Procrastination: You really can beat it!

Ironically, writers are some of the worst procrastinators.

Maybe it has to do with our value for the craft—we know what a pandora’s box we can open when we pick up a writing project and how much time and heart it takes to get it just the way we want it. It could be the fear of getting stuck, becoming paralyzed by all the options, or not being able to replicate previous success. For me, it’s fear of falling in love with what I’ve done and then not being able to finish or see it fully realized.

Procrastination is a lazy urge to aim at nothing and avoid disappointment, to attempt something easy or painless instead. However, by this very means, procrastination is an outright enemy.

It robs you of what you truly want and were made for, perpetuating a self-fulfilling prophecy the longer you give in. It feeds your brain a steady diet of failure and guilt, making you want to avoid the task all the more.

A healthy perspective regarding your schedule and a balanced lifestyle will help guard against it. Flexibility is also key, since seasons are always shifting, prompting the inevitable need to adjust our priorities...again.

Here are some of the ways I overcome procrastination in my writing. Some of these tips are prevention-based, and some are to help you attack whatever task you’ve been avoiding. Not all of these are appropriate for every situation; therefore, you’ll need to stop and seek the Lord for guidance and direction on what would be most helpful in a particular scenario.   

1. SIMPLIFY. Sometimes, you’re making things too complicated or trying to copy how someone else is doing it. Strip the task down to the bare bones of what you actually want to accomplish, and trim it into bite-sized portions that aren’t so overwhelming.   

2. ASK GOD FOR HELP with the specific thing that’s stumping you. If there’s a problem you honestly don’t know how to solve, actually stop and bring it before God. Then either pause to listen or spend some time worshipping. He’ll either provide a direct answer (it’s not always what you think) or He’ll redirect you, but either way, He will help.

3. SET UP WHAT YOU NEED. If you’re going to spend an hour writing every morning, maybe keep your laptop plugged in and a dictionary and notepad next to it. If you want to be ready to jump right into the task itself, set yourself up for success with little preparations ahead of time.   

4. SWITCH IT UP. Sometimes, the discomfort of procrastination points to the fact that your routines aren’t working. Try something different; move some things around. Trial and error are part of the process.

5. GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME. Do you need to review your notes from yesterday’s writing session or listen to a favorite song that always motivates you? Does exercise make you come alive? Or reading? Dedicate a little bit of time to whatever stirs your enthusiasm (within reasonable limits; don't let it become a sinkhole of time-wasting).

6. COMPLETE A "POWER HOUR" to get other tasks out of the way. Are you going to be too distracted to sit down and write if the dishes aren’t done? Take care of that so your mind can be as relieved as possible.  

7. DELAY TREATS for momentum. If you have a coffee date planned with a friend at 2pm, try to push yourself to get your writing or any other necessary tasks done prior to that. Having something to look forward to motivates you.

8. SET A TIMER for 5-10 minutes to prove that you can do the task for that long. If you’re overwhelmed at the thought of hours of work, break it down into something that feels really doable, and chances are, when the time's up, you’ll want to keep going.

9. DO IT AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE. If you’ve decided to get something done, don’t delay. Things might get busy later; better to knock out your priorities so that they’re not hanging over you, and you’ll be better prepared for what might happen the rest of the day.

10. STAGGER DEEP WORK AND BREAKS. This prevents overwhelm and fatigue and also provides a fresh perspective.

11. DO IT IMMEDIATELY. This works best for little things like texting a friend or calling the doctor or putting an item away, but give it a try! Start the task the second it enters your mind rather than putting it off.

12. DON'T PIT PRIORITIES AGAINST EACH OTHER. You can actually procrastinate at something important by doing something else that's also important! But doing this too often can cause you to resent your priorities for getting in each other's way. Try setting a specific time for each thing that matters to you so that you're not feeling pulled in so many directions.

13. REVIEW YOUR "WHY" REGULARLY. Just because something is important to you doesn’t mean it will always feel that way. You need to remind yourself of your goals and your reasons behind pursuing them to keep yourself motivated.

14. REFRAME "FAILURE". If work piled up or something unexpected happened or you just needed a day to recharge with the Lord, you didn’t fail. Progress and obedience in what’s important is what we should be after. If you're seeing a negative pattern, talk to the Lord about solutions. Most of the time those will become obvious once the real problem is revealed, but you can't focus on that as long as you're accepting defeat.

15. REWORK. If you’ve been trying to get something done, and it just isn’t working even after readjusting and trying several of these tips, be willing to seek the Lord about whether or not this should even be a priority right now or if there’s another way you could tackle it.

16. CELEBRATE what you got done each day. Track this on your phone or in your journal. Fill up those calendar squares with one thing you accomplished, even if it’s just: "wrote a paragraph, didn’t complain, got outside for a run", etc.

17. CLEAR YOUR PLATE of "empty calories". We can’t do everything, so if you’re overloaded with things that don’t really matter, it will be harder to focus on what does. Reset your priorities each season with the Lord. (I actually do this; I have a mini debrief session with Him every Friday, a longer review every last day of the month, and a big one in December. It's a game-changer that will teach you vision and keep you in step with His priorities for your life!)

The power of procrastination is avoidance, so action is the key!

It's a mixture of remaining flexible with life in general while staying disciplined enough that you don’t derail yourself. If you celebrate more than you complain, you will defeat procrastination before it starts. Be intentional with what you know will work, and then do it! When it stops working, change things up. Pray about everything, every step of the way. Make sure your goals align with God's plan for your life and not just how the world defines success.

And whatever you do, whether it's a slow season or a fast one, whether you're writing one sentence a day or half a novel...if it's important to you and the Lord, DON'T GIVE UP!

Side Note:

Procrastination is not just a personality-type; it’s a learned behavior because the task or your manner of doing tasks carries some kind of pressure or guilt or fear. If you’re consistently plagued with procrastination, it’s worth asking God where the fear is coming from connected to that task and do one of three things:

1.      Try some of the tips on this list (above); exposure therapy may rid you of the dread of doing the task if you just face it and do it deliberately every day for a season

2.      Work with God to tackle the inherent fear connected to the task or remove the pressure if you can (for example, decide to write a book that you will not be showing anyone)

3.      If none of this works, consider laying the task aside, acknowledging that it’s not important enough to you in this season to be a priority and you’re willing to accept the opportunity cost of setting it aside for a time to pursue other things.

#jubileelipsey #writingtips #writingradiance