Why Do So Many People Procrastinate?

This is a subject I think about for myself and several people I know.

People from all walks of life seem to struggle with procrastination. They put off things they know they need to do, or delay things they claim they really want to do.

Are you one of these people?

Have you ever stopped to think about your why?

Lately, I have been thinking about this when it comes to starting a home-based business. I have already laid some groundwork. I have ideas. I have creative projects. I have a vision of what I would like to build.

The reality is that I am now 65 years old. Before I know it, I may not want to continue working full-time for someone else. I would like to grow what I have started and create something that belongs to me.

Yet here I am.

I still have not fully followed through.

What is interesting is that I cannot even clearly tell you why.

When most people think about procrastination, they assume it is laziness. Research suggests otherwise. Procrastination is often an emotional issue rather than a time management issue.

Sometimes we procrastinate because we are afraid of failing.

Sometimes we procrastinate because we are overwhelmed by the size of the task.

Sometimes we procrastinate because we want everything to be perfect before we begin.

Sometimes we procrastinate because we are afraid of making the wrong decision.

And sometimes we procrastinate because the goal feels so big that we don’t know where to start.

I have seen this in my own life.

The dream is exciting.

The first step can be intimidating.

I also wonder how many people procrastinate because they don’t fully trust themselves yet.

What if it doesn’t work?

What if nobody is interested?

What if I invest my time and energy and nothing comes from it?

Those thoughts can quietly stop a person from moving forward.

The funny thing is that procrastination gives us temporary relief. We don’t have to think about the scary thing. We don’t have to make the decision. We don’t have to take the risk.

But that relief comes with a cost.

The project remains unfinished.

The goal remains a dream.

The business remains an idea.

The book remains unwritten.

The weight remains unlost.

The phone call remains unmade.

The life we want remains waiting.

One thing I am learning is that the answer may not be to think bigger.

The answer may be to think smaller.

Instead of focusing on the entire project, focus on the next step.

Not the next ten steps.

The next one.

Open the document.

Make the phone call.

Fill out the application.

Create the account.

Spend ten minutes on the task.

Sometimes momentum begins with something incredibly small.

I also think we need to be kinder to ourselves.

Beating ourselves up for procrastinating often creates more stress, more guilt, and more avoidance.

Maybe the better question is:

What am I avoiding feeling?

Because behind procrastination there is often fear, uncertainty, insecurity, or overwhelm.

For me, this is still a work in progress.

I am still figuring out my own why.

But I do know this:

Dreams don’t move forward by themselves.

At some point, we have to stop thinking about the next step and actually take it.

What about you?

Is there something you have been putting off?

And more importantly…

Do you know why?

Lady Flava 🌻