064: How To Get To The Root Of Your Procrastination

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In this challenge, I'm daring you to dedicate some time for yourself each day to decide on and schedule the action needed around what matters most to you each day.

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This episode is about procrastination, and guess what I did when it came to working on getting it out to you? I procrastinated! Oh, the irony!

A few weeks ago, I asked people on social media what comes to mind when they hear the word ‘procrastinate’. There were some jokes in there, of course—like Justin who said, “I'll come back to this question later” and Cathy who asked if there's such a thing as an ‘amateur-crastinator’ since there's a ‘pro-crastinator’? I thought that one was pretty clever, actually.

Sarah said, “Fear is what comes to mind.” She told me that when she is in fear of failure and perfection, not meeting standards, she procrastinates. She also said she has a quote on her bulletin board that says, “Tackle procrastination. It is negativity in disguise.”

Love it!

How, then, do we overcome our habit of putting things off? I looked up the definition of procrastination in different dictionary versions and found two that were most helpful for us to get to the root of why we procrastinate.

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Procrastination (Oxford Dictionary):
noun. /prəˌkræstɪˈneɪʃn/ /prəˌkræstɪˈneɪʃn/ ​the act of delaying something that you should do, usually because you do not want to do it.
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Procrastination (Cambridge Dictionary):
noun. /prəˌkræs.tɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ /proʊˌkræs.tɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ the act of delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring.
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If you have a project you have been procrastinating on, first ask yourself if you really want to do the thing you've been avoiding. If not, cross it off your list. If so—and especially if you're on the fence—take a small step forward by identifying your next step. And don't forget to talk to a friend if you're stuck!

Question of the Week…What is ONE thing you have been procrastinating? What is the next step you COULD take to make progress on it?

Let me know over on Instagram or Facebook @productivitybreakthrough. And don't forget to sign up for the Dare to Prioritize challenge. See you there!