You Can’t Change What You Won’t Acknowledge

One of the biggest problems with procrastination is we don’t always know why we do it. Most procrastinators hide their behavior and if it’s called out, they defend it with excuses. Procrastination is an avoidant behavior triggered by the emotions associated with tasks we either fear, feel unqualified for, or don’t enjoy. Even when people admit they procrastinate, they don’t always know why they are doing it. Here are some of the underlying triggers:

• Fear

• Overwhelm

• Stubbornness

• Low level tolerance

• Anxiety

• Aversion

• Self-doubt

Admitting You Procrastinate May Not Be Enough

Raising the white flag in surrender against procrastination may not be enough to help you stop and become more proactive. In some cases, procrastination can be improved by making small changes, but for chronic procrastinators it’s more important to get to the root of what makes them procrastinate in the first place.

Getting to the Bottom of the Problem

How you procrastinate isn’t nearly as important as why you do it. Changing the way you procrastinate will be pretty simple once you get to the bottom of why you go in that direction in the first place. Here are some ways to get to the root of the issues:

Journal your procrastination- Paying close attention to yourself when you procrastinate can give you some insight you may have missed. Journaling your thoughts and feelings can help you sort things out and look for patterns and beliefs that lead to procrastination.

Get a buddy- Sometimes it helps to have someone help you see your blind spots. Someone you trust can help offer feedback and insight as to how they experience your procrastination. A buddy can also help you with accountability and support when you fall back into old patterns.

Get some professional help- Counselors and coaches are great at helping you identify the underlying reasons why you procrastinate. It may be as simple as fear of failure holding you back or it could be a PTSD trigger when faced with specific tasks. Trained professionals can make a big difference in helping you identify why you procrastinate.

Acknowledging procrastination is a problem is a first and important step in becoming proactive. The very next step is discovering what drives you to procrastinate. You can’t change what you won’t acknowledge but you can change what you shine a spotlight on.