Hot Take! Procrastination Is NOT Laziness!
Mostly Organized Dispatch
Hey Friend,
Did you know it’s Procrastination?
In true fashion, “the exact dates are flexible and can be postponed to a later week“ 😝. Gotta love those wacky fake holidays!
Procrastination gets a bad rap in our productivity-focused world. But really, procrastination is a signal that something is not working or not aligned. It’s not about laziness, and some research suggests procrastination is a form of self-regulation. Basically, the task (or tasks) we’re facing makes us feel uncomfortable, so we distract ourselves for a while to feel better, and our tasks pile up!
So let’s have a look at the potential causes.
We may procrastinate on a task because:
Where aiming for perfection instead of progress - in that case, try doing less or the bare minimum (you’ll get unstuck and progress will be made).
We’re trying to do things a certain way, but maybe this doesn’t work with our brains, and there is an alternative that could make things easier.
We don’t plan for rest - we can’t be locked-in 100 % of the time; that’s not humanly possible, we all need rest.
We feel some resistance or fear - task complexity, dislike the task at hand, fear of failure or success, guilt associated with the task - feel all the feels (they are valid) without judgment and move on.
We think we should - but should we really?
Reflecting on these questions may help you uncover some truths and help you make a plan that works for you.
Speaking of procrastination … I finally gathered all my tax papers. I thought it was going to take forever, but past me updated her stuff monthly (thanks to reminders that pop up on my phone), so I only had a few months to consolidate. Yay me!
But that’s the thing, right?!? I was procrastinating because I thought it would take too long (I had some resistance), but once I started, I realized I already had everything I needed, and it took me less than 90 minutes.
What have you been procrastinating on? Take a tiny step towards that goal today! As always, I have more tips below.
Until next time,
Caroline
Mostly Organized is committed to creating functional and clutter-free spaces that support your lifestyle. Continue reading for more tips.
Mostly Organized in the Wild
Need a little clarity on a project you're working on? I have a cheat sheet for that(aussi disponible en français)!
Tips From A Pro Organizer
🔆 TIP | Decluttering Tip From A Professional Organizer: Play a Game
Gamifying decluttering could bust your procrastination.
There are so many different methods that make it fun and easy to start and want to keep going.
You can check some of these here: Read The Blog Post
📌 HABIT | Small Habit To Help You Get Organized: Use The 2 Minute Rule
Something that’s been helpful to me is the 2-minute rule: If something takes less than 2 minutes, just do it NOW.
Think: sort mail right when I get it; reply to an email that only requires confirmation of receipt; make the bed before I get dressed.
🧩 MINDSET | Clear Your Mind And Get a New Perspective: Mindset and Procrastination
Our brains are malleable, meaning we can, with practice, create new pathways (neuroplasticity). But it’s easier said than done.
That’s where mindset work comes into play.
I’m sharing another video from MuchelleB on How to Get Things Done (When Your Tasks Feel Like Chores. It’s full of ways to adapt the way you think about procrastination and feel more productive, without doing more.
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