by Dan Goodwin
Procrastination is one of the most feared and destructive enemies of creativity there is.
Habits of procrastination can wreak havoc with your ability to create anything of any real meaning for yourself, and sometimes it prevents you creating anything at all.
So why IS procrastination so destructive?
Because most procrastination habits involve very simple, and seemingly harmless activities. When you procrastinate, there’s not a huge announcement on the local news saying:
“Artist announces two year long round the world cruise in an effort to procrastinate and avoid creating what really matters!”
In fact there’s no announcement at all. It just slips in, virtually unnoticed.
Maybe I’ll just check my email, then I’ll get down to work...
My mind can’t create while that pile of clothes is still in the laundry, I’ll go and deal with that, then come back and create...
I’ll just get another drink, then I can continue creating...
I’ll watch a little TV, just to wind down, then I’ll be in the perfect frame of mind to create...
Sound at all familiar?
So how can you beat procrastination, when it’s determined to be so devious and stealth-like, creeping up on you without so much as a polite introduction?
This is the first crucial step.
Unless you grasp this, you will always be in the grip of procrastination.
You will always avoid creating because you don’t realise you ARE avoiding creating!
So what’s this vital step?
Simple accept that you do procrastinate.
“What? Is that it?” I can hear you asking. But think about it for a second. What kind of feelings will appear when you admit you procrastinate? They’re not joyful, jolly, hooray-I’m-going-to-buy-a-dozen-balloons-a-party-hat-and-dress-up-as-clown-I’m-so-happy kind of feelings.
You’re more likely to feel weak, ashamed, pathetic, useless, frustrated. Not pleasant. Which is why you don’t admit it.
But before we paint this story in too deep a shade of despair, remember this: Everyone procrastinates.
Yes, absolutely everyone, at some point or other, to some extent. It’s not a mortal sin, and you’re not some shunned outcast, the only person in your town who procrastinates. In fact you’re not even the only person in your postal code who procrastinates!
Once you’ve admitted it, you’re instantly in a stronger, more informed, more in control position.
A position from which you can take the next step in beating your procrastination.
But there’s no short cuts. Miss this crucial first step and you’ll forever procrastinate, and it’s likely it’ll become even worse as you find more and more devious ways to do it.
Take the first step today.
Say: “Yes, I procrastinate. And that’s OK. Now I’m ready to take the next step to beat procrastination..."
Procrastination is one of the most feared and destructive enemies of creativity there is.
Habits of procrastination can wreak havoc with your ability to create anything of any real meaning for yourself, and sometimes it prevents you creating anything at all.
So why IS procrastination so destructive?
Because most procrastination habits involve very simple, and seemingly harmless activities. When you procrastinate, there’s not a huge announcement on the local news saying:
“Artist announces two year long round the world cruise in an effort to procrastinate and avoid creating what really matters!”
In fact there’s no announcement at all. It just slips in, virtually unnoticed.
Maybe I’ll just check my email, then I’ll get down to work...
My mind can’t create while that pile of clothes is still in the laundry, I’ll go and deal with that, then come back and create...
I’ll just get another drink, then I can continue creating...
I’ll watch a little TV, just to wind down, then I’ll be in the perfect frame of mind to create...
Sound at all familiar?
So how can you beat procrastination, when it’s determined to be so devious and stealth-like, creeping up on you without so much as a polite introduction?
This is the first crucial step.
Unless you grasp this, you will always be in the grip of procrastination.
You will always avoid creating because you don’t realise you ARE avoiding creating!
So what’s this vital step?
Simple accept that you do procrastinate.
“What? Is that it?” I can hear you asking. But think about it for a second. What kind of feelings will appear when you admit you procrastinate? They’re not joyful, jolly, hooray-I’m-going-to-buy-a-dozen-balloons-a-party-hat-and-dress-up-as-clown-I’m-so-happy kind of feelings.
You’re more likely to feel weak, ashamed, pathetic, useless, frustrated. Not pleasant. Which is why you don’t admit it.
But before we paint this story in too deep a shade of despair, remember this: Everyone procrastinates.
Yes, absolutely everyone, at some point or other, to some extent. It’s not a mortal sin, and you’re not some shunned outcast, the only person in your town who procrastinates. In fact you’re not even the only person in your postal code who procrastinates!
Once you’ve admitted it, you’re instantly in a stronger, more informed, more in control position.
A position from which you can take the next step in beating your procrastination.
But there’s no short cuts. Miss this crucial first step and you’ll forever procrastinate, and it’s likely it’ll become even worse as you find more and more devious ways to do it.
Take the first step today.
Say: “Yes, I procrastinate. And that’s OK. Now I’m ready to take the next step to beat procrastination..."
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