Advice on overcoming procrastination by Dr. Monica Ramirez Basco
During my recent visit to the family home, I found a book that I had picked up seven years ago when pursuing my graduate studies, The Procrastinator’s Guide to Getting Things Done by Dr. Monica Ramirez Basco. It was at that time that I became aware of my procrastination problem, which started to have a serious negative impact on my academic performance. Over the years, I’ve learned to control my procrastination with varying results. Now that I’ve reread the book and am wiser from all of its wisdom, I’m reflecting on my relationship with procrastination, hoping that the following will serve a much-needed reminder for myself and others when it comes to overcoming this never-ending constant battle.
I procrastinate because I can
We procrastinate because we know we’ll get away with it most of the time with no serious consequences. We eventually find ways to get things done when we are under time constraints. Our work may not be of high quality, and we will likely be under a lot of stress, but things will get done. Who hasn’t experienced it when doing last-minute homework? At work, if we’re lucky, our colleagues will pick up the slack for us. My library card will get suspended if I don’t return the books early enough, but this is merely a minor inconvenience. Because of that, it is extremely difficult to break the habit of procrastinating.
I put off things that appear to be difficult
The word “appear” is crucial here. Before you take action, things seem to be much more difficult than they really are. The perceived uncertainty about a task’s outcome is what usually turns me off, and that’s when my fortune-telling and catastrophizing skills kick in, making things worse. I know I should gather more information or ask questions to guide me instead, but I imagine the task at hand to be unpleasant, and just thinking about it makes me feel uneasy and anxious. In a way, procrastination is a coping mechanism for those negative emotions.
Procrastination is no fun
However, even when I procrastinate, I don’t particularly enjoy it either. When trying to avoid tasks, I find it difficult to switch gears and just relax doing nothing. I’ll eventually start to worry about all the things that I should be doing. A supposedly pleasurable moment of procrastination becomes unbearable. The feeling of guilt hits me like a ton of bricks as well.
Procrastination ≠ laziness
It is easy to label yourself a lazy person once you notice your procrastination problem. Despite the fact that I procrastinate, fortunately, being a procrastinator has never been a part of my identity, something difficult to change. When seen in this light, procrastination is rather a behavioral issue, a bad habit that can be broken. Keep in mind that apathy disguised as laziness could indicate be a more serious mental illness such as depression. Seek professional help if you’re experiencing mental health issues.
I’m an all-or-nothing type of procrastinator
This came as no surprise. As a perfectionist, I will procrastinate or ignore tasks entirely if I don’t have the time or energy tocomplete them in the manner in which I believe they should be done. In such situations, I must remember to find the middle ground, do something imperfectly, do a portion of it, or ask for help, as suggested in the book.
I use procrastination to control others
I am aware that my procrastination affects others, even if I tend to procrastinate more on tasks that only involve me and no one else. I’m concerned that my procrastination will cause people to have low expectations of me and they won't trust in my abilities. However, while reading, it occurred to me that I could unconsciously use it to express my feelings and even manipulate others. As Dr. Basco put it:
“Procrastination can define your relationships with others, like creating dependency when others do things for you because you keep putting them off. Although procrastination can elicit unwanted reactions from others such as anger or frustration, it can help you get the upper hand in relationships, such as when you procrastinate to control when something gets done. Procrastination can also be a reaction you have when you want to avoid people you find it hard to say no to. Procrastination can be a tool that is used to skillfully manipulate others, a weapon that can be used to fight back when they anger you, and a shield that can protect you from being overwhelmed and on the receiving end of others’ disapproval”
I found out that I’m an interpersonal type of procrastinator, which means that I tend to procrastinate intentionally when I feel controlled by other people’s demands and requests. I’m generally very protective of my time and when it’s taken away from me, I quickly become defensive. Also, it is not usually the favor I’m asked for that bothers me; it’s more about who’s asking and how he or she does so. Deliberately delaying my work becomes a way of demonstrating my point. I need to learn to be more assertive rather than overcommit in order to avoid such situations.
Like everyone else, I put off everyday tasks that I don’t enjoy doing, find boring or difficult. I allow myself to procrastinate more in some areas than others. But it’s the bigger picture, in terms of work and fulfilling my purpose, that has me concerned while reading the book. I’ve realized yet again that I’m sabotaging my own potential by being too scared to pursue more ambitious future actions and ideas, such as starting my own business or pursuing graduate education in a new exciting field, despite the fact that I know that these have the potential to elevate and transform my life. What a nice change it would be to act as if I have nothing to lose. And, in most cases, there is truly nothing to lose and everything to gain by trying and putting myself out there.
