Do you put the pro in procrastination?

​Anyone else working through Aotearoa’s Level 4 Lockdown Round 2, The 2021 Edition, and struggling to find the motivation to do the things? Here’s where today’s creativity got funnelled – into researching procrastination, what it is, why we do it, and a lot more.
 
The research started here on Urban Dictionary, which tickled the funny bone …

It then lead into a few other amusing definitions on there, and then eventually took me to a website called procrastination.com, which helped get the focus back to what this researching was all about.
 
Their ‘in ya face’ definition is the first thing you see …
 
Procrastination definition:
Trouble persuading yourself to do the things you should do or would like to do.
When you procrastinate, instead of working on important, meaningful tasks, you find yourself performing trivial activities.
 
Pro-crastinus
= (lat.) belonging to tomorrow
 
Procrastination
= putting things off intentionally or habitually
 
Their site is a goodie and really pitches procrastination as the baddie keeping us from living our best lives.
​Dramatic! But also insightful and it can be, if we’re allowing it to ride roughshod over how we move through each day.

Image source: https://procrastination.com/what-is-procrastination

If you’re someone who’s interested in knowing more about procrastination or working on reducing this then go check out their site. For now, we’re focusing in on how to quickly get a read on your style of procrastination, and how to manage it so it’s not getting in the way of the good stuff, especially now as we could all do with more of good vibes! 

Business Insider shares some intel from Aussie ladies Ali Schiller and Marissa Boisvert of Accountability Works, who say there are four types of procrastinator. Below is a wrap up of the four types and my interpretation of how to manage yourself if you identify with one of these types.
 
They say that there are "four main types of avoidance archetypes, or procrastinators: the performer, the self-deprecator, the overbooker, and the novelty seeker".

1. Performers need a deadline so flip it create the kick off time and tick that box. This quote is so relevant for this group - “Procrastination taught me how to do 30 minutes of work in 8 hours and 8 hours of work in 30 minutes.” Source unknown 
2. Self-Deprecators push on and on, their word is everything and they cane themselves when they don’t deliver. So they are relentless with themselves, leading to less productivity. They can do better by allowing rest, down time and creative time. And remember it’s okay to move the deadlines that need moving. 
3. Over-bookers like to fill all the empty space – some of us naturally work well like this, other times we use this as an excuse to avoid feeling the feelings, thinking the hard things, doing the tough mahi. If you’re feeling like your sprinting a marathon, they say to ask ‘What am I really avoiding?” Oooof.
4. Novelty Seekers are the quintessential shiny-object chasers – they’re always seeking the next thing, they’re fire starters, and rare finishers so use this to shift their focus onto the next thing instead of applying effort to complete what they’re working on, resulting in a big ol’ ball of half-started projects. Finding a way to capture new ideas and allow time to be creative, and to dig deep and completed the started actions is important.

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“If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it.”— Olin Miller

I agree that generally we likely fall into these four categories.
 
I also think there are just some days where our CBF meter is off the charts and we’re finding everything possible to do other than the things we have on the list.
 
Dunno about you but some days working from home, my house is cleaner, shinier and better vaccumed than ever as I would rather do that (and I hate vacuuming!) than read a 200 page Board pack, or call that customer. Some days we’re lost in an insta-black hole looking at pics of the babies of the Kardashians  (okay this was absolutely me yesterday morning!) as that’s so much more enjoyable than sitting upright dealing with an overloaded inbox. We’re chasing fun, feel good, enjoyment instead of the hard yakka tasks.
 
This suggests there are a couple of things to consider:

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Firstly – how are you REALLY? Some days we do just need a break, we don’t have the fuel to do the work. So we need to stop completely or keep it light. Lockdown has a weird way of affecting us all differently and each day can feel like a whole new range of emotions, so go easy on yourself. We need to tune into ourselves and do what we need to do. It’s okay to take a morning off or a day off.

​When did you last have a holiday? Are you struggling with work, study, life or family pressures? If you had a migraine or sprained wrist, you’d rest up and we need to do the same when we’re not feeling great emotionally or mentally too. The cost of not doing that is much bigger and creates long term burnout and damage.

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​Secondly – if you’re really okay, what’s got you stuck? Is it a case of overwhelm where you don’t know where to start, or the task is massive and overwhelming and you’re stuck, or you’re full of fear and frozen? For all of these, the best course of action is:
 
1.Brain dump all the worries. Get a new word doc, note or page and write them all down. Big, small and everything in between.
2.Play them out – do the “what if this happens” best case AND worst case.
3.Now get into the details – what needs to happen to get the thing done? List all the actions, sections, tasks, decisions.
4.Choose a task or action that feels interesting or manageable.
5.Do that.
6.High five yourself, have a mini dance party, send a hot pic to your partner, stretch, or whatever else feels good.
7.Repeat!

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​Thirdly – if you’re feeling okay, you know you just need to get with it, then, sorry fam, it’s about that super unsexy yet important word – discipline. JFDI. (Just &*^%ing do it). Crack on!

Make it fun - if you need with scheduled breaks and rewards, but start and push on for a chunk of time. Maybe it’s a 45 min push and 5 mins of Tiktoks. 120 mins of work then a slow stroll in the sun. Whatever works for you.

​The first few minutes of discipline are hard, resisting the urge to move onto something more enjoyable or easier is hard, but that feeling at the end of the day, knowing you’ve done the doing on the right things, that’s so worth it.

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​“Procrastination is like a credit card: it’s a lot fun until you get the bill.”
— Christopher Parker

​Now, that thing you know you’re putting off? Give it your best for the next 30 mins.
J F D I !