Turning down procrastination

Most of us have two lives. The life we live and the unlived life within us. Between the two stands the Resistance.

– Steven Pressfield

Any time we want to start a creative project, a new habit, or do something that requires emotional labor, we experience something Steven Pressfield calls “The Resistance”¹. The resistance leads to procrastination.

There is a story about how Victor Hugo overcame procrastination to meet the deadline for his novel, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Apparently, he locked away all his formal clothing to prevent him from going outside. He then confined himself to his study until the writing was completed².

Below are some ways The Resistance invites us to procrastinate and suggestions of how to turn down the invitation:

You must have all the information before you make a decision or take action (“analysis paralysis”). Consider:

• Pretend for a moment you have all the information, what will you do?
• What are your instincts telling you?
• Take the first step.
• Set a deadline.

You tend to perfectionism and fear the final product might be flawed. This leads to anxiety, frustration, and delays. Consider:

• Ask, “Is this good enough?”
• Ask, “What is the worst-case scenario if there’s an error?”
• Set a deadline.

 You sometimes agree to do something to avoid conflict or please another but you don’t really want to do it. To get around this, you get distracted by comforting routines and procrastinate on the task. ³ Consider:

• What we avoid doesn’t go away.
• Define your priorities in life and relationships, set boundaries, and advocate for yourself.
• Keep in mind that conflict has the potential to deepen relationships.

You feel overwhelmed or dread the task. The 500 emails in your inbox cause anxiety, or an hour-long workout feels daunting. Consider:

• Break tasks down into small, easily achievable bits⁴. For example, start by opening your computer and just looking at the unread emails. Put on the sneakers. Get the body into position and allow the mind to follow.
• Ask, “What are the consequences of not getting this done? What are the benefits to getting it done?”
• Eliminate distractions.

You procrastinate on taking action because you fear succeeding beyond your wildest dreams. Consider:

• “The more important a call or action is to our soul’s evolution, the more Resistance we will feel toward pursuing it.”¹

Which invitations to procrastinate do you want to turn down?

Sources:

¹Steven Pressfield, The War of Art

²Victor Hugo writing story.

³Shirzad Chamine. Positive Intelligence

⁴Albert Bandura et al. Cultivating competence, self-efficacy, and intrinsic interest through proximal self-motivation.