So says the old adage. What causes procrastination? How many suffer from procrastination? What results from excessive or inherent procrastination? What can be done about procrastination? What causes procrastination? I suffer from it. I have thus spent many hours deliberating on the reasons for my continual procrastination.
I know that I never used to be a procrastinator. Not all that many years ago, I was actively decisive. I routinely followed the “whatever you can do today, don't put off until tomorrow” rule. It isn’t that I have less to do now than I did then. In fact, I suspect that I have more to do now than ever (whatever happened to a retirement following my own pursuits in peaceful disregard for outside occurrences?). I plan, I write lists, I make good intentions every evening for the next day’s occupations. So what goes wrong? Why do I get halfway through the day and find that my carefully laid plans are not coming to fruition?
Is it because I spend far too much time perusing the internet? Why do I do that? There is never any good news and always much to wind me up and make me angry! It isn’t that I don’t try and do anything to support the organisations that are better placed than I to effect change. I write letters to my MP, I talk to as many people as I can (in my somewhat restricted social bubble these days) about the things that exercise all our minds. I try to “influence” (is that the right word? It seems rather to imply that I am being “Machiavellian”!) those who don't seem to be paying attention to the dire stats quo in which we find ourselves. I “share” information that I find as far and wide as I am able. Is my procrastination caused by the simple fact that I have so much that needs my attention that I am now unable to prioritise properly or simply accept that I can only do a bit at a time?
I do make some progress but then I find that looking at what I’ve “achieved” doesn’t seem to have scratched the surface. Then there’s the garden. Like the Forth Bridge it never seems to stop demanding my attention. Why don't weeds stop growing? Bedding plants and other plants come to the end of their cycle. But weeds go on forever! How many suffer from procrastination? I do not know that. I find it hard to believe that I am the only unfortunate, or perhaps incompetent being, that has fallen by the wayside of sloth? Are there others like me that are struggling with their mountain of chores that do not come under the heading of day-to-day household management? Do others, like myself, suddenly find themselves mesmerised by the proliferation of “stuff” that has built up over the years. “Stuff`” that has been put by in case it one day becomes useful again instead of being ditched at the time it stopped actually being useful. I am told that our possessions eventually “own” us. I suspect that there is an element of truth in that saying. I certainly do not think that houses should have lofts. Those empty spaces that are just inviting to be filled with “stuff”. Boxes and boxes of inherited possessions from previous generations. Does anyone else find they have retained such boxes that should long ago have been sorted out and sent off to auction in case they have any slight value to somebody else?
One’s children are another source of “stuff”. They praise themselves (well mine do) that they have rid themselves of their clutter. But what mine forget is that a large proportion of it has been “stored” in my loft!
What results from excessive or inherent procrastination? Well, my first thought on that is, procrastination is a self-fulfilling prophecy! It’s a bit like Topsy in Uncle Toms Cabin, it just grows! The more one procrastinates, the more the beast increases. It becomes engorged upon the unfulfilled intentions that build up day upon day, year upon year. That results in all the most deadly and diminishing thoughts. Dismay, depression, ineffective anger at one’s own shortcomings. Resentment that the unwelcome jobs are there at all, keeping one from the more fulfilling pastimes that would give pleasure and joy instead of gloom and despondency! A certain feeling of “I don't care” anyway, I’m not going to do those things today, I just don't feel like it”!
Then come the self-justification thoughts. It’s too cold; too hot; I have to go shopping now; I will just do this other thing and come back to the list later! I do know that my procrastination finds absolute relief in any diversion that comes along. If I am asked for my help, I cheerfully go off on the welcome diversionary pursuit, happy in the feeling of satisfaction that I am helping someone else and successfully stifling any feelings of “guilt” abandoning the tasks that I find so uncongenial.
What can be done about procrastination? Well, for a start, just having written all this effusion of further self-indulgent procrastination has actually opened my eyes to the causes of the problem. The ‘jobs” that need doing, though none are particularly pressing, are causing me anguish and anxiety that are damaging to my well-being. I think I must learn to intersperse the “procrastination” jobs with other more congenial occupations (like writing this piece). So, the plan now is to space out my days so that small bites of the “procrastination” causes are disposed of in such a way that I can “see where I’ve been” to encourage me to further and more effective action.
I shan’t make lists. I shall attend to whatever “procrastination” job takes my fancy on each occasion. Just so long as the completion of it is “visible”. Then I shall reward myself for my efforts with one of my more pleasing occupations as well. It will take some mental effort to keep to the rule, But I shall give it my best shot. If anyone reading this has experienced “Procrastination” and has any helpful hints and wrinkles to offer, they will be most gratefully received. Just so long as you do not castigate me in any way for my weak procrastination. Those who are making valiant efforts need to be encouraged!!!