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- The real reason you're avoiding that important task...
The real reason you're avoiding that important task...
Hint: It's not because you're lazy (and I have proof)
Ren
January 21, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes
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Hey, it’s Ren here….
You won't believe what I caught myself doing the other day...
I had this super important tutorial to record for one of my spreadsheet templates. Like, really important. My customers were waiting for it, and I knew it would help them so much.
But there I was, completely absorbed in designing my dream home (again!) and playing around with formulas that had absolutely nothing to do with the tutorial.
Sigh
Sound familiar?
"Procrastination is like a credit card: it's a lot of fun until you get the bill."
🤔 Am I just lazy?
Why do we push away the things we know we need to do?
Let me paint you a picture real quick...
I was sitting at my desk, microphone ready, script prepared, and then...
"Oh, I should probably check my phone first!"
(Spoiler alert: I didn't need to check my phone 😅)
This got me thinking about why we do this to ourselves. Why do we push away the things we know we need to do?
💡 The Truth About Procrastination
Here's something interesting I've learned about procrastination that might surprise you...
It's not actually about being lazy or having poor time management skills (thank goodness, right?).
It's about our emotions and how we handle discomfort.
Let me share something personal that really drove this home for me...
A while back, I received a low rating on one of my products.
The reason?
My accent.
See, English isn't my first language, and reading that feedback... well, it stung.
A lot.
After that, every time I needed to record a tutorial, it became this MASSIVE thing in my mind.
I'd record, delete, record again, delete again...
You get the picture.
I was avoiding the discomfort, the uncertainty, the fear of "what if they don't understand me?"
So the cycle would continue…
SPEAKING OF CONTINUE…
Before I ah, continue, one thing you should never procrastinate on is your personal finances.
The longer you leave debt and high interest rates to mount up, the further in the hole your financial situation can become.
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🔍 The Real Reason We Procrastinate
Think about it - when was the last time you procrastinated on something you genuinely enjoyed?
Something that made you feel confident and capable?
Probably never, right?
That's because procrastination isn't about the task itself - it's about how the task makes us feel.
Sound familiar? Maybe your version looks different:
Avoiding checking your bank balance because you're worried about what you'll find
Putting off that conversation you know you need to have because it feels uncomfortable
Delaying starting that project that feels too big because you're not sure where to begin
Not opening those bills because you're anxious about the numbers inside
Here's the thing I've discovered about procrastination...
It's like having a really overprotective friend who wants to shield you from any discomfort. Sweet intention, but not super helpful in the long run!
✅ Understanding Your Procrastination Style
I discovered this isn’t about self-judgement…
Because, when we procrastinate, we're usually trying to avoid one of these feelings:
Fear of Failure
"What if I mess this up?"
"What if I'm not good enough?"
"What if people judge me?"
Perfectionism
"It needs to be just right"
"I'll start when conditions are perfect"
"Just one more adjustment..."
Overwhelm
"This is too much to handle"
"I don't even know where to start"
"There's so much to do"
Uncertainty
"I'm not sure how to do this"
"What if I make the wrong decision?"
"Maybe I should wait until I know more"
The funny thing is, avoiding these feelings often makes them bigger.
It's like that pile of laundry that starts with one sock and somehow multiplies when you're not looking!
🎯 Breaking Free from Procrastination
So what changed for me with the tutorial situation?
I realized something important: This wasn't about me. It was about my amazing customers and how I could help them.
I started setting strict deadlines for myself (because let's be honest, nothing motivates like a deadline! Think of Parkinsons Law - Work will shrink or expand for the allotted time).
I also learned about this technique called "eating the frog" - doing the most challenging task first thing in the day.
(No actual frogs were harmed in the process, I promise! 😉)
Here's what I've learned works when procrastination hits:
Name the feeling
When you catch yourself procrastinating, pause and ask: "What am I really avoiding here?"
Just naming the emotion can make it less powerful
Be honest with yourself about what's really holding you back
Start ridiculously small
Don't think "I need to record this whole tutorial." Think "I'll just record the first 30 seconds."
Breaking it down makes it less overwhelming
Success builds on success - start tiny and let momentum carry you
Set a timer for 5 minutes
You can do anything for 5 minutes, right?
Often, you'll find yourself wanting to continue once you've started
If you really want to stop after 5 minutes, that's okay - at least you started!
Remember your 'why'
When I focus on how my tutorials help my customers manage their finances better, my accent suddenly seems a lot less important!
Connect with the bigger purpose behind what you're doing
Think about who you're helping or what you're creating
💫 The Power of Small Wins
Here's a thought that helps me: Every time we push through procrastination, we're building a tiny bit of resilience.
It's like putting a small deposit in your "I can do hard things" bank account.
And just like compound interest, these small wins add up over time.
Each time you face a task instead of avoiding it:
You prove to yourself that you can handle discomfort
You build confidence for future challenges
You create positive momentum
You strengthen your "just do it" muscle
🚫 Common Procrastination Traps to Avoid
Like anything you try to identify and remove from your life, it’s not always sunshine and rainbows. Here’s a couple of common mistakes people make…
The "Perfect Moment" Myth
There's never a perfect time
Starting imperfectly beats waiting for perfection
Progress over perfection, always
The "Future Me" Fallacy
Future you will be just as human as present you
Future you will probably be just as busy
Future you will thank present you for starting now
The "Productive Procrastination" Puzzle
Being busy isn't the same as being productive
Doing other tasks still counts as procrastination if you're avoiding the important thing
Ask yourself: "Is this the best use of my time right now?"
💭 Final Thoughts
The next time you find yourself designing your dream home instead of doing that important task (oh wait, that's me!), remember: procrastination isn't about laziness. It's just your brain trying to protect you from discomfort.
And you know what?
That's okay. We all do it.
The trick isn't to never procrastinate - it's to recognize when we're doing it and take one tiny step forward anyway.
Even if that step is just opening the document, making the spreadsheet, or in my case, pressing the record button.
Remember: Every journey starts with a single step. Even if that step is small, wobbly, and way later than you planned - it still counts.
Oh and in case you need help with this, check out my productivity planner here.
…..Or if you prefer to write stuff down (like me), check this out.
To your success (and getting things done!),
Ren
P.S. What's your favorite procrastination activity? Hit reply and let me know - I love hearing from you! 😊 And don't procrastinate on responding... see what I did there?
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