GUIDELINES: Do not Procastinate

There is a procrastinator in all of us. To procrastinate means to put off doing something we know or feel we should be doing. The operative term is “manana,” which means in the Spanish, “not today.” Manana does not mean, “tomorrow”; there no reference or seeming commitment to doing some activity tomorrow. Rather, it refers to not doing something today.

There are different reasons why we procrastinate. Laziness is of course one of them. Yet very few procrastinators are really lazy. Even when they are not doing what they are supposed to be doing, they are thinking about it, they are fussing about just how and when and toward what expected result. While procrastinating, they are anything but happy.

When they finally begin to do what they have been putting off doing, they do so with much industry and sweat, as if to make up for their prior idleness. They sometimes say to themselves, “Wow! What could I do if I worked like this all the time?”

Sometimes what we call procrastination is really our inner self demanding that we take a break. Many more of us tend toward workaholism than indolence in our culture. We tend to be hard on ourselves about our need for downtime and relaxation. Thus procrastination can be a form of inner rebellion against the constant pressure to perform.

Psychologist William Knaus has identified two central areas of procrastination. One is “deadline delay.” That means to put off paying bills, completing a work project, making a decision, etc. The other he terms “personal development.” That refers to losing weight, getting in shape, breaking bad habits, seeing a doctor and the like.

Apparently the root cause of much procrastination is perfectionism, whether learned in childhood or innate. Children of rigid parents, sometimes grow up reluctant to make decisions or take risks, anticipating criticism.

At the bottom of the perfectionism that leads to procrastination is fear. Some people fear failure, while others fear success. Fear can paralyze us, making us feel like miserable victims.

Some tips for avoiding procrastination:

– Do not wait for inspiration. Accept what is and move on and into your project.

– Focus on what you can realistically accomplish. Create a timetable and stay with it.

– Divide the work into stair-step increments. Then move ahead, one step at a time.

– Find something positive and exciting in every increment. Embrace the good along the way. Discover that the process is as important as the product.

– Identify what is fueling your procrastination. If you discern an underlying fear, face it. Be your best friend here, rather than worst critic.

Procrastination can also be beneficial. It can afford you needed time to mull over what you are really about. During non-activity, you can weigh your options: to buy the house or not to buy the house, to change jobs or stay where you are, to stay in a relationship or move beyond it.

Procrastination becomes harmful when you begin neglecting to do the things necessary to sustain love relationships, health, and livelihood. To delay going to the doctor, or abandoning an abusive relationship, or leaving a caustic work environment, or even cleaning up your living quarters, can have a devastating cumulative cost.

Sigmund Freud defined healthy adjustment as “the ability to love and work.” Whatever interferes with your ability to love and work cannot be good for you or your loved ones. Do not put off the love and joy available today. Do not procrastinate in your love relationships.