May 29, 2009

There’s more to dealing with procrastination than snarling at yourself to “just do it!” I know because I’ve been snarling that line at myself for ten days. Today I feel like snarling at everybody else too! I’m caught in the procrastination trap and trying to get out.

I read something helpful about it last night. Did you know procrastination is a cycle with predictable stages? It isn’t just one feeling with one cause. That’s the bad news. I think the good news is that you can interrupt that cycle. The “how-to” depends on what part of the cycle you’re in.

Stages of Procrastination

The vicious cycle of putting things off goes like this:

• starts with feeling overwhelmed
• pressure mounts
• we fear failing at whatever we’re putting off
• we buckle down and try harder
• we work longer hours
• we feel resentful
• we get tired and lose motivation
• and then we procrastinate

Wow! I always thought the “buckle down and try harder and work longer hours” part was good! It’s how I’ve survived all these years. I certainly never considered it part of a procrastination habit or cycle.

But the cycle rings true for me–and is really giving me something to think about. “The cycle starts with the pressure of being overwhelmed and ends with an attempt to escape through procrastination,” says Neil Fiore, Ph.D. in The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Porcrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play. “As long as you’re caught in the cycle, there is no escape.”

Warning Signs of Procrastination

“But I don’t procrastinate,” you may say. Maybe. Maybe not. As I read through the list of thirty-five symptoms in the book, I realized with great shock that I responded yes to about three-fourths of the questions! (It was a shock because for thirty years, people have told me what a hard worker I was, how organized I was, etc.) But I had not considered these behaviors as symptoms of procrastination.

Things like…

• Do you keep an impossibly long “to do” list?
• Do you talk to yourself in “shoulds”?
• Are you often late arriving at meetings and dinners?
• Do you have difficulty knowing what you really WANT for yourself, but are clear about what you SHOULD want?
• Do you find that you’re never satisfied with what you accomplish?
• Do you feel deprived–always working or feeling guilty about not working?
• Do you demand perfection even on low-priority work?
• Do you feel ineffective in controlling your life?

In my book Writer’s First Aid, I maintained that you can’t find a solution to a writing problem until you’ve correctly identified the problem, and then the root cause. If someone had told me that I was a procrastinator, I would have laughed until recently. But I have to admit that the questions hit home, and I definitely recognize that cycle of feelings! Could it be that the burn-out I’ve felt this year comes from a life lived in the procrastination cycle?

I’ll be exploring the ideas for correcting this habit in coming weeks. The idea of not living in that cycle of pressure puts a little spring in my step today!

10 Comments »

1. 

   Wow is right. I’m living a procrastinators life style and never even knew it. I would have laughed if someone told me this too without making me think about it and question my lifestyle logic…

   Against my better judgment (as I feel so behind and so guilty about it) I am making myself go out with some friends & all our kids to the Teddy’s Bears Picnic this Sunday… I need (& I think I desrve) the fun and rest (well okay it’ll be “work” but it’ll be fun “work”) B)

   Looking forward to your insights about how to break this cycle…

   Cheers - Ally

   Comment by Ally M — May 29, 2009 @ 8:26 am

2. 

   Ally, I’m glad you’re planning to go to the picnic, and I hope it turns out to be more fun than work! Yes, I will be sharing more about what I’m reading in the coming days. It’s been disconcerting to recognize myself on every page of that procrastination book! But hopeful too–as I am beginning to see how life can be enjoyable AND you can get the work done! I have a Puritan work ethic gone awry.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — May 29, 2009 @ 12:39 pm

3. 

   I am a self-proclaimed procrastinator. I, however, prefer to call it a “prioritizer.” After a really difficult and demanding year at work, I learned how to “prioritize” or in other, more honest work, put off what didn’t absolutely have to be done right now.

   My problem is, now that everything isn’t quite as hectic, I’m having difficulty doing things. I always think, “That can wait” when… it doesn’t have to wait anymore. I can do it on time or *gasp* EARLY.

   It is a cycle and a very HARD one to break! …. as I click back over to facebook…. *grin*

   Comment by Krista Phillips — May 29, 2009 @ 7:51 pm

4. 

   Krista, I know exactly what you mean! I said the same thing to my husband this morning, almost verbatim. My scheduling crisis passed a long time ago–like a YEAR–and I’m having the devil of a time getting moving again. I can see where this book has some good ideas for dealing with the problem. I’ll keep you posted!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — May 29, 2009 @ 9:02 pm

5. 

   Kristi Holl,
   I am one those who procrastinate. My wife lets me know about all the time. Our bed room is now my bed room because of my stuff laying around all over. I seem to be a pack-rat. The need to hold on to every thing. I’m not good at organizing. My writing is on a holding patten more times than not. Yes, I feel overwhelmed at times. How do I GET OUT ?
   Sincerely, A fan of yours.

   Comment by george busby — May 30, 2009 @ 6:59 am

6. 

   Oh, George, I hope you don’t mind, but I had to laugh. You could be my husband’s twin. We don’t have a big enough house for me to let him have the whole bedroom, so I scoop up piles of stuff he’s saving from time to time and shove it in his closet. One of my favorite things about this house was our own separate walk-in closets! He can’t stand to throw anything away either. I hope the things I’ll be sharing in the coming weeks will help you as well as me!

   Comment by Kristi Holl — May 30, 2009 @ 10:44 am

7. 

   Kristi,

   Cadet Quest, bought the first rights to an article that I wrote for lesson 10. Titled - Ur and the Father of Faith.

   It will be my first published work. Thanks to your great instruction and editing. I wanted to tell you right away!

   Thanks for all you do! Kevin

   Comment by Kevin Hoyer — May 31, 2009 @ 12:16 am

8. 

   Kevin, that is such great news! I’m so pleased for you. Your article was so interesting, and I’m glad it was snapped up so quickly. I will pass along your good news to the office–they’ll want to celebrate with you! Thanks for letting me know.

   Comment by Kristi Holl — June 1, 2009 @ 5:37 am

9. 

   Hi Kristi,

   I’ve been following your blog for almost a year now. Think I’m going to have to stop,I keep finding myself in what you write…procrastinator, perfectionist,etc.

   The good news is that I didn’t let fear hold me captive. I stopped just longing to become a writer: I write!

   I really do enjoy reading your blog.

   Thanks for your diligent work.

   Comment by Deb Carroll — June 4, 2009 @ 6:38 pm

10. 

    Deb, thank you for leaving your comment. I’m so glad the blog is an encouragement to you. I loved your line: “I stopped just longing to become a writer: I write!” If you can do that every day, even for a little bit, then you’re over the hump.

    Comment by Kristi Holl — June 4, 2009 @ 8:48 pm

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