Reduce stress by eliminating procrastination!

Does stress lead to procrastination or does procrastination cause stress? The answer to the question is not of great importance, since, in fact, it appears to be a circular continuum.

This article could be a summary of the most effective anti-procrastination tips. However, procrastinators are well aware of the steps that need to be taken in order to reduce this tendency; the issue is that they avoid doing so.

If we seek to eliminate procrastination, at first, we need to examine what purpose serves for us. It may be something obvious, such as avoiding an unpleasant situation or an unpleasant feeling. For example, I avoid going to the dentist, because I cannot stand the sensation of the dentist’s drill in my teeth. I may also procrastinate because I don’t want to be confronted with the consequences certain actions may bring about. For example, if I finally decide to express my dissatisfaction to my boss, he/she may berate me. Thus, I keep postponing it. Something similar could be true with blood tests. If my cholesterol is high, not only will I be stressed about it but also, I’ll need to be more careful with my diet from now on. As long as I perpetuate the state of procrastination, I remain ignorant and that works as a protecting mechanism in the short run but not in the long one.

The fear of failure may also be associated with procrastination. It is not uncommon to hear from people who are perfectionists that they may leave things up until the last minute. Thus, if they fail, the fact that they left something for last minute will act protectively for their ego. "I didn’t devote enough time on it, so it’s only normal that I failed” they’ll think. Consequently, they’ll justify their failure by considering that it was a matter of time and not a matter of lack of competency or effort on their part.

Quite often, we also maintain the belief that only under pressure we work better. This may be partly true. Neurobiologically, when we experience a state of high alertness, we may be more focused, process information faster and become more productive. Nonetheless, these benefits are short-lived. If we repeatedly subject ourselves to stressful situations in order to be productive, eventually the accumulation of this chronic stress will only have a negative impact on both our mental and physical health. Gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases alone are two of the most common classes of diseases that are highly related to stress. Mood disorders, such as depression, are also highly correlated to stress.

Last but not least, in addition to the fear of failure, the fear of success may also lead us to procrastination. If success is not familiar to us or if it comes with the burden of many responsibilities, then some of us are expected to become procrastinators in order to avoid those.

So how do we fight procrastination? By making the unconscious conscious! By deciphering the reasons for our procrastination and by exploring which needs we cater to through this process, we can make small and steady steps to break the vicious circle. The psychotherapeutic process allows us to unravel the tangle, and build a daily routine, with less stress and higher quality! Do not procrastinate taking care of your mental health anymore. The team of Myhappyself is here for you. Get started today with the first session for free!