September 6 is apparently Fight Procrastination Day.
I love that such an awareness day exists, and not just because I have a T shirt with Procrastinators: Rulers of Tomorrow proudly emblazoned across the chest.
The very same T shirt in this 7 year old photo, that I wore that day in August 2012 and haven’t fitted into since. Now that I know this is an annual thing, I will be making damn sure I can get into it for next year’s special day!
So, why do we procrastinate?
Let’s have a look at some of the common things we might procrastinate about and dig a bit deeper for why.
Tax Returns
I’m sure there are a lot of people who are fearsomely organised and log every business mile they drive and every transaction on a day by day basis, leaving them with a simple end of year procedure. I know for a fact there are thousands of people who don’t, for whom their tax return is a stressful last minute behemoth each year, or at least that’s how it seems every time it pops into their minds.
So, if we know that doing a bit each day, or even once a week, will make the end of year so much easier, why don’t we all do it that way?
Is it because we find it boring? Maybe it feels like it’s not a good use of our precious time, because we have so many other pressing deadlines?
Or because it doesn’t have to be “handed in” until the end of January? Come on, I’m not the only one who pulled all nighters at university to get my essays in on time, am I?!
Or is it because we’re scared? What are we scared of though? Are we scared we’ll do it wrong, or simply scared of facing the reality of money in versus money out, and whether we’ve “done well” or not by that measure?
It could be any of those, or a mix of all three.
Self Care
First up, quick reminder that self care isn’t all about bubble baths and foot massages. It is making the choices on a daily basis to build a life you don’t need to escape from. It’s also about going to bed at a sensible time and making sure we get enough sleep for our bodies and minds to recharge before the next day’s sensory onslaught. It’s about eating fresh foods, learning and implementing cooking from scratch so we’re getting more nutrition and less preservatives in our bodies. It’s about getting off our arses and being more active.
Hmmm brings me back to that yellow T shirt, doesn’t it?
Yes, why DO some of us struggle so much to get started on these great journeys of lifestyle update? Is it fear of failure and the potential ridicule because of it? Or fear of success and the changes to various dynamics within the status quo that will inevitably go hand in hand with it? Or is it just being too vague about the goal?
While I’m thinking on these big questions, I might go steam clean the kitchen floor…. because if it’s productive, it’s not procrastination, is it?
Tee hee hee hee
I’d love to know what you procrastinate over, what procrastination looks like for you (literally the only time I get enthusiastic about cleaning is when I should really be doing something else) and what you’ve tried to change the way it affects you Xx
PS Some very interesting procrastination research can be read here if you’d like to know more.
Leave a Reply