Most of us are familiar with procrastination at some point in our lives.
You know that task or project you really want to work on and achieve but you do everything humanly possible to avoid it?
It’s sitting there in the back of your mind that you want to work on your project, but you start doing the dishes, or you put a load of washing on, or you get stuck scrolling cat videos.
Before you know it, another hour has gone by and the very time you had set yourself to be productive has disappeared and now you must go and attend to something else.
And then later on, you realise that you keep berating yourself for not starting the project or not finishing it and you start to feel like a failure.
Why do we do this to ourselves?
Tackling procrastination and self-sabotage involves understanding the deep-rooted causes that keep people stuck, despite their best intentions in wanting to move forward.
Understanding the procrastination loop
Unfortunately, the world we live in is not geared to help us succeed. And neither is your brain.
Many people are stuck in some kind of survival mode, “getting through the day” rather than actually thriving.
And your brain is designed to keep you safe. So instead of being willing to take risks and tackle that project (and feel excited about it), it does everything in its power to keep you from that scary unknown.
Your mind keeping you safe is constantly looking for some kind of reassurance of “safe” past behaviours and beliefs that have prevented you from moving forward the way you would like to.
Here are some examples:
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- Past beliefs, experiences and traumas:
Many people harbour beliefs shaped by past experiences or traumas. These can create a subconscious “procrastination identity” where procrastination becomes a default response to avoid perceived risks or discomfort. You’re basically stuck in a freeze response and simply cannot put that front foot forward, as much as you’d like to.
- Past beliefs, experiences and traumas:
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- Fear of Failure of Success:
Fear plays a significant role in procrastination. Whether it’s the fear of failing at something or fear of achieving success and the responsibilities that success may bring, these fears may keep you stagnant.
- Fear of Failure of Success:
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- Overwhelm and Perfectionism:
Feeling overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task or striving for perfection can paralyse taking action. This leads to putting off tasks until there’s a “perfect” moment (which, of course, there never is).
- Overwhelm and Perfectionism:
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- Lack of Clarity or Direction:
Without a clear vision or goal; without a clear set of steps to achieve the goal, you may struggle to prioritise tasks and end up procrastinating rather than taking any action.
- Lack of Clarity or Direction:
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- You’re not Aligned with your Goals
Energetically; somatically, you’re not in the right energy field to actualise your goals.
- You’re not Aligned with your Goals
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- Low Self-Esteem or Low Confidence
Doubting your abilities to succeed can lead to self-sabotage behaviours like procrastination. If you don’t believe you can accomplish your goals, then how will you be able to move forward?
- Low Self-Esteem or Low Confidence
How do we resolve the procrastination loop and stop self-sabotaging ourselves?
It comes down to retraining the body and the mind. How do you do this?
Retraining the Mind-Body system:
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- Firstly, it’s about identifying and challenging your limiting beliefs. What beliefs are fuelling your procrastination? And then with Coaching, NLP and EFT models, reframing those beliefs into more positive and empowering beliefs that will allow you to succeed.
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- Next, heal past traumas: resolve past experiences that have caused emotional grief keeping you stuck.
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- Thirdly, somatically heal. What does this mean? It means energy and emotion get stuck in the body. For whole complete healing, you must release stuck energy, working on your mind, on your emotions and your energy in order to fully move forward.
Reinvent Yourself and Establish New Successful Habits:
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- Set Clear Goals: Break down your goals into manageable steps with clear timelines. This reduces overwhelm and increases motivation.
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- Build Self-Confidence: Celebrate each small win and achievement to boost your own self-efficacy.
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- Practice Self-Compassion: We can be our own worst enemies, can’t we? Practising Self-Compassion means you are backing yourself; you are aware there is no “perfect” and even in the fear of failure, you are being kind and loving to yourself.
It takes work to build the skill:
It takes work to build the skill and reinvent yourself this way. Learning the tools and techniques to challenge your beliefs, and staying accountable and motivated is what can propel you forward. Learning mindfulness practices can also enhance your productivity and resilience.
Are you ready to break free from the procrastination loop?
As your Energy Coach and Hypnotherapist, I am here to guide you through reclaiming your power, transforming old patterns and achieving your dreams. By addressing the root cause and fears holding you back, together we can help you overcome procrastination and achieve your goals effectively.
Take the first step towards a more fulfilling life by scheduling a 20-minute call and let’s get started.
