The Source of Procrastination

Procrastination is a very common concept. It's the explanation we use when we leave things to the last minute and do a half ass job on them. We are then left  with the horrible feeling like we did a really bad job, we could have done better and we're in a space of shoulda, coulda, woulda.

But what's really at the core of procrastination? It's the unwillingness to make a choice. We're presented with choices everyday - what to get at Starbucks, to run the yellow or to pick up the phone call from your mother in law. In those moments, we don't hesitate. If you do, you'll have a line of people annoyed at you, you get a ticket or your mother in law is nagging at you at the next family dinner.

Yet, when we're faced with more pressing issues, the issues that really determine our bottom line, we're able to avoid the issue and put it on the bottom of our to do list. That my friend, is pure procrastination. What would happen if you just dealt with the issue head on, made a choice and followed up with the necessary actions determined by your choice? Your inbox would be empty, you would be productive and the feeling of accomplishment would actually consume you. Your hump-day would no longer be a hump; it would be a highlight.

It is very easy to give into the the idea "I can do that later" but we forget how many tasks we say that to and the list piles on. Tackling the issue the moment it is brought up is a win-win situation. So, what is it about making a choice? For me, sometimes it's not knowing what the right choice is or not having all of the information and even not willing to put in the amount of time that is required to render a choice. With all of those objections, how would I succeed with my bottom line? I wouldn't. It's plain and simple. Then the next time I'm confronted with the idea of "I can do that later", I'll either do it at that moment or schedule when later is. Because we all know, "someday" isn't in any of the seven days.

To that note, I'd like to leave with a quick concept that I got from Fast Company. You can't be afraid to fail. You have to make choices and in making those choices you learn from them. That is how you grow, that is how you succeed and that is how you fulfill your business. Tackle a choice that you've been putting off today!