really isn’t in my vocabulary these days…)
For my fellow lawyers, some partners and clients might as well be the literal hungry lions of our biological nightmares. When you’re avoiding a project, it’s not just laziness—it’s your inner survival instincts kicking into overdrive. Here’s what that might sound like:
- I’m not going to get this right and she’s going to flip out.
- I don’t know how to figure this out, and he’s probably going to fire me when I mess up.
- I can’t stand working for this client; I can’t trust anything they tell me.
- I’m so nervous, I cannot botch this project.
- Why bother with this project, he always redoes my work anyway because it’s never right.
- I hate working for this partner; I really don’t want to do this.
- This is going to be miserable.
These thoughts set the stage for a fear-fueled procrastination parade.
And just as we start to spiral into the abyss of avoidance, the Procrastination Fairy swoops in with shiny distractions:
- Starbucks has a new latte you need to try!
- Have you checked out your ex-boyfriend’s Facebook page lately?
- You really need to order a dress for new year’s eve to kick off your new year properly!
Ah, yes, the classic lure of instant gratification. Instead of tackling the task at hand, we’re off indulging in endorphin-guzzling activities that make our brains do a happy dance. It’s the ultimate form of self-sabotage—pleasant on the surface, but oh-so-detrimental in the long run.
Deadline Panic
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Just when you’ve bought THE BEST dress for NYE and you think you’ve fully mastered the art of procrastination, the deadline looms ominously on the horizon and crashes the party. Suddenly, all those little fears about failing the project morph into one gigantic fear of not finishing on time and our brains conjure images of:
- SHOUTY CAPS emails raining down like angry meteorites.
- Missed deadlines turn into a career dumpster fire and you sleeping on your parents’ couch for the foreseeable future.
And there you are, scrambling like a headless chicken, trying to finish the project at lightning speed. The result? A chaotic, slapshod, final product that likely misses the mark – or at least partially. Instead of showcasing your brilliance, you end up creating more proof that maybe you aren’t cut out for this, even more reasons for those around you to doubt your abilities, and more reasons for you to fear the next project.
Fear: The Master Puppeteer
All this chaos boils down to one tiny, pesky emotion: fear. We procrastinate to dodge negative feelings, only to let bigger fears kick us into high gear later on. It’s like avoiding a fender bender only to drive off a cliff later on. Not the best strategy for success.
So, how do we break free from this fear-driven procrastination loop? Here are a few tips to try out:
- Treat Your Ears: Listen to my latest podcast exploring perfectionism which, as you can see, is at the heart of our procrastinating ways!
- Embrace B- Work: Accept that sometimes “good enough” is just fine and perhaps DONE really is better than PERFECT in most instances.
- Visualize Success: Picture yourself acing the project and rewarding yourself for your success.
- Break Tasks into Smaller Steps: Large tasks can feel overwhelming. Divide them into smaller, manageable parts to make starting easier.
- Set Short Deadlines: Create immediate, achievable deadlines instead of waiting until the last minute.
- Use the “Two-Minute Rule”: Start a task for just two minutes. Often, this small action reduces resistance to completing it.
- Identify the Root Cause: Recognize if fear of failure, lack of clarity, or motivation is holding you back and address it directly.
- Reward Yourself: Set rewards for completing tasks to boost motivation and create a positive association with getting things done. “I’ll spend 30 minutes checking out this horrible project and then I’ll creep on my ex’s Facebook for a hot minute.” Motivation, entertainment, and positive reinforcement? Yes, please!
- Use Tools for Focus: Apps or techniques like the Pomodoro Technique can help you stay focused and track your time efficiently.
Making gradual changes with these techniques can help build consistency and reduce procrastination.
Fear Not!
At the end of the day, procrastination is just fear in a cute outfit. By recognizing the biological and psychological dance that leads us astray, we can start taking back control.
We have to start getting honest with ourselves about why we are procrastinating to begin with. Once we get to the root of fear, we can ask whether we like that reasoning. Furthermore, we can acknowledge how this story will end if we choose to invest in that fear and go down the Facebook rabbit-hole instead. All of the above tools to combat procrastination only require one thing from you: honesty. Honesty with yourself about your actions and your justifications. From there, all you have to do is ask yourself whether you like your reasons for acting or not acting and make a new, informed, honest choice about your next steps. Those are the choices that will determine the type of person you become — one who procrastinates or one who doesn’t. The choice is ultimately yours and all that matters is whether you are comfortable with your reasoning.
“Following-through is the only thing that separates dreamers from people that accomplish great things.” – Gene Hayden
