Four Antidotes(ˈantiˌdōt) to Procrastination(prō-,prəˌkrastəˈnāSHən)

Four Antidotes(ˈantiˌdōt) to Procrastination(prō-,prəˌkrastəˈnāSHən)

By Leo Babauta

Lately I’ve been procrastinating a bit more than normal, and of course it doesn’t feel great.

The truth(tro͞oTH) is, though, that there are a number of good reasons for my procrastination:

I’ve had some serious(ˈsi(ə)rēəs) jetlag and sleep issues(ˈiSHo͞o), which means my mind is tired and just needs some rest. So I am trying to be patient and take care of myself.

I’ve had a lot on my plate(plāt), and it’s been overwhelming(ˌōvərˈ(h)welmiNG). Not just work stuff (though there’s lots of that), but family stuff too. So instead of holding myself to impossible standards, I have to be compassionate(kəmˈpaSHənət) and allow myself to create some space, to simplify(ˈsimpləˌfī), to find a path(paTH) that works for me.

I’m pushing myself into lots of uncertain(ˌənˈsərtn) territory(ˈterəˌtôrē) this year. That brings up fears. I’ve been running from those fears at times, through(THro͞o) procrastination. This is natural(ˈnaCHərəl), and I shouldn’t beat myself up for it. Instead, I can be compassionate, and mindful, and find a path forward.

So if it’s not such a bad thing, my procrastination, and I shouldn’t beat myself up about it … problem solved, right? Or actually there’s no problem at all?

Well, yes … there’s actually no problem. This isn’t anything to feel bad about. However, I do believe that we should find an antidote (or two) to our procrastination, because it usually means we’re not doing the meaningful(ˈmēniNGfəl) work we want to do in the world. It’s worth figuring(ˈfigyər) out.

So in this article, I want to offer a few antidotes to procrastination, so that we can all find a path to doing the meaningful work we want to do, a path to offering our gift fully to the world.

Antidote 1: Self-Care

The first thing to ask yourself, if you’re procrastinating, is: “Am I tired? Do I need to take care of myself?”

…

When this is the case, the answer is to get some rest. Take a nap(nap). Sleep in. Disconnect, and read a paper book. Go for a slow walk, not for exercise(ˈeksərˌsīz) but to get a mental(ˈmentl) breather(ˈbrēT͟Hər). Meditate(ˈmedəˌtāt). Do some yoga(ˈyōgə).

Antidote 2: Make a (Small) Commitment

What helped me during one point of my procrastination was to make a commitment to a friend that I would do a bunch(bənCH) of work at a specific time. And if I didn’t do that work, I would have to suffer(ˈsəfər) a consequence(-ˌkwens,ˈkänsikwəns) that we both agreed to.

Needless(ˈnēdlis) to say, I stuck to my commitment. I got the work done, no matter what it took.

Antidote 3: Create the Space

A big part of the problem with constant procrastination is that we are in an environment(-ˈvī(ə)rn-,enˈvīrənmənt) that is conducive(kənˈd(y)o͞osiv) to distraction(disˈtrakSHən), to doing small tasks (like checking messages, answering emails, seeing how many likes you got on Facebook, etc.).

…

So the smallest first step you need to do is create the space. Turn off wifi, set up an Internet blocker(ˈbläkər), unplug(ˌənˈpləg) your router(ˈroutər,ˈro͞otər), or get somewhere where there is no Internet. With an environment like this, you will be able to focus much better.

Antidote 4: Find the Joy(joi) in It

When we think of the work as something huge and difficult, stressful and overwhelming, or full of fear … it’s hard not to procrastinate.

So a switch in mindset would be hugely beneficial(ˌbenəˈfiSHəl). If you love doing it, you won’t procrastinate!

The trick(trik) is to find the joy in the activity. Don’t just do it like it’s a chore(CHôr) to be gotten over with, or some ordeal(ôrˈdēl) you need to make it through. Instead, see it as a treasured(ˈtreZHər) activity that you get to do. Something that is a privilege(ˈpriv(ə)lij) to do, because not everyone gets to do this kind of work.

https://zenhabits.net