Feel like you’re stuck in a cycle of procrastination because you’re just lazy? Think again.
Today, let’s dive into the surprising reasons behind your procrastination habits.
Do you have the “too-long to-do list” syndrome?
Do you keep telling yourself you’ll tackle those pending items…
Maybe next month?
Maybe next week?
Maybe even tomorrow?
But tomorrow is just like today – what stops you from getting to it today?
Why don’t you ‘just do it’ when you KNOW it’s in your best interest to do so?
Are you just plain lazy?!
If you’re feeling lazy, then a few of these things could be happening:
- You CAN’T do the task because you get distracted. – Fix your focus triggers.
- You don’t WANT to do the task – Delegate it to someone else and find better tasks that you care enough about.
- You don’t want to do the task NOW – Take it off your list and schedule the task on your calendar. You do it then or it’s off your list.
If NONE of the above applies in your case, let me tell you…
You’re not lazy.
You are just… AFRAID.
Fear #1 – What if you try and FAIL?
If you keep postponing the project and it doesn’t go well – You messed up because you kept delaying it.
If you deliver the project on time but it still doesn’t go well – Now you just feel stupid.
Fear #2 – What if you try and SUCCEED?
If you finish the project on time and do well – you start to worry about others expecting more from you.
You will feel pressured to handle more, or worse, you will feel like an imposter.
STOP.
If you realize that your procrastination is FEAR-based:
- Break down tasks into smaller, manageable chunks.
- Identify gaps in your competence and up-skill yourself.
- Seek a mentor and/or an accountability buddy.
Meeting or falling short of expectations, success or failure, it’s all part of the journey.
There’s a lesson to be learned at every step of the process.
Remember, procrastination can be a form of self-protection.
So, when you realize this is what’s happening to you…
Don’t be too hard on yourself.
Turn your to-do list into play.
Experiment. Learn.
Move on.
Quick Tips for Leaders:
- WEEKLY: Ask your employees one thing they learned last week to focus on progress over results.
- MONTHLY: Host a ‘back-burner meeting’ to eliminate, re-energize, or delegate pending items for the team.
- QUARTERLY: Encourage employees to create and follow development plans aiming to close at least one skill gap each quarter.
