Procrastination; Why Do We Overthink Tasks Instead Of Doing Them At Times?

Acquire results by stopping the excuses.

“Start by doing what’s necessary, then what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”

– Francis of Assisi

Everyone is different yet no one will ever completely mastered procrastination being this is such a complex issue.

There are so many reasons why we overthink tasks instead of doing them. However, the most crucial part is to figure out why we are procrastinating along the way and turn it around quickly.

Therefore, the reason why you might be procrastinating is key to starting. Anyhow, every day, each task will be different. You might have done these routine tasks over and over again, but they are never identical.

Although you might feel you are doing the same old same old and are bored, there is a deeper reason. Are the dishes extra grimy, or is the laundry pile heaping? Right off the bat, it’s vital to seek the cause for the apprehension of the everyday tasks.

Next, there are the more significant tasks that maybe you have never done before. These will be even more challenging if procrastination has set in. Chances are you might be struggling with trying new things in general, so a new task might seem impossible. So, nipping procrastination with everyday tasks will set you up for success with the more difficult things.

The reasons for procrastination are personal and our excuses can get very creative at times. So, I’m going to only touch on seven scenarios to keep this article helpful and not overwhelming.

Timely rewards

For starters, rewards can be motivating. Yet, they need to be relatively timely rewards and not too far into the future.

A reward that has worked over and over for me is a twenty-minute break after forty minutes of working on one or two tasks.

I like to work on one chore for twenty minutes and switch to another for twenty more minutes and then rejuvenate for the last twenty minutes in the hour.

I always grab some water and sit down to relax doing something fun. You will find me either reading, writing, painting, or napping. Don’t forget to set the timer for twenty minutes and then get back to work.

What is a timely reward that you could use the next time you find yourself procrastinating?

Future best self

A disconnect from our future best self can be a culprit. I’m sure we all want better for ourselves in the future, but a disconnect can be that we feel our tomorrow self will be better qualified for the task at hand.

However, this is an excuse our minds have made up. We cannot suddenly wake up being a super motivated person if the night before we went to bed procrastinating. It doesn’t work that way. A disconnect can happen, thinking your future best self will be able to handle it later.

How can you look at this differently as doing a favor for your future best self? Be kind to yourself.

Too much to do

We have all had the feeling of being defeated before we even try. Needless to say, when we have too much to accomplish in a day, do we sometimes make a mountain out of a molehill?

For starters breaking your tasks down while using the above quote can help. Do what’s necessary, then what’s possible. And if you are feeling defeated, then today is not the day to focus on the impossible alone. Therefore, don’t forget to ask for help if you are struggling.

How might you rearrange your strategy the next time you discover you are feeling defeated?

Overthinking

Anxiety or depression is different for everyone. My daughter suffers greatly, and we often talk about the subject. Feeling anxious about the tasks at hand can cause a perceived lack of control. Which then can cause resistance to the task at hand, but then procrastination can cause even more anxiety. These behaviors can cause a vicious cycle, and nothing gets done.

Control is a symptom of anxiety. Although being a control freak is no way to be towards others. However, how might you use some self-control for your future best self? It’s okay to take small steps, but these steps can lead you to higher ground.

How might you gain back some control in this area of tasks in your life the next time you become aware of this loop?

Perfectionism

The all-or-nothing attitude is a critic. However, perfectionism isn’t always the culprit to procrastination. Perfectionism can actually lead a person to work harder to accomplish things.

However, perfectionism when it comes to not starting things because they need to be perfect or things never get done because you are striving for something to be flawless can cause procrastination. It’s better to have tried than to have never got started but learning when to quit is another thing.

How might you overcome this the next time you feel yourself striving for perfectionism?

Fear of failure

There truly isn’t any failure, only feedback. However, you must determine if you are possibly suffering from a lack of motivation because of the fear of being criticized. Watch out because we can tend to be our worst critics.

Sometimes the lack of confidence with a task or in ourselves can cause a delay in completing a task. When we are better equipped, we are much more confident. Asking for help can be a confidence booster for both people involved. The person helping can feel good about showing another person how to do something, and in return, the person who asked for help becomes better equipped for next time.

How might you view asking for help differently in the future when you notice procrastination due to the lack of confidence?

Lack of motivation

Or is it a lack of energy holding you back from completing your household or work tasks? When your energy is holding you back, you must be patient with yourself.

Perhaps a day of self-care instead of tasks is in order. You can’t keep giving and giving, doing and doing, and expect always to be full of energy and life.

Motivation craves movement so in order to accomplish anything, you must have the energy first.

How might you take care of yourself better the next time your energy is running low, and the smallest of tasks are overwhelming you?

Takeaways

You can be your worst critic who stops yourself from doing those much-needed tasks by overthinking.

Learning what reason or reasons could be stopping you from getting started while applying a quick turnaround approach to procrastination is key.

Every day and every task are different. Being kind to yourself along the way is essential while learning to nurture yourself and your future best self.

You will soon be showing procrastination who the boss is one task at a time. Get ready to start slam-dunking those tasks ahead of you — one by one.

“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” — Michael Jordan

I’m writing this as a thank you note to my beloved grandma on my dad’s side of the family. Although she never shared her productive cleaning routines with me in words, her clean home and behaviors encouraged me.

I’m also thanking Trista Signe Ainsworth for her brilliant organizational skills and knowing when to take a break to clear the clutter in her mind and home. I’m grateful for her publication, Thank You Notes.