Procrastination Is Not About Laziness (E31)

We’ve all heard it: if you know you need to do something and you don’t, you’re lazy. This belief is ingrained in us from a young age. But is it really true?

Questioning the Belief

Is everyone who procrastinates lazy? Consider the widow who hasn’t removed her husband’s clothes from her bedroom or the young mom who keeps putting off buying a birthday present for her son because she’s exhausted from an endless pile of tasks. Who defines which situations are considered lazy and which ones aren’t?

Understanding Procrastination

Procrastination often stems from a part of us trying to avoid pain. There’s a benefit to procrastination, or we wouldn’t engage in it. Here’s a personal example: When I moved from Denver to Seattle, I kept putting off finding a new hairstylist. It was a simple task, yet I delayed it for weeks.

The Real Reason Behind Procrastination

Why did I procrastinate? I was grieving and feeling sad about all the changes in my life. Avoiding this task allowed me to avoid those uncomfortable feelings. Ultimately, those feelings surfaced anyway. If I had addressed the task and my emotions head-on, I could have moved through them sooner.

Facing the Feelings

Procrastination is often about avoiding discomfort. When you procrastinate, you're likely avoiding some form of pain, whether it's emotional, physical, or mental. By acknowledging this, you can start to address the root cause.

Making a Choice

Do you want to keep judging yourself for procrastinating, or would you rather understand why you’re holding yourself back? Understanding the underlying reasons for your procrastination can help you move past it.

Final Thoughts

Procrastination isn’t about laziness; it’s about underlying issues that need to be addressed. By understanding and addressing these root causes, you can overcome procrastination and move forward in a healthier, more productive way. If you’re ready to get to the root of your procrastination, consider joining the free “How to Get Unstuck” masterclass. In this course, I’ll walk you through why you might be feeling stuck and what to do about it.

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