Why You Procrastinate (It Has Nothing to Do With Self-Control)
Why You Procrastinate (It Has Nothing to Do With Self-Control)
If procrastination isn’t about laziness, then what is it about?
You know the times where you really want to do something because you know you have to do it, it's important to you and you really do want to do it but you just can't and you end up doing something else which is, either really not important at the moment or stupid or pointless or distracting, like Netflix or getting stuck on an Instagram scroll. But you're not exactly being lazy because lazy implies that you're apathetic. Lazy simply means that you could do it, you just don't want to. The biggest difference between lazy and procrastination is that when you're procrastinating you want to do the task that you're procrastinating but you're experiencing this inability to do it. Research shows that procrastination actually is due to emotional dysregulation. It is due to the need to avoid negative emotions in that particular instance like stress, doubt, guilt and fear.
The key is to recognize why you're procrastinating. It is also to recognize that you are actually procrastinating and not being lazy and in turn to stop beating yourself up and thinking that you're not good enough, because you are enough and you are capable. One of the biggest reasons behind procrastination is perfectionism because you don't believe you can be as good as you want to be. You need to be mindful about your tendencies to be a perfectionist or of being scared of not living up to your standards. I think it's important to remember that anything is and can be a first draft and it can be redone. If it doesn't look good to you on the first try, try again and that failure is only as bad as you make it. Which I know, seems pretentious to say and very easy to say and much much harder to practice but it is possible. Failure is terrifying but at least you're getting something done and if it's worth getting done at then it's worth getting done not perfect.
So whatever you're putting off and avoiding go do that! Figure out what's actually stopping you and tackle it head-on. Good Luck!
Do you recognise when you’re Procrastinating and why? What do you do? Do you have any strategies? Feel free to share your experiences down below :)
Read full article here
#Procratination #NotLazy #EmotionalRegulation #Mindfulness
Well informed. Thank you.
@blueHouse7469 thank you
@zealousGrace5023 When I was in college and even sometimes now, I was (am) such a procrastinator! I think I procrastinate because I don't want to do the task. This was especially with studying. I hated studying, but I only got more stressed when I didn't do it because my exams would creep up on me! When I find myself procrastinating, I like to make small goals for myself and reward myself frequently when I finish that goal. It's important to take breaks too!
@fruityPond7887 I'm a serial procrastinator too although i think mine has more to do with executive dysfunction
Breaking down tasks definitely helps a lot
@zealousGrace5023 Oh yes definitely! Small goals are key!
@fruityPond7887 exactly
@zealousGrace5023
This was a really informative article!!
For myself, I feel like my procrastination can stem from a combination of things: executive dysfunction, fear of failure, and maybe a bit of perfectionism.
Time and therapy have taught me that these three things all correlate to the trauma that I went through. And while it is frustrating, it was also helpful to get that clarity.
@sereneSunset26 i'm glad you got that clarity
i know first hand it takes a lot of time and effort to get to that point
@zealousGrace5023
Thank you!! :)
If you don't mind me asking (and just in general), how long did it take for you to achieve the clarity that you needed for the things that you went through?
@sereneSunset26 I dont know exactly when I recognised the issue but find the root cause did take a good few years of trial and error
all kinda clicked into place after realising i had adhd and how it affected me in so many ways
@zealousGrace5023
Oh, that definitely makes sense!
Two of my best friend also have ADHD, and after going down a YouTube rabbit hole (as well as just talking to the guys themselves), I feel like I have a much better understanding in regards to how their brains operate.
As I've told them, even if my brain seemingly profiles as more neurotypical, I don't feel superior in any way whatsoever 😂.
@sereneSunset26 neither is really superior haha 😂 just different
@zealousGrace5023
I don’t think procrastinating has to do with putting off something you want to do. In my case, it is the complete opposite - putting off something I don’t want to do or something that is a pain to do.
I do agree with the perfectionist mentality - not doing something because you feel it will never be perfect.
There are several house-related chores I’ve put off for years...
@UberRuminator I guess I could've worded that better
I didn't necessarily mean that the task you're avoiding is something you'd love to do and that that's the only case. It's definitely not.
Like incase of boring chores, very few people enjoy those, however, we still want to do them. It's not exactly a need per se because you can technically survive without. You want to do them because it's likely that they are sociologically and personally important to you. So you wanna do them but not in an enjoyable manner.
I do agree with what you're saying and my post doesn't encompass all aspects of putting off tasks i guess.
@zealousGrace5023 I'm trying to get out of my procrastination habit. This article was much needed. Thank you!
@comfortableNight4463 You are welcome and I hop you figure out your way around it
@zealousGrace5023 Thank you!
@comfortableNight4463 you're welcome!