Ways Of Dealing With Procrastination At Work

Procrastination is really about our thinking about the task and ourselves. It is not usually about being lazy or bored.

An introduction to this topic and suggestions about how to deal with procrastination.

Transcript

I'm Lindsay Carr. For almost 20 years I've been helping people who want to make a job or career change. All my work is underpinned by my understanding of the three principles, A spiritual understanding of how humans and life works. We can all have times when we find it hard to get on with a task. We procrastinate. What I've come to see about procrastination is that it involves a lot of thinking about said task and about ourselves. Many clients use the word lazy to describe themselves as the reason they procrastinate. I don't believe that. Human beings aren't lazy by nature. In my experience putting something off is to do with having a whole lot of thinking about it. Maybe we're worried we can't make a good job of it. We think it's above our capability. We don't think we'll find it interesting. We tell ourselves we haven't got enough time to start it. We're too tired. We don't see why we should do it etc etc. It's amazing how many other things we can find to do in place. I've often got through a lot of housework for example when I'm putting off doing something. It's easy to come up with reasons why we don't want to do the task. They sound plausible to our mind and ego but deep down we know we're making excuses and there is really something else going on. In my experience the other thing is usually fear. So what have I found to be useful strategies for when I'm putting something off? Getting quiet with myself. For me it's about finding somewhere quiet and asking myself what's really going on here. This is when I usually find out I have some fear around the task or thoughts related to it. It's a chance for me to listen to myself without judgment only from a place of love reminding myself this is all just thought and as thought it has no power to frighten me. Once I've given myself this I can often just get on with the task. What I notice is how different doing the task now feels. Another strategy is to leave the task alone and come back to it another time. Sometimes I'm just more excited about doing something else instead. I don't want to push through and I don't have to. Pushing through takes willpower which is short-lived and depletes energy. What I find is that without that pressure I can relax. I may just have a short break example to wash up or to have a cup in my garden and then get on with the task I've been putting off. I may come back to it another day. What I notice is how different doing the task now feels. We feel all our thoughts. A change of thought therefore brings a new feeling. You may notice these suggestions are not about forcing or blaming. They are about communicating with myself, Accepting and loving myself at a deep level. I'd love to know how you deal with procrastination and what you think about my suggestions.

Reviews

This is helpful. It isn’t always possible to put off a task if I’m on a deadline, but even just a few minutes of space to change how I’m feeling can shift things. Thank you.

Helpful approaches for dealing with procrastination. Like you, I usually take time to ask myself what's getting in the way ... And allow the answers to show up - sitting quietly, or out on a walk can also help!

Very useful suggestions and reminders about procrastination. Ah yes !! It can change how we feel about doing a task. Thank you 🙏🏻

Love the approach of getting quiet and listening to oneself.