How Procrastination and I (Finally!) Broke Up

Hello, my name is Emily, and I’m a procrastinator.

As much as I hate admitting I’m a procrastinator in a public forum, it’s true. I’m hoping that this post will help those of you who are like me.

Procrastination. It means to delay action or to put something off, which is something we all do from time to time. But when one is called a procrastinator, it often comes with undertones of being disorganized – or even worse, lazy, which is not always true.

But did you know that procrastination is a big part of being human? Don’t take my word for it; take Harvard’s:

“The problem is our brains are programmed to procrastinate. In general, we all tend to struggle with tasks that promise future upside in return for efforts we take now. That’s because it’s easier for our brains to process concrete rather than abstract things, and the immediate hassle is very tangible compared with those unknowable, uncertain future benefits. So the short-term effort easily dominates the long-term upside in our minds—an example of something that behavioral scientists call present bias.”

Ah-ha! So that’s why I can knock out the dishes like I’m a fricking fictional teacup maid in “Beauty and the Beast,” but when it comes to starting those big projects that I’ve known about for weeks, I tend to put them off until the last minute.

The problem lies less in the here-and-there examples and more in the habitual ones. That’s precisely why I’ve found myself in similar situations again and again, whether it’s scrambling to keep up with deadlines, running late or feeling creatively strapped. I hate the feeling of perpetually playing catch-up, mainly because I’m actually an organized person.

Why, then, do I continually find myself on a metaphorical treadmill, struggling to get ahead?

The Reasons Why I Procrastinate

Let me start by asking a question. Do you ever feel like procrastination and seeking balance are two sides of the same coin? Think about that for a moment.

Here’s my take: The more I explore this topic, the more I find that procrastination and productivity may be more related than one might think. I know, I know… I’m a focus group of one, and my idea is backed entirely by unscientific reasoning. But hear me out.

In addition to being a procrastinator, I’m an action-oriented person. I take on a lot, and I often juggle a lot of balls at once. Usually too many. My procrastination is at its worst when I find my subconscious craving more balance and more freedom to think. 

Particularly when it comes to working, I’ve found that I’m at my best when I have a little breathing room to think, brainstorm, read, take in my surroundings and feel inspired. If I have a healthy workload, I feel motivated and enabled. However, if I take on too much, the opposite happens. I feel anxious and frustrated, my breathing room dwindles, and all of a sudden, I’m on that treadmill again.

It seems counterintuitive, because steadily knocking out my to-do list could create the breathing room that I crave. In my work life, there are busy seasons; if I’m lucky, I’ll have multiple clients who need work delivered on time. That’s a good problem to have, right?

But when that happens, I tend to prioritize the things that make me feel productive in the short term instead of those that I know will lead to long-term success. It’s the gratification of “now,” I think.

In addition to this, I have a few other tendencies that work against me in this space:

• I tend to overestimate my abilities. I’ll look at a project and think, “Oh great! I can knock that out in X hours.” The reality is that it’s going to take twice as much time. Instead of planning for the worst, I plan for the best. Of course, the reality usually falls somewhere in the middle.

• I am definitely a perfectionist. I don’t like to deliver work that I’m not proud of or work that isn’t of the highest quality. Being a perfectionist often means that I will spend a lot more time refining details or elements that others likely won’t even notice.

• Last, I am easily distracted. Tell me if this sounds familiar: I’ll sit down to work on a project, and all of a sudden, my phone will buzz. I’ll receive some form of incoming contact, and SQUIRREL! An hour later, I’m right back where I started, wondering what the heck I just did for 60 minutes.

How Procrastination And I Broke Up

Here’s the thing, guys: Procrastination has been a life-long battle for me. But I’ve kicked it to the curb! We’ve broken up! We’re done forever! I’m now the PERFECT, IDEAL WORKER AND FOREVER WILL BE! (Reality check: We’re all works in progress.)

Below are the tips that have helped me show procrastination the door.

Start Somewhere

This one is huge, especially for creative assignments. Sometimes, starting a project is the most daunting part of the process. I’ve found that even if I start the smallest piece of it, I’ll prioritize finishing the project in a more timely manner than if I don’t. Plus, did you know that there’s a proven psychological tendency called the Zeigarnik Effect? It says that humans are more likely to finish something once they’ve started it.

Make Lists

Remember my “Tips for Productivity While Working From Home”? Making a list was at that top of that… er… list. Ha! Whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed by tasks that need to be done, getting those to-dos out of my head and onto paper is what helps the most. I make multiple topical lists along the lines of “Home,” “Work,” and “Life.” I prioritize the items on each list, and I dive in from there. If I’m working on a particularly big project, I’ll break it down into smaller pieces on those lists. That way, it doesn’t feel quite as daunting.

Maximize Time

There are only so many hours in a day. This is a fact of life. As much as I wish I could create more time — especially daylight — I can’t. So, as a mother who is working and juggling a million things on an average day, I’ve learned that the biggest factor in getting ahead is proper time management.

Driving efficiencies with your time is huge, particularly with work-related tasks. If I have five hours to work before picking up the kids from school, how can those five hours be the most productive? What are the tasks that I need to do that day, and what are the ones that can hold off for another day? How long can I spend on each task before I need to move on to the next? What can I start that will enable me to get ahead?

Be Smart With Technology

In my line of work, it’s always important to be connected in order to get projects done. A big part of my job involves sharing lifestyle elements in the moment — things like outfits of the day or what our family is up to on the weekends. Because of this, the connection is key. When I try to put something live in the moment and I’m not able to, it only adds to my list of things “to do.”

In order to stay connected on the go and prevent procrastination, Doug and I lean heavily on Xfinity WiFi hotspots. Our Xfinity Internet service includes access to millions of hotspots at no extra cost. You’d be amazed at how often they come in handy!

Our love of hotspots started when we lived in Chicago. We’d regularly drive back and forth to Michigan, and whoever wasn’t driving would leverage a local hotspot to get work done. (Note the “Maximize Time” tip above!)

Our road trips are less frequent in the present day, but we still use Xfinity WiFi hotspots when we’re not at home. They are practical in places where we need to connect quickly and reliably, such as restaurants or airports. It’s super easy: We pull up the Xfinity WiFi Hotspots app, which allows us to locate nearby hotspots and connect to them easily. We used this a few times while in Austin, because our AirBnB internet was super slow and we both had emails to get out!

Set Deadlines

This is such a GAME CHANGER. One of the hurdles I’ve found with entrepreneurship is the fact that I have to self-regulate. There’s no one holding me accountable, there are no project managers, there are no bosses to answer to and there is no help. It’s all on me. I’ve needed to learn — and learn quickly — to prioritize organization and make sure that I’m managing projects, timelines and tasks correctly so that I don’t fall behind.

The most important aspect here is to create deadlines and hold myself accountable. Otherwise, projects tend to fall through the cracks and take far longer than they should. That’s especially the case with things that are further down on the list and not as “immediate.”

Done Is Better Than Perfect

Doug and I have been reminding each other of this, especially when we find ourselves sitting next to each other at 1 a.m., eyes glued to our computers, frantically typing while trying to get ahead. I have a really hard time with this piece of advice, but I’m learning to let go a bit more. Through my years in the advertising industry, the corporate world and now through blogging, I’ve learned that the minute details don’t matter as much as the overarching story and purpose. While prioritizing quality work should always be the goal, perfection for perfection’s sake is never the target.

In fact, perfection is actually not attainable.

This is just a truth of life. When it comes to your work, no one will notice or care as much as you do. Don’t stress over the little things. In the end, they may not even matter.

Alright, my fellow jugglers. I know you all have lots of balls in the air at any given time, like me. How do you get it all done? Are you a procrastinator? Have you beat procrastination? What are your tips? Leave your thoughts in the comments below!

Xfinity sponsored this post. However, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the amazing brands that sponsor Isn’t That Charming!

P.S. Did you know that if you refer your friends to Xfinity, you can get up to $500 in Visa Prepaid Cards? True story. Go here for more information!

If you liked this read, here are a few others you may enjoy: 7 Tips for Productivity While Working From Home + Noteworthy Takeaways from Create + Cultivate NYC