top of page
Search

On Procrastination

Writer's picture: EmilyEmily

I have a big project due. And…I haven’t started it. The work has begun to terrify me. It has grown to be the size of the ocean, sloshing into my every waking moment, spilling into my dreams.


I know that if I just do it, I’ll feel so much better.


The longer I wait, the louder the voices in my head grow. You’re lazy. You’re undisciplined. You’re stupid. Why did you think you could do this?


The dictionary agrees. Procrastination is intentional, habitual dawdling. It is laziness. It is a lack of will-power, a lack of discipline, a moral failing.


Those words are a drum beat, over and over again, joining all the well-meaning quotes– “Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today!” cries Ben Franklin.


By making procrastination a moral issue, we make nice, neat categories – good people and bad people. That’s a lie we tell ourselves. It’s a convenient lie – we get to punish ourselves and others for procrastinating and get on our moral high horse when we don’t.


But…

Procrastination isn’t a moral issue.

It isn’t a sign of weakness or laziness.


It is a sign that something is getting in our way.


Procrastination might signal that --


we lack information.

we don’t know where or who to ask for help.

(Or perhaps we’re too ashamed to ask for help)

we don’t know where to start. (we feel overwhelmed)

we’ve set ourselves a time deadline that is unreasonable

we’re caught in unrealistic expectations

we don’t know how to break down the task.

we have other conflicts for our time and energy and values

we can’t work under pressure

or, we need the additional pressure of a last minute deadline to get us going


None of those things are about laziness or weakness or morality.

They’re about fear and shame and guilt and uncertainty and loneliness.

In the next blog, I’ll be writing on why ADHD-ers are particularly prone to procrastination – or rather, to feeling negative emotions that impact our ability to navigate tasks.


For now, be curious about the procrastination in your own life.


What is it telling you that you need?








  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn

© 2023 Thresholds Coaching. Proudly created with Wix.com

All original artwork  created and owned by Emily Miller Mlčák.

bottom of page