We chatted previously about the habit of busyness: how the fact that your day seems to be more packed into less time than everyone else’s, and the fact that it’s not a good thing. It all comes down to one of three things
- You don’t know how to prioritise
- You can’t say no
- You’re addictively procrastinating.
The greatest gift you can give yourself as a busy person, is self-mastery over these bad habits.
In the first article we addressed prioritising and some practical solutions.
If that – and saying “No” isn’t your challenge, then your problem is procrastination.
It’s pointless wearing procrastination like a Medal of Honour. Sure, the stories around it can make your colleagues laugh, but it is ultimately self-destructive.
Whichever one it is for you, it’s stealing your time and with it, the possibilities of a more fulfilled life.
Here’s the (semi) good news before you beat yourself up: procrastination, unless you understand the root cause, is a little out of your control. The truth behind procrastination is that it is not driven by will, but by emotion. Some people eat, others drink, and others exercise… whatever your choice, we all have a response to emotions and many of us choose procrastination as ours.
Below you will find the six types of procrastinators. Each of them has a thinking pattern influenced by a belief system, that is borne of individual, past experiences.
What to do in this exercise:
Per type, give yourself a score out of five: 5 if it resonates completely and 0 if it’s not you at all. Often your thinking patterns go beyond a single type – and that’s quite normal.
If you rate yourself at 3 or more, then head to the advice on how you can start making changes.
Note: The offered solutions too may not ALL apply – there is no one-size-fits-all. Find what resonates and run with it. Just remember – it’s not meant to be comfortable.
If you’ve been honest with yourself, right now you’ll be squirming a little in your seat. Don’t run away from this: your task after identifying which type you are, is to make a note of the suggested solutions. Pay special attention to those that seem the most difficult – this is, no doubt, where you most need to focus. Even if you choose one – just one – to implement, you’ve taken your first step away from procrastination. I don’t need to tell you how good that will feel, you already know this.
Know that changing behaviour and thinking patterns is not a quick fix. Nothing in life worth fighting for, is. I encourage you to share your actions with a friend or colleague who can check in on you or be called upon when you’re finding yourself stuck.
Needless to say, I would recommend professional help like a therapist, counsellor or Life Coach if this behaviour starts having a negative impact on your life and / or career. Contact me if you’d like to chat about this: paula@chialife.co.za
