Making Procrastination Work For You

Procrastination is generally considered a negative trait as it involves the practice of carrying out less urgent tasks in preference to more urgent ones, or doing more pleasurable things in place of less pleasurable ones, and thus putting off impending or important tasks to a later time.

What if you could use procrastination to help you ditch bad habits? It almost sounds irrational to think the power of two bad things (procrastination and a bad habit) can be positive.

Let's put it to the test.  Suppose someone really loves eating creamy, gelato (and who doesn't?). But this gelato habit is causing weight gain and it needs to stop.  Yet, every night after dinner, the gelato is irresistible. Instead of saying no gelato which makes someone feel loss or deprivation, think instead, "I will have the gelato later." Isn't this what we do when we put off exercising, working on a report or cleaning the house? We say we will do it later. It makes us feel good like we are taking care of the valuable and necessary task.  Treat the gelato habit the same way.  Push it off for an hour, a day or even a week.  You will eat the gelato but just not now.

Some might argue that comparing exercising or menial drudge work to gelato or some other indulgence makes this procrastination tactic unrealistic.  It will be unrealistic if one chooses to believe that. Our beliefs shape our choices and actions. However, deep down inside us there is a pure part of us that wishes we could give up the gelato and take care of the stuff that will be beneficial for us. Believing that you cannot make better choices is letting that pure part of us down.  The pure part is our inner child that needs the nurturing and caring that you would give to a small child.

Play the procrastination game to your advantage and become the person you would like to be.

Stay healthy & well,
Lisa