Keep the torch

Getting sick over the weekend (I'm much better now, thanks for asking) gave me the opportunity to reflect on a sophisticated form of procrastination.

I like to call it "pass the torch" procrastination.

I do it all the time. I find an external reason for not progressing on a task.

I'm sick right now. So let's do the monthly accounting when I feel better instead of doing it now when I'm stuck at home recovering and doing nothing very creative in the meantime.

I have many more examples.

Answering an email with a question so that the next action is not on me.

Asking for the opinion of as many stakeholders as possible so I don't have to make a decision today. We call this delegation, right?

Not working on slides because I'm waiting for a graph from someone else.

Not going to the groceries because the bank is supposed to call me soon.

The danger of procrastination is not in procrastinating. It's in feeling justified doing so. It's in the story we tell ourselves. The control we're relinquishing.

Because when we keep relinquishing control, we feel alienated from ourselves. We hurt our self-esteem.

So, in moments of mental strength, I try to catch myself. I try to keep the torch.

And no, I haven't done my accounting yet.