This particular period was supposed to have an upside – offer extra free time, but as I look around, I see more and more people complaining that it wasn’t so and this got me thinking about lack of time as a procrastination reason. Time is a limited resource that cannot be multiplied. It can only be saved and used wisely. Starting here, I’d like us to look at some of the most commonly used procrastination reasons and how these can be fought.
Is lack of time a valid procrastination reason?
The first phrase that comes to mind when we postpone doing something is the proverbial: I did not have time. So let’s come back to the earlier statement that time is a limited resource. This is an axiom that cannot be disputed. Since time cannot be multiplied (like money for example), then it needs to be saved and invested intelligently. Lack of time does not qualify as a cause for postponements, though it is commonly used as such. Lack of time in itself is a result of poor organizational skills. So next time you argue to yourself or others that you postponed because of time shortage, it’s a good idea to ask yourself: What consumed my time and why? Finding the answer to this question might lead you to the true cause rather than using the excuse of time constraints.
What does lack of time cover for?
Getting to the real procrastination reasons is not a hard task as long as there is commitment towards improvement. Once you realize that lack of time is just an effect, you’re already halfway there. You can improve, if you work on your prioritization and time management skills. Nowadays, there are many distractions that compete for our time and attention. We need to be mindful of what we give in to. There are other reasons that lead us to procrastination and we are so used to blaming it on lack of time that we just don’t realize the true root-causes.
Tasks we don’t like
Most of the things we put off are things we dread. Imagine clearing the garage, sorting your clothes, or compiling that monthly report. These are only a few examples of the things you postpone because they make you cringe. Each of us has different affinities and thus, it would be hard to make a list of commonly hated things that are postponed. However, there is a way for you to do this each and every time you find yourself delaying certain duties. Reflect on the actual reason for doing this.
Ask yourself why did you put off that particular thing? Don’t settle for the frivolous “Didn’t have time!”. Dig deeper and understand if indeed it was something you just did not like. Normally, you know yourself very well so you can easily identify the things you dislike. Nonetheless, at times it might be that you just did not think to dive deeper. The key to overcome this is to always question the first argument you give when procrastinating.
Be honest with yourself and you’ll only gain from it!
Fear of Failure
According to a 2016 study, the most common phobia is fear of failure, atychiphobia. If you are among the lucky ones, you experienced this fear at least once in your life. If not, then you are like the rest of us. You have faced this fear multiple times. You learned to live and cope with it, as it manifests in different forms at different stages of our lives. Maybe you are still confounded by it from time to time. The best you can do is learn to acknowledge and manage it, rather than deceiving yourself that it does not exist.
Fear of failure has multiple definitions, because failure in itself can be interpreted in different manners. Failure can be embarrassing. It might mean that one is not good enough according to standards. It might bring personal and others disappointment, but ultimately when you fail you lose something. To be more specific, fear of failure as a procrastination reason means that you don’t think you’ll be able to finalize the task as expected. This leads you to delay so that you won’t have to face the consequences of defeat.
However, most of the time this fear is unjustified. It only leads you towards delays. These cause a different type of frustration than the one you’re running from. See? It is a vicious circle cause you’re trying to protect yourself from an anguish but causing instead a different one.
Remember that there is nothing more forceful than the power of doing, so stop delaying and start doing!