Tackling Procrastination
Pressure can produce hyperfocus
Procrastination is a strategy that can create an environment that can get things done
Brain chemicals crank things up and help get the job done
Those brain chemicals are called adrenaline and cortisol - the ones our brain uses in survival mode, when in distress, or when we are experiencing stress
Try to make sense of why you are procrastinating:
Ask yourself:
What is getting in my way of starting sooner?
What have I been doing instead of __________?
What is it about this particular task that is making it so tricky to get started on?
Some root causes of procrastination:
The task is boring, length or repetitive
The task is intimidating or you don’t know where to start
You feel like you don’t have it in you
Try to brainstorm ideas for how you might do thing differently
Use a key executive functioning skill: Mental Flexibility
-Add something that can engage you while you do the boring thing
-Chunk it down - do the first step
-Find someone you can use to help with accountability - a friend or a coach
-Start a rewards system with an immediate win
-Tell your coach, a friend or a family member why you are avoiding the task -
Make it known
-Manage your energy - find a good time to work on the task
-Carve out a specific time for the first step of your task - keep your energy needs in mind
-Make it REAL - put it on the calendar and tell someone - make the commitment