Why do we procrastinate and one simple thing we can do about it

There is a theme that is running for a good chunk of life.?

And this is also a theme I see in so many people around me.?

And we all have done well in life despite that, but it has kept us from tapping into our true potential. And I can feel the untapped potential… if only I can get over the challenge of…?

PROCRASTINATION.?

I have talked to hundreds of people via deep coaching conversations, and I am starting to see patterns through these conversations and through my own experience and through reading I do.?

There are many many reasons for procrastination, but I have been documenting some that are fresh for me. I made a series of videos recently, which I would love to share here.?

So, why do we procrastinate??

Not having focus is a big one, or having too many foci/focuses. We tend to not let go of some things that are less important in order to really go for what we truly want, and that creates ambivalence and procrastination (see [1]).?

Sometimes, we procrastinate because we are impatient about results and the lack of dopamine hits create lack of motivation (see [2]). Other times, we are afraid of failure and would rather not take action than take action and fail (see [3]). We are just so afraid of having a low opinion of ourselves or afraid of others having a low opinion of ourselves, because we failed.?

When we lack clarity, we tend to procrastinate because we are too overwhelmed with the options (see [5]). Barry Schwatz in his book and TED talk titled Paradox of Choice documents and researches this phenomenon in detail. We are inclined to buy no ketchup when there are 50 choices available, but if there were only one or two choices, we have an easier time making the choice.?

Hard conversations are a fertile ground for procrastination for a lot of people (see [4]). Our need to prepare and needing to win an argument can delay a conversation from happening in the first place.?

There are no silver bullets for procrastination, but one thing that seems to work almost always is reducing the size of commitment and getting started. Committing small creates consistency, which builds identity, which in turn makes us do things that might be impossible for someone with a different identity (see [6]). For example, a person with the identity of a healthy person will have an easier time losing weight than a person with the identity of an unhealthy person (see Atomic Habits by James Clear).?

I loved making these videos to shed some light on procrastination. It was timely for me, as the start of the new year is when we over-commit and then fail to take action.?

Hope you find them helpful. If you have any questions or comments or want to explore this challenge of yours through a deep conversation, I would love to explore this with you.?

Comment here, or message me directly. In either case, enjoy the videos.?

[1] Non-focus areas to deepen attention on your focus areas - https://youtu.be/1BqAvJ0VHfU?

[2] Why we procrastinate - Process vs. Outcome - https://youtu.be/EsXnQk85-N0?

[3] Why we procrastinate: Fear of Low Opinion - https://youtu.be/-6zlhGivetE?

[4] How and why we procrastinate having Difficult Conversations - https://youtu.be/WYGsOSZMI3M?

[5] Procrastination due to Lack of Clarity - https://youtu.be/beEf9b-hX4M?

[6] Committing Small to Eliminate Procrastination - https://youtu.be/okLYsfoUZi8?