Is Procrastination Putting You Off?
by Laura Interval
Do you procrastinate? Considering I don’t even want to answer that question immediately, I’ll have to say “yes”!
According to psychologists, we all do at certain times. We all postpone or needlessly delay something in our lives, at some time. However, habitual procrastination can be devastating. It can wreak havoc on your entire life, your career, your personal relationships, your whole deal. Procrastination can keep you from achieving what you want and being all you can be. This is especially damaging to artists and anyone who desires to be their own boss. So, what to do?
First of all, realize that procrastination is mental. You can overcome it with right thinking. According to specialists, one of the main contributors to procrastination is anxiety, and anxiety comes from thinking; wrong thinking.
So, learning to identify, understand and control you thoughts is the key!
Specialists have broken it down into three types of procrastinators. Procrastinating occasionally is common and not such a big deal. But, if you feel that you may be falling victim to it, examine these three types and see if you recognize yourself.
THE RELAXED PROCRASTINATOR The relaxed procrastinator doesn’t see the value in what he/she is supposed to be doing. The assigned task or job is seemingly meaningless and/or negative and holds no purpose for him/her. Instead, they indulge in other activities they find more enjoyable. When someone is unhappy in their career, for example, they may go through the motions of a task at a slow pace, staying stagnant and disconnected, but be energetic and enthusiastic about something like watching sports. They no longer have ambition or goals associated with their job, losing any motivation to move ahead. The enjoyment they get from the second activity often covers up or helps them to deny the reality of the procrastination. He/she can convince themselves they are relaxed. They do not seek any help or solutions but seek solace in anything but the task at hand. Their wrong thoughts may include “I’m not going to do it because it’s useless”, “why am I even here?” and/or “it just doesn’t matter today because I’ll be watching football later.”
Finally, someone identifies me as a genius! I’ll admit this is me, with a little “tense-afraid type” thrown in. In fact, many artists fall into this category. The genius procrastinator cares about what he/she is delaying, but knows that they usually don’t need to put in very much time or effort in order to produce excellent results. Therefore, he/she will often wait until the last minute to do the work. Then, they will produce in an anxious whirlwind, often worn out, stressed out, deprived of sleep and/or full of caffeine. If deadlines or timelines are not clear or enforced, the genius procrastinator may end up producing very little work at all, wasting time until the next deadline appears. Their wrong thoughts may include “my work is always better if I do it at the last minute”, “it won’t take me that long to get it done” and/or “this is so beneath me… I don’t need much time”.
This is the most common and perhaps most dangerous form of procrastinator. The tense-afraid procrastinator quickly starts to feel overwhelmed and unsure about the task at hand. Their ability to focus and complete their work is shut down by self doubt and anxiety. Time lines and expectations begin to become cloudy and blurred in negative, wrong thoughts and feelings. They justify that they need to relax or take their mind off the task at hand for a little while, however, never effectively get back to it. The task gets pushed back day to day creating more frustration and anxiety as the actual deadline draws near. A cycle of delay and failure can become a pattern that leads to habitual anxiety derailing any accomplishments. This negativity can take over all aspects of the procrastinator’s life… spilling from career to personal relationships… sweeping them into a downward depressing spiral. Their wrong thoughts may include “I will be able to do this much better tomorrow”, “he/she already did this better than I could ever do it” and/or “I hope they don’t expect me to be as good as last time”.
I had a job opportunity recently that I procrastinated my way right out of. I was totally unaware of it as I was doing it, but looking back now, the reality is clear. My agents sent me a script for a great little independent film. I read it… I loved it. The only problem was the character that I was to audition for spoke with an Italian accent. ITALIAN ACCENT? Not easy for a southern blonde. Admittedly, I’m pretty good with accents… admittedly, I am insecure when it comes to ITALIAN. So, I began thinking “they wouldn’t want a blonde anyway… I will never get this role… I would never be able to learn the words well enough…” I immediately began wrong thinking. I put the script away. I didn’t call my agents, I didn’t study the words… I didn’t do anything. I put it away like it didn’t exist. In two days, the day of the audition, I woke up anxious, moody and irritated. Now, not only was I not ready for the audition, I had to call my agents and make up an excuse as to why. I called in a lame voice to explain. My agent responded with “it’s ok. They want to see you anyway. Just go with your own voice”. Panic, fear, self doubt ensued. Now, I had no way to justify not going and I had about an hour to prepare. Wrong thinking robbed me of my opportunity to go in prepared and strong. Anxiety controlled the situation and caused me to waste my own time and talent. Needless to say, I didn’t get the role. I had to improv my way through the audition and that’s not my forte. And even worse? A blonde got it….
As artists we are to create something.
If any of these types or combination of types ring true to you, don’t worry! First of all, as artists, it’s normal to have a certain amount of anxiety about creative endeavors. We are sensitive beings, and without that sensitivity we would not be able to create much of value. The answer is to DO! Push on through anxiety and procrastination! I read a great Tony Robbins quote years ago where he suggested that in order to cure procrastination, you just needed to put it off.
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