I’ll do it tomorrow.
How many times have you thought this and before you know it, your good intentions are still just that – your good intentions? I’ve done it more times than I can count. When this happens, it’s a sure sign that it’s time for me to ask myself, “What’s really going on here?”
Merriam Webster defines procrastination as “to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done.”
If something should be done, why would I intentionally put it off?
It’s possible that the task is simply not a big enough priority to make the cut for my time in an otherwise active day. After all, time is finite.
Perhaps I’m simply not interested. A task that is mundane is easy to defer. However, many times that doesn’t explain my procrastination either. Instead, it’s often my inner critic in disguise, whispering all kinds of logical reasons that rationalize why my time is better spent elsewhere.
“You’ve worked hard today. It’s time to wrap up.”
“Look after this tomorrow when you can focus better.”
“It’s not a big deal if it’s not done today.”
“Get to this later after you take a break.”
On the face of it, these can be credible reasons to defer a task. The suspicious part is when these rationalizations become a pattern, and the same task gets deferred again, and again. That’s when I know the inner critic has slyly slipped into my “to do” list and taken it over.
The inner critic is that part of us that wants to maintain our status quo. Sometimes, it shows up as negative, judgemental chatter, admonishing us for a mistake and sometimes, it has a more rational, yet insidious tone that fools us into believing it. Its aim is to keep us from doing what we need to do to make a change. If the task you are putting off is in any way challenging, the inner critic will “come to the rescue” and try to keep you safe. However well intended it may be, the inner critic doesn’t help us with tasks that are risky, complex or create growth. Think of all the reasons why we sign up for the gym in January and why so many of us are no longer going by the end of January and chances are, you can thank your inner critic!
How do we take control back from the inner critic? Try these suggestions and see what works for you:
- Reflect on the task at hand. Is there something about it that makes you nervous, uncomfortable or feels risky? If there is something scary in the task you are putting off, being honest will help you move the inner critic out of the way, face that task and get through it.
- Identify at least one step needed to create action. It’s easy to get lost in the busyness of our schedules. Habits expert, James Clear, makes a helpful distinction between motion and action, stating, “Motion makes you feel like you’re getting things done. But really, you’re just preparing to get something done.” Action, on the other hand, produces a tangible outcome.
- Block time. If my calendar isn’t lining up with my priorities, I either must reprioritize or change how I spend my time. Time blocking is a practice that has helped me focus my attention on the type of work that challenges me, and even scares me. It also creates the space in the day for deeper thinking on more complex or new tasks. Watch out for the inner critic who will probably show up here again to tell you all kinds of reasons why you should do something else during this blocked time.
- Remember the “why”. There is a reason why this task matters to you. Let the experience of completing the task, or the outcome itself, be something that compels you to move forward. Sometimes, when I don’t feel like going to yoga, I remind myself what yoga does for my overall health and well-being.
Lastly, when that inner critic sneaks in to hold you back, don’t be too hard on yourself. A card I once saw reads, “I’m very busy doing things I don’t need to do in order to avoid doing anything I’m actually supposed to be doing.”
So, laugh a little and start again. Today.
