Procrastinating

Personally, I dislike this word because we have all been guilty of procrastinating at one point or another. Did you know that according to a study done by StudyMode Student Psyche Report, distraction was found to be the most common reason for procrastination (48%)? And 20% of individuals identify themselves as chronic procrastinators as per research by Dr. Joseph Ferrari.

So, what exactly does procrastinate mean? Well, in layman terms, when someone procrastinates, they deliberately postpone something despite the negative consequence of doing so. In other words, we as individuals put off doing something on purpose regardless of the repercussions that will follow suit. This sounds bad right? Well, let’s clear the air first. When we think about someone procrastinating, our thoughts immediately jump to the idea that procrastinators have issues with time management. This is incorrect as these two actions do not correlate with one another.

In fact, most procrastinators are excellent time managers. The reasoning behind procrastinating stems from completing dreaded task or meaningless assignments aka sidetracked. Truth be told I’ve been guilty of procrastinating and not because I couldn’t manage my time but because I did not want to complete a task that was considered boring or repetitive. For example, when it comes to completing my annual taxes, I put it off as long as possible because the task is cumbersome and quite tedious.

Now onto the big question: How can we overcome procrastination? According to a 2020 study in the International Journal of Applied Positive Psychology, people who practiced even brief mindfulness exercises were more likely to stay on task. (Source – National Geographic)

Self-regulation, as a close companion of procrastination (Sirois and Pychyl, 2013), has also been proved to affect people’s wellbeing (De Ridder and Gillebaart, 2017). Self-regulation also appears to be a key factor to ameliorate the negative effect of procrastination.

As a reminder, procrastination is a choice therefore avoidable but if you happen to get stuck in this cycle and feel like there is no way out then try some mindfulness exercises or self-regulation to refine the less desirable outcomes.

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Although the definitions may vary in hindsight, it really all boils down to the same concept – the unproductivity of writing. Many authors and writers have or will face writer’s block for one reason or another which has or will delay their craft from being published. It is important to identify the triggers early on and intercept them so that the circumstance that is causing writer’s block doesn’t drag on. So, let’s explore some of the common triggers that author’s face when writing their literary work.

One of the most common reasons that a writer experiences unproductivity is due to lack of time. The majority of writer’s either do not make money or make enough from their published literary works (unless they become NY Times Best Seller and receive a movie deal from producers) to support their household, therefore their first priority is to their employer. Having a job that is not related to an author’s writing can place a strain on their craft. And not to mention attempting to find the time to write after an 8-hour shift seems nearly impossible. It is crucial for the writer to find balance and reorganize their priorities by being realistic with their time.

Distractions is another nuisance that can also derail a deadline or target date for anyone and not just writers. It’s imperative for the writer to remove themselves from instances and stay focused on the task at hand. In addition to this, the feeling of inadequacy can easily place any writer in the hotseat by making them question their ability to continue writing. As a published author we sometimes feel overwhelmed and begin to wonder whether our writing is good enough or if anyone would even read the material. Word of advice, the author should stay true to themselves and remain passionate about writing. No one can ever take that away from them!

Now, once these triggers have been identified, what can a writer do to avoid them? Do not avoid them because they are inevitable. Instead, intercept and adjust by practicing the following methods:

1. Find that muse to continue writing. The author should think about what inspired them to write in the first place.

2. Change tactics or scenery by moving to a different location from their regular writing spot.

3. Attempt some relaxation techniques to assist with stress or doubts. Yoga and taking deep breaths will usually do the trick.

4. Read a book that will reset their mind and attitude.

5. Create an outline of the chapter that is causing the writer’s block which will elevate the author’s perception and get them back on track.

At the end of the day if the writer is proactive and prepares in advance for when the trigger might occur then intercepting it will be much easier to handle which will save time, assist with impeding the distractions and fulfill any perception of inadequacy.

Month: January 2022

Procrastinating

Writer’s Block