Procrastination isn’t the problem - it’s part of the process!

“The act of delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring” (Cambridge Dictionary).

Procrastination has such a bad reputation. 

How often do you hear friends and colleagues complaining about their procrastinating habits? Maybe you’re the same - constantly berating yourself for not getting on with things.

Sure, we need to meet important deadlines and use our time effectively. We don’t want to leave ourselves in a last-minute panic. That said, we seem to expect a machine-like level of efficiency from ourselves. Anything which falls short of this, we describe as procrastination, laziness, or time-wasting. But I think procrastination is our friend…here’s why.

Small wins are motivating

Some would say that the best way to tackle a big challenge is to jump right in and do it. ‘Eat that frog’ says the book by Brian Tracy. It’s a metaphor for taking on the most challenging task first and a popular productivity ‘hack’. 

But then it’s all or nothing. Either you get it done right away, or you don’t. If you don’t, you feel bad. You tell yourself that you’re procrastinating. You feel like you’ve failed because you didn’t eat the frog quickly enough. 

Ticking off the smaller, more manageable tasks first is a completely legitimate strategy.

In coaching, I support clients in breaking their goals down into small manageable steps. Steps they feel confident taking. This is because it’s better to do something, than not get started at all. It’s also because celebrating our small wins gives us a real confidence boost. A sense of “I can do it!”

So next time you find yourself washing the dishes, or decluttering your desk drawer when you know you’ve got something bigger to do, don’t beat yourself up. You’re just getting started, easing into productivity. You’re proving to yourself that you can get things done. You’re building up to eating the frog and you’ll be more motivated because of it. 

Clearing your mind 

Instead of getting started, you decide to fold the washing or water the houseplants. Most of us see this as major procrastination behaviour. But hey, it’s so hard to get stuck into a demanding piece of work if you’ve got other tasks floating around in your mental to-do list. By getting these small jobs out of the way, you clear your mind for the big stuff. Chances are you’ll approach your challenge with greater focus as a result.

This is another reason why working with a coach can help you achieve your goals more quickly than you would alone. In coaching, you can work through the niggling thoughts and doubts. You can decide which tasks to ditch and which to keep. You go away with a clear mind and a clear action plan. You’re ready to start taking action. Without having this mental tidy-up you’d be far less effective. 

Thinking time

Big challenges often require a lot of planning and preparation. A lot of thought needs to go into it. So often, people beat themself up for spending too much time ‘procrastinating’ before getting started. But pre-planning, thinking and reflection are essential. Thinking time is work too.

We often have our best ideas when we step away from the task. So if you find yourself going on a wander, or lazing about before getting started on a big task - that’s ok. You’re processing and preparing.

Getting it right

There’s another type of procrastination. The work’s been done, but we hold off from the final step. This might be pressing submit on your finished assignment, or clicking send on a carefully worded email to your manager. The work’s complete, but you spend time checking and double-checking. Making sure it’s perfect, rather than just getting on with the next task.

If you’re someone who finds yourself doing this, don’t beat yourself up. Being conscientious and detail-oriented is not a character flaw. In fact, the world needs people like you! Not everyone has the same attention to detail - it’s a real strength that you bring to the world. 

However, there is a balance to strike. Progress can be better than perfection. Sometimes good enough is all we need to move forward. Coaching can help you find this balance and overcome this kind of stalling. 

When it’s not the right goal

I accept that sometimes we really do procrastinate. We do anything we can think of to put off getting started. We scroll aimlessly on social media. We come up with endless excuses. Some bouts of procrastination last years! We say ‘We’ll get around to it one day’. We’ve probably all got something that falls into this category…decorating your home, writing a book, moving jobs, taking up running. 

Well, what if procrastination was giving you a friendly sign? A signal that your long-awaited goal was not the right one! Sometimes we just have to be honest about the fact that we don’t really want to do the thing we’ve been saying we will. 

Coaching can help you set the right goals. I challenge my clients to explain what makes their goal important to them. We work together to describe the benefits of achieving their goal and build motivation. Sometimes we find out that the right goal is something totally different. Setting goals that really matter to you is a surefire way to get started faster. 

When it’s not procrastination at all

Sometimes procrastination isn’t procrastination at all. Remember that definition: “the act of delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring”. If you’re struggling to get started because of anxiety, overwhelm, or other mental health challenges - you’re not procrastinating.

You’re not alone. Reach out for support. Put your well-being first. 

Procrastination isn't the enemy

Have I convinced you that procrastination is friend not foe? Maybe you’ve at least reconsidered why you might find yourself procrastinating. If nothing else, I hope you’ll cut yourself some slack next time you’re struggling to get started.