I guess many wouldn't know but I usually write when
I’m down and my words are not only words to uplift others but they are like my
inner voice penning a letter to myself. Today I want to touch on a personal
obstacle and that is procrastination.
I will raise my hand the highest and say
laziness, is a skill of mine. I put things off, until the last milli second and
for those who can relate. At first you chill out because you think “it’ll get
done”, then time begins to move, the last minute arrives and then panic sets
in, then the disbelief sets in, then the acceptance that you will fail sets in,
then the ultimate “give up” thoughts conclude in your mind and then finally you beat
yourself up because you had all that time to prepare.
I bet your nodding in
agreement. I cannot count the amount of times I've experienced these emotions
and to be honest they are more draining and more agonising than actually using
that same brain power to get the task done on time, however I’m not going to
focus on putting myself or anyone down, instead I want to look at the root
causes that may be the catalyst for this.
So while I was in the bath, I had an
epiphany, I realised that perhaps procrastination doesn't always come from
stupidity or even lack of ambition but perhaps it may sometimes stem from
disbelief in self. I figured that perhaps the lack of self belief causes us to
subconsciously put things off because we don’t believe we are capable of
completing the task with the perfection we feel it deserves.
Personally I found
that while I put things off, I do think of ways I can complete the task and new
ideas I can use in order to make it great, however I then have another voice in
my mind that says “no, what if it doesn’t work!?” and what I then tend to do is
agree and then put the task off for a few more days in order to think of
something else.
This keeps happening until the last minute. I’m not sure what
the cure is but I’m definately getting better. So in regards to you I guess a
realisation that you are capable of doing it helps. One thing I lived by in uni
was lists, as much as I did struggle and panic, I still recommend lists, they
are like a backbone. They simply give you a healthy perspective on what you
need to complete, and set yourself attainable goals; even if you have to break
one task down into mini sections eg.
Cleaning the house; Vacuum/ Mop up Etc
This can apply to anything and there is such a soothing
satisfaction when you tick each thing off one by one, plus when you look at
that completed list, your self belief begins to rise, the more and more you do
it, the more and more you will see how capable you are.
The other day I thought
of making a Vision board for next year; a vision board is a visual list,
however it doesn’t have to be “big dreams” it can be a picture of a car,
meaning you want to learn to drive in the next year, or a bag that you’ve been
meaning to buy, some of us are more visual than others. So that could be a good
thing to try.
Well guess what? I’ve been putting it off but now that I’ve just
written this, I’ve just encouraged myself. So give me a few days, I’m going to
take my own advice and write down a list and start making my vision board.
To conclude, you’re going to feel discouraged and that the task
may be too big but it isn’t, you are capable and you have exactly what it takes
to complete it to your individual perfection.
