On the outset individuals who procrastinate present as lazy as they seemingly don't care. Their behaviours can be very annoying to others as the lay around watching TV, sleeping or forever looking in the fridge, etc.
Helpful comments like, 'Once you start you will be right,' ' it can't be that hard,' 'get going' or 'you are running out of time' do not work. All helpful comments from well meaning people like parents and friends, but as we know individuals cannot be made to do anything they don't want, at best they can only be persuaded or influenced.
Truth be told procrastinating is very common, it is a big area incorporating a wide range of avoidance behaviours ranging from mild to severe. Many people would probably not see themselves as procrastinators when putting off the ironing or studying for a test due to believing that they have plenty of time.
They eventually get around to it when they run out of clothes or must front up to the test the next day. It could be explained the their level of interest is fairly low and they rate these tasks as low on their priority list.
But, it is the long term avoidance of big stuff like work tasks with business and writing that has bigger consequences. Knowing that they must be done but the creativity is not flowing or the right words are not coming is very worrying and stressful. The effect of which is further avoidance as one tries to cope with self-doubt, lowering confidence and copying with work overload and looming deadlines.
Procrastination comes back to bite us on the bum! Especially if it becomes a habit. Do it often and it very well might.
But is procrastination all bad? There is plenty of evidence suggesting that avoiding a task is more to do with contemplation and taping into one's intuition. Reflecting is good, listening to one's inner voice is good. Listen and think then get going. Don't doubt, give it a go. Trust.
It takes time to meld the two but not for so long that one looses the opportunity of working in the now. Dealing with problems, getting stuck and finding solutions creatively and logically is up to each and every one of us. Use procrastination positively.
Love and Blessings

