Procrastination, Why?

Why Do People Procrastinate? 

 Procrastination happens when the brain perceives the desired action to be more painful than pleasurable. For example, how long have you known that you’ve been taking part in putting off starting that assignment because it's stress or anxiety-inducing? How many times have you canceled and re-scheduled those pesky dentist appointments? How many times have you questioned if you're experiencing a mental health or addiction concern but put off addressing it because of the perceived fear, stigma, or pain that you are associating with it?  Or substance abuse, knowing that you needed to stop but feeling like you couldn’t?

Often, we know that we need to change or build upon something within our lives. However, we are biologically designed to take the path of least resistance. Therefore, when something is perceived as uncomfortable in some manner whether that be physically, intellectually, or emotionally... Our brains/bodies are designed to try and "avoid" it. Thus, turning into an opportunity for procrastination to start. 

How Do I Stop Procrastinating?

The short answer is to control how you choose to perceive situations/tasks and taking action. Instead of allowing yourself to dwell on the work that has to be done in the situation, put perspective on the situation and focus on the positive results desired. Trying to change the way you think about a situation will help with how you feel about the situation, making it easier to work through procrastination. I believe that life is hard no matter which way you cut it, but it can be hard with rewards, or hard with consequences. Not doing what you desire out of fear of failure or discomfort will create more pain long-term than fighting the fear and addressing the issues being presented in order to live a fulfilling, purposeful and healthy life. 

Ex. “I really don’t want to go to counselling or therapy because I don’t feel ready, there are a lot of unknowns, and what if it's hard or uncomfortable? It's a lot of time to spend on something that seems so uncertain. 

Ex. “If I go to counselling or therapy, it might be a little uncomfortable at first, but I’ll be able to save my career, and my relationships and create an opportunity to build a life worth living without escape. A couple of hours a week working on personal growth, healthier living, and achieving my goals doesn’t seem that long. Especially when I'm creating a better life for the rest of my life. "

  How Do I Obtain Perspective When Procrastinating? 

• Ask yourself what the desired outcome of the situation is.
• What happens if you take the path of least resistance and don’t accomplish the desired task?
• What can you do to accomplish/take action on the desired task?
• What happens when you accomplish the desired task?

Fight for what you want now, or fight against what you don't want later on.