Have you ever asked yourself, why do I procrastinate? It’s a question that many of us ask ourselves at some point. Procrastination is more than just avoiding tasks; it’s a complex issue that can have a significant impact on both our personal and professional lives. In this blog post, we’ll explore the reasons behind procrastination and provide practical strategies on how to stop procrastinating.

Procrastination: A widespread challenge

Procrastination isn’t just a personal quirk; it’s a widespread phenomenon that affects a surprising number of us in the professional world. It goes way beyond just dodging our to-do lists, impacting our productivity, stress levels, financial stability, job performance, and even our health. Here are some eye-opening stats that shed light on the scale of procrastination among professionals and its real-world effects:

• 70% of professionals admit to procrastination.
• 5 hours of unproductive time per week.
• Increased stress levels in 50% of procrastinators.
• 40% of people have experienced financial loss due to procrastination.
• 23% drop in job performance.
• Procrastination leads to a 12% increase in health-related issues.

These numbers open our eyes to how much of an issue procrastination is for professionals—not just messing with work output but also cranking up stress, impacting finances, career progression, and even health.

Understanding procrastination: More than laziness

Procrastination in the professional sphere isn’t about laziness or a lack of discipline. It’s more about how we deal with stress. Recognise yourself in these scenarios? Maybe you’ve brushed off that deadline-induced adrenaline rush as just another day’s work, or perhaps you’ve prided yourself on your ability to perform under pressure, not realising it’s actually stress making you procrastinate.

Why do I procrastinate: The science of procrastination

What’s happening in your brain when you decide that now’s the perfect time to organise your digital photos—instead of tackling that project deadline? There’s a whole lot of brain science behind why we procrastinate, especially when we’re stressed.

Your brain is like a busy office, where the prefrontal cortex is the manager. This part of your brain is responsible for planning and decision-making. When stress kicks in, it’s like suddenly this manager is overwhelmed with calls, emails, and unexpected meetings. In comes the amygdala, our emotional response system, which hits the panic button thinking, “We can’t handle this!” The result? Your brain decides to “evacuate” — or in our case, procrastinate — as a way of coping with the stress.

The ripple effect: How procrastination affects everything

Procrastination isn’t just about missing a deadline; it impacts well-being and achievements. The ripple effects can be broad and long-lasting, affecting missed opportunities, strained relationships, reputation, career progression, job satisfaction, personal stress, sleep, health, and mental well-being.

Sleep Your Way to Less Stress

A good night’s sleep might be the key to breaking free from procrastination’s grip. There’s a fascinating connection between stress, procrastination, and the quality of your sleep. When you’re well-rested, your ability to manage stress improves, making it easier to kick procrastination to the curb.

Get your free sleep training here.

Solution Focused Hypnotherapy: A path to break free

Imagine professionals stuck in a rut, battling the stress and anxiety that come with procrastination. Enter Solution Focused Hypnotherapy (SFH), a powerful tool that can help break these chains. SFH combines the best techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), and the amazing effects of hypnosis. It’s all about helping you focus on the solutions rather than dwelling on the problems.

Get in contact with me to find out more and book in for a free initial consultation.

5 Solution focused questions to challenge procrastination

To end, I leave you with 5 solution focused questions that can help you tackle procrastination head-on:

1. What’s the first small step? Instead of feeling overwhelmed by a task, ask yourself, “What’s the first small step I can take right now?” Breaking it down into manageable chunks makes it less daunting.
2. What’s my end goal? Define your end goal clearly. Ask, “What will I achieve once this task is done?” Visualizing the outcome can motivate you to start.
3. What resources can I use? Don’t go it alone. Ask, “Who or what can help me with this?” Seeking support or using tools can make tasks easier.
4. What’s my ideal outcome? Imagine the best-case scenario. Ask, “What would my ideal outcome look like?” Focusing on the positive can boost motivation.
5. How will I celebrate progress? Plan for rewards. Ask, “How will I celebrate each step I complete?” Small celebrations along the way can keep you motivated.

Procrastination can be a tough nut to crack if you find yourself asking “why do I procrastinate” but these questions can be your toolbox for change. Give them a try, and remember, progress, no matter how small, is still progress.

You’ve got this!