Subscribe to the Learn Something New(sletter) and you'll receive actionable, practical tips right in your inbox to try on a new personal or professional development concept. It's going to be fun. A former design researcher/strategist/consultant turned executive leadership and career coach, now I partner with badass folks to reorient their relationship with work and hang out on the edge of growth while they sort out what they want, and what they need.
Join me on this procrastination
Hello Friends!
January is coming in hot, and already my social media feeds are filled with Team Look at Me Doing my Resolutions versus Team Resolutions are Bad and Evil. And a fun third category of folks who have suddenly gone silent about their hefty list of resolutions. It happens y'all.
Personally, I don't do resolutions, I focus on the habits I want to build that support my desires. And, I don't wait until January to do some goal-setting. I wouldn't get a lot done in October.
But something that I do love to do, is procrastinate. (Just me?) You wouldn't know this necessarily if we've spent time together. I seemingly manage to endlessly be knocking off tasks and getting shit done left and right, but, spoiler - that's a procrastination technique!
So since I'm currently procrastinating some to-do's... i.e. Instead of finishing reading Nedra Glover Tawwab'sBoundaries (it's so good!) I find myself reaching for The Atlas Six and Ninth House sequels. Oops. Will gladly discuss offline.
If procrastination makes you go into a personal shame and frustration spiral, I'm here to say, yep. Procrastination is something that we all experience, and it's seen as a flawed character trait, when in fact, it's something our brains are trained to do.
So nope, you're not flawed. You're human.
Want to dive into procrastination more? I wrote all about it. What procrastination looks like (it's different for different folks!), why we do it, and some tricks and tips on how to battle our procrastinating brains (oooo tips!). Snipped below to whet your appetite:
What does procrastination look like?
The tricky thing about procrastination is that we don’t always realize we’re doing it. We may employ one or more procrastination tactics as humans. So here are the five different techniques I see procrastination rearing its head. What would you add?
- The Deadline Lover - This is when you don’t do the thing until you’re really up to the edge of discomfort. Think buying birthday or holiday gifts the week before. Pulling an all-nighter to turn in a project or paper. Waiting until you’re en route to the airport to book your hotel stays. This procrastination technique is effective in avoiding or delaying an activity until it’s staring you face down. Often it’s served with a side of shame for “not having your act together.”
- The Information Gatherer - This technique is when you can’t possibly get started because you don’t have everything you need to get started. Anyone unable to start a workout routine until you’ve selected the perfect outfit, ideal gym materials and the ultimate playlist alongside the training program? Or you can’t possibly try something new until you’ve read three books, fifteen articles and attended at least one masterclass yet still don’t feel like an expert? This is often a delay tactic we use. “I’ll get to it when I understand XYZ.” But we don’t get to it. Because understanding XYZ or having access to ALL the information in the world is impossible. Ugh.
- The Busy Bee - For those of us who are filling our day with lots of tasks to get done that we can get crossed off our list, and somehow keep adding more that aren’t the things we’re actually trying to do… this one’s for you. It’s simply easier to work through task-based items that we can cross-off than sit down and have to think about performing some deep work activities. So we keep “getting stuff done,” but we’re not necessarily getting the real stuff done.
- The Snowballer - This is when we procrastinate taking the first step because we’re already thinking about step 17 down the line and getting overwhelmed. It gives us pause to avoid taking on the action at all since we are unprepared to plan for and consider every potential outcome. We know that we should just try for the MVP, but what IS an MVP if we don’t consider the final polished version?!
- The Idea Hopper - If you’ve ever worked with one, or you are one, oh boy. These are the folks that have to do something, but then, just got a great idea! That we have to go research and rework everything! It’s when you’re avoiding the work by abandoning it for something even better. It’s exciting, but it leaves a wake of unfinished projects behind.
Which one resonates the most with you? I personally like to use a mix of all 5, but my top favorites are Busy Bee, Information Gatherer and The Snowballer.
Read more to find out why we procrastinate and what we can do about it.
While I wrap up some dark academic fantasy novels and then tell y'all about boundary setting soon.
If procrastination is your achilles' heel... reach out. I got you.
xRikki
P.S. These are your last moments to join Mastering the Inner Game of Leadership. A three-week, intimate yet intensive group coaching course with not one, not two, but three executive coaches. Whaaaat. It's going to be hardcore! If you can't make it but want first dibs on the next one - let me know, I can get you on "the list." I know someone. It's me. I'm someone.
Learn Something New(sletter)
Subscribe to the Learn Something New(sletter) and you'll receive actionable, practical tips right in your inbox to try on a new personal or professional development concept. It's going to be fun. A former design researcher/strategist/consultant turned executive leadership and career coach, now I partner with badass folks to reorient their relationship with work and hang out on the edge of growth while they sort out what they want, and what they need.
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