procrastination
/prə(ʊ)ˌkrastɪˈneɪʃ(ə)n/
(noun) the action of delaying or postponing something.
Amit wakes up with a feeling of dread. Even before his mind can tell him what is wrong, he can feel anxiety and guilt start to overpower him. Then it registers. He’s woken up late! Yet again!!
He was supposed to wake up at 6:00 AM, do his yoga, meditate, get a few chores done, and get started with work at 8:30 AM. Instead, here he was, staring at the hands of the clock insisting that it was 8:30 AM, and feeling miserable.
“I have ruined the day before it even started!!” he moans.
Trying to salvage the rest of his day, he quickly brushes his teeth, rushes through part of his morning routine, and sits down at his desk at 10:00 AM. As he starts wondering what tasks he needs to get done during the day, his mind comes up with one really important task.
As soon as he gets ready to work on the first task, his mind reminds him about the deadline for sending in suggestions for his team meeting. So he closes the file he had opened and goes on to open his email. And before he can get to the email with the attachment he is looking for, he is greeted by a deluge of new, unread emails waiting to be opened. His heart beats faster, his breath gets quicker, and despite the cool morning, his palms get clammy with perspiration.
The Spiral of Self-Talk
As he tries to quickly skim through the unread emails, his mind keeps reminding him that he is already behind with the things he’s supposed to get done today. It simultaneously points out that had he woken up on time, he would have been done with at least two of these tasks.
Once again, he experiences a surge of hopelessness. Guilt and shame wash through him. He gives into the routine of berating himself, thinking of all the times he has done this before, and hears his mind say things like:
“Who are you trying to fool? You know very well that this is who you really are—this lazy, undisciplined, good-for-nothing failure who is never going to amount to much! Stop telling yourself that you will somehow turn a new leaf, become disciplined overnight, and transform into the epitome of efficiency. Just accept that this is never going to change.”
Inexplicably, Amit feels exhausted. He turns to his phone and thoughtlessly opens up Instagram. He scrolls down thinking that he will just check out a couple of posts. But the next time he looks at the clock, it is already 12:00 noon. Feeling totally dejected, he decides to have some snacks and polishes off a large packet of wafers in no time. He spends the rest of the day feeling lethargic and getting very little done.
The Real Root of the Problem
Does all this sound familiar? If it does, you are not alone. Even the most capable and intelligent people experience this every once in a while, and more people than you could imagine deal with this regularly.
But let’s take a closer look at what’s going on here. If you are thinking that the issue is Amit’s habit of waking up late, you are wrong. That is not the primary issue.
While good sleep habits are important and need to be managed, life will invariably throw you curveballs that will disrupt your plan one way or the other. In this case, waking up late led to Amit losing about an hour of personal preparation time and 90 minutes of work time, which totals 150 minutes. If he had gone on to use the rest of the day well, he would have lost only about 2.5 hours of productive time.
But the issue was that anxiety, guilt, and shame overpowered him and made it impossible for him to utilise the rest of his time. He lost over 5 hours instead of 2.5.
The biggest problem in most situations is not the interruption of plans, but our inability to manage our self-talk and the resultant anxiety. Here are 3 simple steps you can take to overcome anxiety-induced procrastination.
3 Simple Steps To Overcome Anxiety Induced Procrastination
- Identify Three Top Tasks for the Next Day: Before you finish for the day, write down the things that you’d like to get done the next day. Now, circle the three most important things on the list.
- Be Specific: Instead of writing “Get started on the report,” you could write “Have the first draft of the report ready.” * Rank and Estimate: Rank them in the order you’d like to get them done and write down an approximate amount of time you expect each task to take.
When you are ready to start in the morning, your mind is in action mode. If you give it the job of deciding what to do, it takes up precious energy and working memory space, leaving very little focus to actually get the job done. However, at the end of the day when your mind is still in work mode, it is far easier to plan. The next morning, you can channel all your enthusiasm straight into execution.
- Tackle the Anxiety Head-On: If things aren’t panning out the way you planned them to, take a few minutes to become aware of the self-talk trying to thrash you. Acknowledge the need behind the anxiety: the need to get things done.
- Ground Yourself: Focus on your breath for a few minutes. Remind yourself that plans getting waylaid is a common occurrence. Ditch the “All or Nothing” thinking.
- Schedule “Worry Time”: If you were to stay calm, you could still achieve a big part of what you set out to do. If you notice the anxiety reappearing, schedule 30 minutes of “worry time” towards the evening—a slot of time where you give free rein to your anxiety. Each time anxious thoughts return during the day, remind your mind that you will do the worrying during the allocated half-hour, not before or after.
- Time Your Tasks and Take Breaks: Look at your task list and start with Task No. 1, with a timer set to 30 minutes by your side.
- Manage Distractions: If your mind comes up with distractive thoughts while you are at the task, note the thought down in a physical or digital notepad so you can look at it later.
- Handle Interruptions: Getting a phone call? Send a text that you will call them back in half an hour. Reminded of an email response? Jot down a reminder and get back to the task.
- The 30/5 Rule: When you have put in a solid half-hour of focus, take a 5-minute break. Do any quick calls or messaging from your notepad list, then get back to working for another 30 minutes with a timer. This will help your mind remain super focused.
You Are Not Lazy
Whether you are a working professional, a student, a consultant, a homemaker, or an entrepreneur, these steps are applicable to you. Procrastination is not caused by laziness; rather, it is the mind’s way of coping with increasing anxiety.
The steps above are healthier ways to overcome anxiety-induced procrastination, making it possible to take action and progress toward your goals.
We hope this article on 3 simple ways to overcome anxiety-induced procrastination helps you! Do let us know your thoughts in the comments below. For more articles like this, check out Healthy Reads.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Is procrastination a sign of laziness?
No, procrastination is rarely about laziness. It is usually the mind’s way of coping with increasing anxiety, overwhelm, or negative self-talk. When a task feels daunting or when plans go wrong, the brain seeks immediate relief from the negative emotions by avoiding the task altogether. - How can I stop procrastinating when I feel anxious?
The best way to stop is to ground yourself and structure your time. Acknowledge your anxious thoughts, ditch “all or nothing” thinking, and break your work into 30-minute timed intervals with 5-minute breaks. Keep a notepad nearby to jot down any distracting thoughts so you can address them later. - Why should I plan my tasks the night before?
In the morning, your brain is ready for execution. If you force it to decide what to do, you drain precious mental energy and working memory. By picking your top three specific tasks the night before, you allow your morning brain to dive straight into action without decision fatigue.
#BeTheForce
Disclaimer: The content provided in this blog is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional medical or mental health advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Everyone’s mental health journey is unique. Always consult with a qualified mental health professional, therapist, or healthcare provider before making significant changes to your wellness routine or if you are struggling with severe anxiety, depression, or chronic procrastination.
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