Selfgentleness In Action - S3: Procrastination

Is it wrong to procrastinate? We commonly believe it is. But is it? And how can you use selfgentleness to deal with procrastination? Femke discusses in the third session of her Selfgentleness in Action Lives how you can use Selfgentleness to see procrastination from a different perspective. As always, she ends her talk with a guided meditation, so that you can experience for yourself what her words mean to you personally.

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Reviews

While you shared about your writing process (intro first), I found myself reliving an “aha!” moment I had while in university. I also enjoy(ed) writing - I used to consider it my “first language” because it was easier to write my thoughts than speak them 🙂 - but always struggled when it came time to compose papers. While I “occasionally” opted for more enjoyable recreation over the assignments - especially as the deadline caused a sense claustrophobia - I was often mentally processing all that I needed to convey…and likely becoming overwhelmed with all that I didn’t know.
One late night/early morning, though, while pulling an all-nighter to write the paper due in several hours, I noted that the intro alone had taken me seven hours and that there was no way I’d have the paper done in time for class. However, the relief and lightness I felt was unmatched; the paper would be late, but I knew that I could finish it…and that it would be good! Crafting the intro helped create a roadmap - differently than an outline - and clarified the connections I’d been processing.

Sadly, that realization didn’t eliminate my tendency towards anxious procrastination around papers (or tests, or performance in general) , but I did approach them differently. I was more mindful of my thoughts leading up to deadlines, and kept a notebook with me to record random insights in preparation.

I think that this memory, paired with tips you shared - especially the questions at the end - might help me move past a seemingly endless period of paralyzing procrastination. Thank you!🙏