Table of Contents
Procrastination kills several opportunities in life. In spite of knowing this reality, people procrastinate their actions. But, is it easy to change the mindset from a procrastinator to a producer? Before going ahead, let’s first understand the meaning of procrastination.
Procrastination is the action of unnecessarily and voluntarily delaying or postponing something despite knowing that there will be negative consequences for doing so. The word has originated from the Latin word procrastinatus, which itself evolved from the prefix pro-, meaning “forward,” and crastinus, meaning “of tomorrow” (Wikipedia).
In this article, we are going to understand five negative attitudes or self-statements that lead to procrastination. These self-statements separate a procrastinator from a producer. While not every symptom will match exactly your own procrastination pattern, identifying which of the five negative statements you use will help you to replace them with positive statements.
1. Negative Thinking of “I have to”
Repeating throughout your day, the phrase “I have to” (meaning “I have to, but I don’t want to”) will give you a sense of inconsistency and victimization (“I have to, but if I were powerful I wouldn’t”) that justifies a procrastinator mindset. Having identified this self-statement and the attitude of victimhood that underlies it, you’ll want to quickly challenge it with a statement of choice and an attitude of empowerment.
Replace “I have to” with “I choose to.”
The language, attitudes, and behaviors of producers can be acquired through specific, on-the-job practice. For example, if you’re at your desk looking at a pile of unanswered mail and a list of unreturned telephone calls, the first thing you may notice is that your shoulders begin to droop forward in a depressed, burdened fashion. This is a clear signal that even if you haven’t heard yourself say, “I have to,” you feel victimized rather than responsible and powerful. At that moment of awareness, immediately choose to work or accept responsibility for choosing to delay. Use your awareness of a negative thought or attitude to unconsciously shift you to the producer’s attitude of choice and power.
2. Negative Thinking of “I must finish”
Telling yourself “I must finish” keeps you focused on the completed product somewhere in the future, without ever telling you where to start. “Finishing” is in a vague distance, a long way from where you may be now in terms of skills, confidence, and perspective. This focus will make the task seem even more overwhelming, almost impossible. It needs to be challenged and replaced with a solid commitment to starting now and kill a procrastinator mindset.
Replace “I must finish” with “When can I start?”
“When can I start?” is the catchphrase of the producer. It automatically follows any worries about finishing and being overwhelmed and replaces agitated energy with a clear focus on what can be tackled now. It works like a feedback device that pushes any wavering focus back to the starting point of the project. And when it is impossible to start now, “When is the next time I can start?” works to preprogram you for a directed and easy start-up in the near future, with a clear picture of when, where, and on what you will be starting.
3. Negative Thinking of “This project is so big and important”
The feeling of being overwhelmed is made worse by thinking of a project as large and important. What you are really saying is, “I don’t see how I can tackle such a huge task. This is very important. This project has to impress everyone. This is my one big chance in life.” The bigger and more overwhelming the project seems to you, the greater your tendency to procrastinate. Anxiety will replace the natural tendency toward motivation and curiosity as you overwhelm yourself with all the steps involved and the image of all that’s at stake on this one important project.
Replace “This project is so big and important” with “I can take one small step.”
Whenever you begin to feel overwhelmed by the large, grand project that looms before you, remind yourself, “I can take one small step. One small step; one rough, rough draft; one imperfect sketch; one small hello. That’s all I need to do now.” You can never build a house all at once. All you can do now is pour the concrete for the foundation; hammer one nail; raise a wall—one small step at a time. You could never write an entire book now; you can only write one chapter, a few pages at a time. A single, small step is something you know you can accomplish now. When this one manageable step is compared with a colossal undertaking, it gives you time to learn, to relax, and to recover between a series of small steps toward your long-range goals.
4. Negative Thinking of “I must be perfect”
Telling yourself “I must be perfect, I couldn’t stand it if I made a mistake” will greatly increase the chances that you’ll need procrastination to buffer you against the pain of failure and criticism. If you demand of yourself a perfect presentation, a project that is beyond criticism, perfect adherence to a diet, or a spotless home, you are setting yourself up for defeat and inevitable self-criticism. The more perfectionist and self-critical you are, the harder it is to start on a project that you already know will never be quite good enough. Ironically, being a perfectionist and criticizing yourself about mistakes makes failures more likely and worse.
Replace “I must be perfect” with “I can be perfectly human.”
Replace demands for perfect work with acceptance of your human limits. Accept so-called mistakes (really feedback) as part of a natural learning process. You need self-compassion rather than self-criticism to support your courageous efforts at facing the unavoidable risks of doing real, imperfect work rather than dreaming of the perfect, completed project. As you learn to expect and accept imperfect early steps on your projects, you’ll build in the persistence of a producer.
5. Negative Thinking of “I don’t have time to play”
Statements such as “I’ve got to work all weekend,” “I’m sorry I can’t join you, I have to finish this project,” “I’m busy tonight, I’m working under a deadline” will make you feel the resentment toward your work that comes from long periods of deprivation and isolation. Repeating these statements creates the feeling of having a life of obligation and demands that cause you to miss the things other people enjoy in life.
Replace “I don’t have time to play” with “I must take time to play.”
Insisting on your regular time for exercise, for dinners with friends, for frequent breaks throughout your day, and for frequent vacations throughout your year increases the feelings of inner worth and respect for yourself that are at the heart of unlearning the need for procrastination. Knowing that you have something to look forward to in the near future—a firm commitment to recreation and time with friends—lessens the dread of difficult work.
The application of these five positive self-statements lessens the pain associated with work while increasing your chances of finding that work rewarding. You will slowly move from a procrastinator to a producer. In addition, your quality work increases the enjoyment of your proudly earned guilt-free play. And reinforcing small steps with frequent rewards will increase the likelihood of consistent progress.
Action Plan
Practice shifting from your usual self-talk to the effective self-talk of producers as below.
| Procrastinator | Producer |
| “I have to” | “I choose to” |
| “I must finish” | “When can I start” |
| “This project is big and important” | “I can take one small step” |
| “I must be perfect” | “I can be perfectly human” |
| “I don’t have time to play” | “I must take time to play” |
Post them around your computer, your desk, and your refrigerator. This simple table will help you to move from a Procrastinator mindset to a Producer mindset. (Excerpt is from “The Now Habit” by Neil Fiore, Ph.D.).
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