Procrastination

Our fast past world and the way many of us live, makes it really easy to fall into the trap of procrastination. Whether it's putting off important tasks until the last minute or delaying self-care activities, procrastination can wreak havoc on our mental and physical well-being. Which is what I am seeing more and more with clients.

Procrastination is more than just a bad habit; it's often a coping mechanism for dealing with stress, anxiety, and overwhelm, and unfortunately not a good coping mechanism! When we procrastinate, we temporarily relieve the discomfort of facing difficult tasks by avoiding them altogether. However, more often than not this leads to increased stress and a sense of guilt or inadequacy, further perpetuating the cycle of procrastination.

When we start to delve into the reasons for procrastination the main trigger I come across is the feeling of being totally overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tasks that are on our plates. Recognising what your triggers are is really important so we can start to develop healthier coping strategies and make the needed shifts in behaviour.

With any behaviour change you need to be realistic with what it is your are trying to achieve, and this goes hand in hand with setting realistic goals, both professionally and personally. I work with clients across the continuum of goal setting from mapping the expected or wanted outcome and back through the process or steps needed to support the achievement. Sometimes this needs to be done multiple times until its manageable and enables you to build momentum and confidence.

Looking to the environment is also a key part of overcoming procrastination. What is in your environment that is distracting and not conducive to productivity?

And then there is engaging the professional support of a coach! I can help you explore the underlying issues that may be contributing to your procrastination and help you to personalise strategies for managing your stress making you more productive!