Most people procrastinate at some time or another but God forbid that you should become a chronic procrastinator. We all know how frustrating and time-sapping it is and we're not proud of ourselves for doing it.
The real danger lies in becoming a chronic procrastinator where your life becomes a crippling cycle of delays, hesitation and missed deadlines.
There are 5 negative habits that put you at risk of becoming a perpetual procrastinator. Read on to find out what they are and avoid them at all costs.
- Fear of loss or risk
The fear of financial loss, loss of reputation and failure is one of the worst habits that feed the procrastinator mindset. These fears cause you to delay making decisions, getting started and pushing back deadlines till the last minute.
Procrastination based on fear can actually realize those fears rather than avoid them. It leads to last-minute scrambles, poo outcomes and bad decisions. Replacing this habit with thoughtful planning is the best way to overcome it.
- Surrendering to negative self-talk
Science has shown that our brains operate on a negative bias, where they tend to dwell on negative thoughts more than on positive ones. This is why our self-talk often brings us down. It tells us we're not qualified or skilled enough, that we're not going to succeed or that we don’t have what it takes.
It's no surprise that when you surrender to negative self-talk, you lose your self-confidence and become a procrastinator.
Break this habit by carefully monitoring your thoughts and immediately dismissing negative ones.
Instead, feed your brain with empowering positive thoughts that help you develop a ‘can-do mindset.
- Overthinking
Dwelling endlessly on possible outcomes and options and immersing yourself in too many details are signs that you're an overthinker and overthinking in itself is a form of procrastination.
It’s also a sign of low self-confidence.
Replace this habit by learning to work with what you have to make timely decisions and choices to the best of your ability. The goal is to train yourself to take action and move on, knowing that you've done your best.
- Bad time management
Thoughtful planning and time organization are guaranteed to help you avoid procrastination. When you take the time to set realistic goals and timeframes, schedule priorities and loosely plan your day, it's much easier to stay motivated and on track.
Don't organize your time mentally but set your goals and deadlines in writing to make them clear and tangible, and easy for you to assess regularly. More importantly, organize your time flexibly so that you have enough time to get things done while leaving room for unexpected emergencies.
- Not saying no
You agree to take on extra work, fill in for a coworker, supervise your church bake sale or run an errand for a friend… when your schedule's already too crowded. When you're unable to say no and take on more than you can possibly get done, you just give up and start procrastinating delaying and pushing back deadlines.
Be honest with yourself and learn to say no when you need to. It doesn’t mean you're mean or unhelpful, it simply means you're realistic. Most people will appreciate your honesty and understand your situation.
Conclusion
It's true that old habits die hard but ultimately, they do die and can be overcome. Acknowledging that one or more of these 5 habits are part of your life is the first step towards breaking them and replacing them with powerful habits that make you a doer.
You may struggle at first to break these habits but the result far outweighs the effort. Your productivity, motivation, purpose and positivity will soar. Your life will become one where you're actively pursuing your greatness instead of just dreaming about it!