Procrastinate or nah?

This week, I launched my very own online radio station "Process Pro Radio" and we kicked off the week with a deep discussion on procrastination that blew my mind!  So, I was on fire with a reason to write a new blog post capturing the feedback and revelations that resulted from a number of conversations that took place LIVE on air.  (If you'd like to tune in visit Anchor.FM/NuEpps for the complete show broadcast, or subscribe to the Process Pro Podcast on iTunes, Google Play Music, Overcast, or Podcast Players).

To start, I wanted to discuss my own personal journey with procrastination and the guilt plus the shame that usually resulted when I didn't meet the mark.  On the show, I started  the discussion being transparent about my own struggles with procrastination and the underlying reasons that I later was able to identify. To my surprise, callers from all over the world (US & UK) called in to offer gems of knowlege that evolved the conversation in some rich ways that inspired me to provide show notes for the broadcast because the info was AMAZING!  In fact, it was SOOOOOOO good, that I have provided a mini re-cap that I hope will bless you the way it blessed and elevated me.  AND, if you want to chime in and continue talking, download the Anchor APP and call in to my station to leave a comment to be featured on the podcast. 


Show Focus 1: Procrastination can be a type of avoidance behavior, where those who habitually feel powerless take back personal power. "They do it when they WANT to instead of when they NEED to."

Show Focus 2: Get Rid of Guilt & Shame - Along with avoidance-based procrastination unfortunately goes its offshoots—guilt and shame. We subconsciously sometimes hear the voices of our adversaries telling us that we “blew it again”, “can’t be depended on”; even all-or-nothing statements like “you’re a complete failure” (usually accompanied by comparisons to a perfect sibling or peer)—long after we’ve grown up and supposedly left all childhood voices behind. But the TRUTH is that guilt and shame only hinder working on becoming the person we were born to be. But HOW do we stop doing this? We can replace those self inflected wounds with phrases based in reality. For example, instead of saying to yourself, “I did it again. I’m a complete screw-up!” try stating just the facts. (“I spent an hour of `me’ time. Now it’s time to put that aside and go to work.”)

Show Focus 3: Keep an eye out for “time stealers”—small tasks that nibble away minutes and eventually hours from our days. These usually turn out to be tasks such as checking email, checking Facebook, answering the telephone while you’re working, answering the door, getting up to make a cup of coffee… It doesn’t matter what you stop working to do: Record it! Keep a log for a few days, and see where you are spending too much time on one particular distraction (for example, you may discover you actually get up to make six or seven cups of tea or coffee during the day, when you were sure it was only three or four).
Repetitive behaviors can become procrastination habits. Tame them by setting a limit to how many times per day you can do them. 

Show Focus 4: ​Ask Yourself What’s Really Going On!!! You can’t change a habit until you understand it. Next time you find yourself procrastinating, stop and ask yourself: “What is really going on here?”
Try to figure out if you’re simply daunted by the thought of starting a task you find difficult, or you simply hate that particular task, or you’re angry because you have to work late—or whatever is really behind the procrastination.

I  could go on and on, but because we went so deep with this topic you have to listen and hear it for yourself!  So, Download the Anchor App and listen to the past episodes and call in to share you thoughts! You can also share your thoughts here in the comments and I will share them on the show.  

Just remember, procrastination is JUST a habit that can be broken with simple routine, a plan of action, a list, and forgiveness of self. 

Peace & Blessings,

Nu Epps, Your Process Pro & Coach