Your Daily Focus: Procrastination
If you force yourself to do something when you don’t FEEL like doing it, it is a waste of your time. - R.S.
You know the feeling: you have to get something done but you keep putting it off and putting it off, until finally you get to it and BAM!, you get it done super fast and efficiently. Well, don’t beat yourself up over this. This is how it is supposed to work.
I used to be like this in high school and college, and you can probably relate to this. I used to put off my big research papers then jam in all the work on the last possible weekend before the due date. Somehow I could get what I expected be a 20 hour project done in eight hours. And the rough draft required almost no editing. That’s inspired action.
Whether it is writing a paper, making a sales call, planning a trip, or planning a big event… the majority of creative work is done below the surface, on the inside, before the action can be inspired. So instead of criticizing yourself for putting an action off, put your thoughts on visualizing how great the action is going to be when you are ready. For a sales call, think about how you will catch the prospect at the perfect time, and you will naturally know exactly what to say that will line up with exactly what the prospect needs. You will know when the time is right, because you will not be able to wait any longer… you will have to make that call right now!
Wait for the action to be inspired. Hey, I knew I was going to write about procrastination for the Daily Focus for Wednesday this week, but I waited till 6 a.m. this morning to do it, when the words just wanted to burst out of me!
Procrastination is genius, pure genius.
Thanks Rick for this post. It’s more than a positive take – it’s true.
thank you, thank you, thank you! this is what i needed to HEAR today. it has been a major ‘issue’ for weeks. as i feel i am standing at a major crossroads in my life, and, every day, try to talk myself into doubt. yes, i know what i’m writing here looks a little crazy, but i’m writing what i mean: trying to talk myself into doubt. into doubting that waiting is the only fruitful posture for now. because deep down inside, i know that this seemingly inactive cycle really is preparation for a next cycle when i’m so active that there will be no time to rest, when motion is constant. society is trying to trick me; the in-depth, down-to-the-cells programming that i have mostly but not yet 100% removed from my system. “you’re not ‘doing’ anything, you don’t have an updated socioprofessional pass that you can pop up in the eyes of the world to JUSTIFY of your right to live, and to exist.” thank you for adding peace and clarity to a lonely meditation/situation in these times of blind race. Peace to All
Wow, Emilie. That is powerful.
I read your comment three times and it is really sinking in. Thank you so much for sharing.
This is a good way to understand several things about the wonderment of all us. Most of us have a story just like this one where we put-off something then, accomplished the task in a rather short period with high efficiency. What most of us do not have is an understanding of how our mind works. We see in this example a glimpse of our capabilities. Some would say, “Wow I got a “B” imagine if I did not procrastinate I could have gotten an “A”. This may be so but when you were done, you will still only have one paper written, which is the same result. Another way to look at this is to become aware of how efficient you are. Examine what made you shift into gear. What was your inspiration? Was it fear of not completing the task and getting a bad mark or failing the class? Alternatively, was it faith, faith in you to get it done in a short period? Either way the true cause was your thinking. Your conscious thinking caused an emotional response in your subconscious mind. That emotion sent a high rate of vibration to your body. Your body took action. In conclusion, the action produced your results. With this one example, you will forever know that you are highly productive. Imagine what you will accomplish when you create momentum by running at this high rate of efficiency. Set up many goals that will make you say, WOW once you accomplish them. Procrastination may be better than when you think. Js (: )>
Procrastination, is that what people call it? I never knew what it meant. I thought everyone waited to the “point of inspiration” to finish projects.
Rick, you are spot on in this article. I cannot tell you how many times my best work ever came in the final moments of deadlines. The most glaring was a semester long marketing analysis project, worth 40% of our overall grade, in college that I knocked out in about 19 hours and received the highest grade in class. I was inspired and focused beyond measure. I could have put in 10x’s the hours over the course of the semester and it wouldn’t have been anywhere near as well done.
The “outside world” likes to classify every action so it can have a definition. There is nothing stopping those of us who are dialed in with ourselves to have the mindset that it is the right time to do it and nothing, not one outside influence, will interrupt the beauty that is known as inspiration and relentless focus to fulfill what has been inside of us the entire time.
Keep up all this great work. I love the daily notes from you. It really bridges the gap between our personal coaching sessions. Thank you for all you do!
Kevin
Kevin, that is a great real-life example. You have such a great “guilt-free” and accepting perspective. Keep it up… and thanks for sharing.
Boy can I relate!
Procrastination always has a negative connotation in the world today.
Thanks for helping me see the POSITIVE side to “prolonged inspiration” Dr. Rick!
Dr. Rick,
This lesson really inspired me today. When I read it, I started thinking of what I was procrastinating on and thought of an important letter I had been meaning to write for weeks. The letter turned out to be fabulous and I do believe that there was a reason why I waited until the right creative, inspirational juices were flowing, but I think that there’s an even MORE important lesson in all this…
I had thought of the letter and found newly tapped inspiration, but my first thought was, “ok, I’ll do it once my other stuff gets done.” As I was just going to start my “daily work” it hit me — “How can I NOT write this letter RIGHT NOW?!?”
Even more important than waiting for the right energy is not ignoring it when it arrives. When you get this strong prompting to do something you cannot ignore it or put it off for later because you’ll lose it and defeat the entire purpose of waiting for that inspiration.
James
James, great spin on this, and great lesson.
Never, ever, ever let an inspired moment pass without taking action!
Thanks
Thank you Rick. I am A BIG PROCRASTINATOR, A REALLY BIG ONE! Specially with administration and non-sense paperwork. I really cannot sit to do it.I do must admit that sometimes it has helped my to get into the right moment, and then, somehow things turn to be fine. I am so greatfull that I have found this site!
Thank you for your comment Christina.
I believe there is no point to criticizing yourself. You may as well be guilt-free and accepting of yourself, as that seems to be the best way of bringing more of your best stuff forward.