{"id":923,"date":"2016-08-31T06:15:14","date_gmt":"2016-08-31T06:15:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.immediate-effects.com\/en\/?p=923"},"modified":"2016-09-01T08:53:14","modified_gmt":"2016-09-01T08:53:14","slug":"fail-safe-guide-overcoming-procrastination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.immediate-effects.com\/en\/fail-safe-guide-overcoming-procrastination\/","title":{"rendered":"The Fail-Safe Guide to Overcoming Procrastination"},"content":{"rendered":"

Can we please eliminate the word procrastination from our vocabulary? No one ever feels better or more alive by labelling\u00a0themselves as a procrastinator.<\/p>\n

Some words flow off the tongue like mellifluous or resplendent, but procrastinate? Yech! Other words reveal a treasure in their origin. Inspiration has its root in \u201cto breathe\u201d and happiness means good fortune. But procrastination? It comes from the Latin meaning to put off until tomorrow. No revelation there.<\/p>\n

Yet, as writers, most of us procrastinate, and it\u2019s not a positive experience. We find checking email for the millionth time way more compelling than working on that piece that has a deadline coming up. Then we judge ourselves for our lack of focus. Frustration, feeling stuck \u2013 this is not a happy road to travel.<\/p>\n

Does this scenario sound familiar? Then let\u2019s find our way out of the struggle. We begin by putting on our explorer hats, the ones with the spotlight on the forehead, so we can see what we are actually dealing with.<\/p>\n

What is Procrastination?<\/h3>\n

To say you are procrastinating means that you are living smack in the middle of the land of \u201cshould.\u201d And when has a \u201cshould\u201d ever served anyone? In essence, you are saying, \u201cI\u2019m doing this right now, when I should be doing that.\u201d You are putting yourself down and rejecting this moment as not good enough.<\/p>\n

When you have convinced yourself that another action is better than the one you are taking, two sides within you have taken up arms, and the resulting inner conflict is depleting and depressing. No wonder you shut down and go into brain fog. Who wants to fight a losing battle?<\/p>\n

Can we learn to be kinder toward ourselves? We might find that as the dust settles, our actions become focused, efficient, and even joyful.<\/p>\n

How Procrastination Works<\/h3>\n

What we call procrastination is all about avoiding. With good intention and high hopes, you begin working on a project. But before you know it, you are busily researching some fascinating tidbit or preparing a tasty snack. How did that happen?<\/p>\n

You can discover the answer by rewinding and playing the scene back in slow motion. What you would notice is that you are prone to procrastination when what you are working on:<\/p>\n