Beyond Procrastination ? 8 Questions To Ask Yourself

Why am I constantly putting things off? Why don't I do the things I'm "supposed" to do, but don't really want to? Why do I always seem to be forcing myself to do things? Whether it's chores at home, work for school, or projects at work, how do I get beyond procrastination? Most often, something is operating "underneath" the procrastination. Asking yourself these nine questions and spending some conscious time reflecting on your responses can help you uncover why you are resisting doing what needs to be done and support you to move beyond procrastination.

1. What are the benefits of completing a task and what are the consequences of procrastinating? Another way to ask this question is by exploring these four additional questions: (1) what will happen if I do this? (2) what won't happen if I do this? (3) what will happen if I don't do this? and (4) what won't happen if I don't do this? Reflect on your responses and align with the energy and positivity of right action, doing the right thing, while visualizing successful completion.

2. What is my self-talk like? What are the thoughts that support my resistance? Are my thoughts positive and supporting, or limiting and self-sabotaging? Moving to thoughts of joy, appreciation and gratitude can support you to experience an energy shift allowing you to take action.

3. What is my diet like? Do you experience lows, lethargy, laziness and staleness after eating certain foods or drinking certain liquids? Begin to explore your relationship to food and drink and your energy and moods.

4. What is my Life Force (Chi) energy like? Blocked, lacking, low? When one's life force energy is blocked, there is usually some disequilibrium among mind, body and spirit. Movement which supports the flow of Chi energy (such as Yoga and Tai Chi) can restore balance and energy among mind, body and spirit, allowing your Chi energy to flow which supports action and activity.

5. Am I depressed? You might want to have a physical exam and ask for a professional opinion to explore the possibility of a deeper malaise that may be affecting you.

6. What might be a competing committing that keeps me from acting? In other words, there is something I value more than the task I am resisting. This competing commitment is usually fear-based. As an example, a self-employed entrepreneur is resisting organizing her physical space, her office and work environment. When she inquired into her resistance, by journaling deeply into it, she discovered that when she completed the organization of her space then her next goal would be to focus on her business and she was fearful about taking next steps to grow her business. So her competing commitment was to maintain the status quo and do nothing, to resist and procrastinate. So, what might be something you are valuing more, than the task at hand?

7. Am I "acting out" some childhood resistance, as an adult? For example, if you were brought up to believe that "neatness counts" or "you must be organized", you might be rebelling against this belief by not keeping an organized living or work space. It's important to look "underneath" the resistance to inquire about existing beliefs that are driving you to procrastinate.

8. Am I attempting to maintain some self-image? Many folks procrastinate in order to maintain a positive self-image and be "good." In other words, by procrastinating they exonerate themselves from potential blame if something goes wrong or does not work out as they hope, or plan. In such circumstances, these folks delay taking action in the face of deadlines.

These folks are poor self-managers and have difficulty self-regulating. The may spend an inordinate amount of time rationalizing dysfunctional behaviors as they are resisting "failure" in some way, shape or form. So, the resistance shows up as the following behaviors and attitudes: (1) Ignorance -- I didn't know I was supposed to do that; (2) Skill deficiency -- "I don't know how"; (3) Apathy -- "I really don't want to do" or, "It really doesn't make any difference if I put this off." and "No one really cares of I do this or not." or "I'm not in the mood."; (5) Fixed habits and patterns -- "I've always done it this way and it's hard to change."; and "I know I can do it at the last minute." or, "I work better under pressure."; (6) Inertia -- "I just can't seem to get started."; (7) Frail memory ? "I just forgot."; (8) Physical problems ? "I was sick.; and (9) Perfectionism ? "I can't get started as it won't be perfect."

Asking yourself these eight questions can support you to get underneath procrastination and uncover what's really, really at the root of your inaction. By staying with your responses, and inquiring deeply into them, you can begin to raise your level of awareness about the nature of your resistance and then create and take action steps to move forward to both reduce and eliminate the root causes of your resistance and become a "doer" on a consistent basis.

Peter G. Vajda, Ph.D, is co-founder of SpiritHeart, an Atlanta, GA firm specializing in coaching, counseling and facilitating. Peter focuses on personal, business and relationship coaching. He can be reached at 770-804-9125 and pvajda@spiritheart.net

---

Dont Be Afraid To Build The Dream

Don't be afraid to build the dream - Attempting to live our life by our own design is certainly no small feat. Often it means doing without in the short term. It can... Read More

Seven Habits Of Ineffective People

For maximum effectiveness in life, love or business, it helps to have the right habits. You knew that, of course, but don't forget that it also helps to not have the wrong habits.... Read More

Motivation: 7 More Musings on Motivation

1. "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to that mountain, move from here to there, and it shall be done. Nothing will be impossible for you."... Read More

A Burning Desire

"Mommy, he's doing it again." I yelled as I came running into the kitchen where I knew I would find Mother. I was so angry-no MAD-that I was breathing like a wild animal.... Read More

Make Fear a Nine Day Wonder - Motivate Yourself with Fun!

Have you heard something referred to as a "nine day wonder"? The phrase refers to something that causes a sensation for a brief period of time and then fades into obscurity. The origin... Read More

How to Make the Most of Being Let Go

Being let go; suffering redundancy; experiencing downsizing are all very different ways of saying the same thing. Your employer doesn't want you any more. Suddenly, that place; those people you've been bitching about... Read More

Ten Terrific Self Motivating Tips

No one can motivate anyone to do anything. All a person can do for another is provide them with incentives to motivate themselves. Here are ten very effective strategies to help you get... Read More

Unleash Your Unlimited Power

Your Non-Conscious Mind is 98% of your full power. Your Inner Knowing is at least 986,743 times more powerful than your non-conscious mind. The reason is because this inner knowing has direct access... Read More

At A Dead End? Look Deeply Into My Eyes!

The president of a large North Eastern company, doing business internationally, was visiting his California division. While he was there, he saw a very large photograph of, of all people, himself, hanging on... Read More

A Reality Practice

Suggested practice to gain freedom from self-limitation.It is suggested that what is actual and real in the world can only be experienced in the ongoing moment (by moment) and that to be fully... Read More

Hold That Elevator!

As Prince, or whatever his name is now put it in one of his songs, "When Life's elevator tries to bring you down go crazy, punch a higher floor!"Well..., This way to the... Read More

Keep On Keepin On

In those times when everything seems to be going just perfectly, it is easy to keep moving toward the fulfillment of your dreams and ambitions. You are in the flow. The whole world... Read More

Beginnings Arent As Complicated As They Seem

Beginnings are seldom as complicated as they seem. You know what I mean by "complicated ? the dates and the duties and the things-to-be-remembered, the stuff that piles onto your plate with a... Read More

The Toughest Decision of All: Get Out or Get Going!

Many of us are influenced by the sports ethic: Never give up! When a basketball team is down by 20 with 30 seconds on the clock, the players never stop working. Spectators might... Read More

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses

Lately, I've become super sensitive to the amount of excuses people make for not living up to their fullest potential.I have a friend who is starting out on a new venture. He constantly... Read More

Motivation By An Audience

Sooner or later, if you keep working hard in a focused way on a skill or project, you will have an audience even if it is an audience of one.People are naturally attracted... Read More

The Downward Spirals Of Life - Top Ten Steps For Freeing Ourselves From

Some people call them vicious circles or cycles. I prefer to think of them as downward spirals of life. Those periods that we can all become trapped in like the whirlpool of water... Read More

What If I Fall Flat On My Face?

I hope you do. Sounds awful, I know. But I really think the best thing that can happen to you is for you to take a timid little leap and fall flat on... Read More

10 Ways to Overcome Procrastination: The Challenge for Tomorrow!

Did you realize that as much as 47% of the time we spend on-line has nothing whatsoever to do with our work? In 1978 15% of the population stated that they do procrastinate... Read More

Motivation-- The Key Is In Your Actions

Have you ever read something like this as a "way to increase motivation"? :"When you open your eyes get yourself excited to be awake each new day !! Joy is contagious, and so... Read More

The Magic of Success is Actually a Law Set in Motion. Finding it is Quite Simple

Building Energy Around your Investment!For a century or more men and women from various backgrounds have been availed to a secret in business that has created enormous wealth and satisfaction.However when trying to... Read More

Motivation: Tearing Down Your Own Limitations

Q.: I've always been sort of cynical about all this motivational stuff. Lots of rah-rah but no how-to. Now I see all these commercials that talk about no limits, no boundaries, etc. But... Read More

Do you Live the Life you Desire?

There comes a time in every person's life when you look at yourself and wonder what became of all your dreams and plans for the future. What happened to that future? Is it... Read More

Motivation: The Power of Vision

Here's an interesting story from the world of race car driving. One of the most important things that beginning race car drivers learn is what to do when they lose control of the... Read More

Nothing More Than Feelings

"How are you Inventing Your Life Today?" ? the lead story from my last issue of Power & Presence ? drew comments from several readers. Most of the comments went something like: "I... Read More

Being Determined - What Good Will That Do?

'Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.' -- Josh BillingsOn Sunday, June 19th 2005, I was fortunate enough to see hundreds... Read More

Discover the Hidden Power of Self Motivation

Many studies have been done to research the effects of motivation and mental health. As the implications of helping those with negative self-esteem, depression and anxiety are immense this is certainly an area... Read More

Is Fear Killing Your Dreams?

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face...You must do the thing you think you cannot do." - Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962).When... Read More

Motivation By Comparison

Motivation by comparison is a dynamic form of motivation which can totally transform our attitude of mind. It is used much too rarely. It is so powerful it could and perhaps should be... Read More