I bet you never thought you’d hear me say this, but learning how to procrastinate is one of my key time management skills. In fact, it’s how I wrote the manuscript for my first non-fiction book. ‘Cuz listen: multi-passionate women have a lot of things going on, and sometimes we procrastinate.
But if we want to live our most fulfilling lives, we have to move past the guilt of procrastination. At some point, you’re going to put one of your passions off to the side even though you could be working on it.
So why not procrastinate better? Here are three ways:
Method 1: start with the intent to quit
When I’m feeling extra lazy, it can be really difficult to “just get started.” The premise behind this is that once you get started, you’ll realize that it’s not so bad and you’ll keep going.
This works for some people but not for me. Some people start working for twenty minutes, and then before they know it, they’re so productive that the timer goes off and they want to keep going.
Unfortunately, I’m a professional procrastinator. My mind knows that if I’m telling it to “just do twenty minutes,” I’m trying to trick it.
So instead, I start KNOWING that I’m going to quit. When I’m procrastinating, instead of tricking myself into productivity, I’ll start on something with every intent to quit halfway through. So for instance, with unloading the dishwasher, to be frank, I don’t want to do it. I could just go to the dishwasher for each individual dish as I need it!
Or I can tell myself, “Look. You don’t have to do this whole thing. Just unload the top rack and then quit. That’s it.”
And that’s how I procrastinate. Is the job done? No. Am I still procrastinating? Yes, but I’m procrastinating better.
Method 2: productively procrastinate
Now, you may already know a thing or two about this one. It’s like when you tell yourself that instead of writing that report, you’re going to do some laundry. Or get a work out in. Or make a healthy meal. These things are all valid excuses.
But notice that I called them excuses because that’s what they are. Let’s just be real: my laundry didn’t become urgent until I realized I had work to do.
The thing is, we’re only able to productively procrastinate if we haven’t done these routine self-care items earlier. If you’re caring for your physical space, prioritizing your workouts, etc. then it’s hard to productively procrastinate because everything’s already done!
So, when we’re able to avoid a difficult task through productive procrastination, we’ve probably dropped the ball on self-care. I always keep this in mind when I productively procrastinate. It means some things aren’t quite getting the attention they deserve. (Read: How I Know my Self-Care is Lacking).
This is not, however, a moment for guilt or shame. Sometimes, we have to forgo one form of productivity for another, but they’re all productive choices we make for ourselves.
Method 3: Procrastinate backwards
I’m doing this right now, and it’s genius.
For the record, this genius idea is not my own. I first heard about it from Brooke Castillo and then realized I’ve done it a few times, like with that book I mentioned.
I know you already know this, but I love writing. I’d just never produced something concrete to show for it. I mean, I’d written different short pieces here and there, but in my mind, a book would make a whole lot more sense.
As soon as I decided to write a book, I procrastinated backwards. I wrote the book as quickly as I could and then I procrastinated.
What did that look like? I got the words down, I produced the end product, and then I allowed myself to do and think all the things I usually do when I’m in procrastination mode.
I’m not sure what font I should use for the book (that I’d already written).
I’m not sure if I need to add an index (now that it’s already written).
I want to make sure it’s really, really good (now that it’s already written).
Do you see how this works and why it’s a much more productive way to procrastinate? To up-level your procrastination, you’re gonna flip the script. You’re going to get really good at procrastinating backwards. Finish your project as quickly as possible, and then spend the rest of the time “procrastinating” with all the details.
This is every perfectionist’s dream. If you start your project and finish it right away, then instead of procrastinating, you can perfectionate. In real English, you can use however long you would have procrastinated to go back and refine your work.
Genius, Brooke.
Just so you know
I’m only half joking with this concept of procrastinating “better.” We all do it, and that’s okay, but procrastination – even when done well – is harmful in the long run. In order to do this right, there needs to be a deadline. (Read: Multipassionate? This is Why You’re Procrastinating).
In other words, these methods won’t work if you haven’t decided that, at a certain point, you’re actually going to work.
I’m calling myself out here. Note to self: make sure you set a procrastination deadline.
Summary
So that’s it! I’m pretty good at procrastinating, and here’s how I do it:
- I start to quit
- I do something else that’s also productive (but not quite the main goal), or
- I procrastinate backwards.
I think the most important part of all this is to recognize that sometimes, we’re just not able to do our best work, and that’s okay. Sometimes, we’d rather make some tea and read a really good book to “get inspired.” (That’s me, so no judgement). This is all fine, as long as we recognize we’re procrastinating so that we can do it better.
One thing that you should do right away is make sure you’re a part of our email community. I’ll send you a PDF that’ll help you work through your different passions and which ones you have room to focus on right now.
