Procrastination: The Thief of Productivity

This week, during our reflection segment in The GrowthPlug Coaching Program, we discussed a common obstacle to productivity:

Procrastination

"Procrastination is the thief of time." — Edward Young

The issue of procrastination isn’t new; for generations, people have struggled with this productivity thief, and sadly, few have managed to defeat it consistently.

Procrastination is simply the act of delaying or postponing tasks or decisions, often unnecessarily or irrationally, despite being aware of the negative consequences.

People procrastinate for a variety of reasons, and often it's a combination of factors that contribute to the behavior. Some reasons include;

1. Lack of self-discipline

2. Lack of motivation

3. Fear of failure

4. Perfectionism

5. Overwhelm

Before we go into ways of overcoming it, I’ll like to offer a different perspective on procrastination that might help you overcome it.

1. If you recognize that you procrastinate frequently, it means you are self-aware.

   This self-awareness is a key solution to a major issue that unproductive people face: they lack an understanding of their challenges, making it even harder to find solutions.

Acknowledgment of Procrastination = Self-Awareness

2. It’s challenging to say you’re procrastinating if the action or decision you need to make is not urgent or important.

For example, if your goal is to run a career coaching business, you cannot claim that you are procrastinating by not attending a music class. This is because attending a music class is not important or urgent in relation to your goals.

This demonstrates that recognizing procrastination involves prioritizing and understanding that the activity or decision is both urgent and important—something you must address.

Acknowledgment of Procrastination = Understanding Priorities

3. One reason people are concerned about procrastination is due to its impact on their plans or life in general. They often have a desire to avoid such consequences.

For instance, if you don’t exercise regularly due to procrastination, you may gain extra weight and struggle to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

This shows that you are aware of the consequences of not doing what you need to do at the right time.

Acknowledgment of Procrastination = Desire for change

From the points above, it is clear that people who procrastinate often already have the potential to overcome it and just need to take action.

Here are some ways to start taking action and overcome procrastination:

1. Use the "5-Minute" Technique

Commit to working on a task for just five minutes. Often, once you start, the inertia of procrastination fades and you find it easier to keep going.

2. Seek Accountability

Share your goals with a friend, colleague, or coach who can check in with you regularly. This creates external motivation to stay on track and finish tasks on time.

PS: Feel free to share your goals with me and I can help keep you accountable.

3. Use Time-Blocking

Allocate specific time slots to work on important tasks. This creates structure in your day and helps you stay focused, reducing the temptation to procrastinate. You can use the pomodoro technique for a start and build on it.

4. Take Action

The longer we wait, the harder tasks can feel, but starting—even with a small step—creates momentum.

Remember that knowing you are procrastinating means you already have some things working in your favor. Aim to build on those strengths to overcome procrastination.

Some other quotes to reflect on procrastination

• "You may delay, but time will not." — Benjamin Franklin

• "Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday." — Don Marquis

• "Procrastination is the bad habit of putting off until the day after tomorrow what should have been done the day before yesterday." — Napoleon Hill

• "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." — Walt Disney

• "Someday is not a day of the week." — Janet Dailey

• "Procrastination makes easy things hard, hard things harder." — Mason Cooley