Procrastination: “It might hurt my productivity if I was organized.”

A client told me recently that she performs best when she procrastinates and scrambles at the last minute. “That’s what I’m used to,” she said. “It might hurt my productivity if I was organized.”

This is true for so many of us. We are familiar, or even dependent, on the hustle of tight deadlines. We know it’s painful, but there’s a beginning, middle, and end to the pain. We know the shape and feel of it, and we don’t know (or want to know) any other way. 

But what is the cumulative effect of this approach? What is the effect of procrastination and the angst this creates (not just for ourselves but for those close to us)? Is the stress something you want consistently, or would you like to try something different?

Imagine if it felt different.

Reflect on an accomplishment from your past when you: 1) had enough time, and 2) created something that made you proud. Perhaps it was a school report, a work presentation, or maybe it was a sandcastle at the beach. Maybe it was this week, or maybe it was in sixth grade. The key is to focus on the feeling, and not necessarily the task. Savor that for a moment. Try to bring back the feeling of this joyful accomplishment. Why did you feel good about this project? What were the circumstances? Who were the people (or lack thereof)? How much control over the project did you have? 

Now, imagine feeling this way about a project you are currently working on. 

While you may not be able to recreate all the feelings of the past project, perhaps there is one small aspect of your approach to help you recreate the feelings you enjoyed. Consider these options:

Can you carve out 20 minutes in the early morning? Can you turn off social media while you are working? Can you join or create an online co-working group? Can you find an accountability partner? There are apps for all of these if you need help, and there are many, many more options.

This is a complicated time, and the complications are likely here for a while. We don’t always have the choices or agency we wish we had. But maybe there is one thing, just one thing, you have control over to start creating a joyful present and future. 

If you make one small change, I’d love to know! 

I help people find new solutions to old problems. How can I help you?