Do you know that procrastination is a psychological and neurological state of indecision?
I mean some procrastination are just anxieties based on some past unrelated events (memories), but some other forms of procrastination is your brain telling you that you need more information before making a wise decision.
When we procrastinate, we are consciously or unconsciously experiencing confusion, uncertainty, self-doubt, or fear.
Business psychologists have found that if you have good time management skills, and good business skills, “active” procrastination makes you more successful. Because it gives you time to access the situation and gather more information before you make an important decision.
Some research shows that excessive procrastination interferes with memory, and it tends to affect your personality. Procrastinators sometimes have low self-esteem and tend to exaggerate their accomplishments as a way of covering up anxiety and self-doubt.
When you catch yourself procrastinating, take out a sheet of paper and write down, as briefly as possible, what you are uncertain about.
List all your reasons for not taking action, and then ask yourself "Are any of these reasons valid?"
Most will not be, but some may be true.
Next, write down three small strategies that would lead to the resolution of your hesitation.
Then take action. But remember: you can never have “enough” information to guarantee 100% success. So trust your intuition, use your wisdom and skills, and make a leap of faith.
It will make sense to mention that there’s also a powerful connection between perfectionism and procrastination. For the perfectionist, "it’s never good enough", which suggests that a perfectionist may as well have low self-esteem.
Are you procrastinating because you don’t trust yourself? If so, just ask yourself this question: “Am I good enough to make a decision?
The answer is usually YES!
If not, consider some personal coaching sessions with a professional. It’s way much easier, with the help of an expert, to know how and when to take action on nearly everything. And also identify some unconscious resistance that you have habituated over time and are stopping you from taking action.
You can talk to me, my email is coaching@audacity2lead.com
Image source: Medium.com
Credit: Neurowisdom by Mark Waldman