Procrastination happens to all of us at some point. We have the best intentions, but we find ourselves dragging our feet when it comes to getting started or moving forward with our projects.
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​Procrastination is a normal and sometimes necessary part of the creative process, but it can be frustrating. It's a topic that relates to creativity in three ways:​

In this episode, we are diving into all three.

Procrastination shows up differently in all of us. According to Business Insider, there are four types of procrastinators. See which one you identify with:

Motto: "I work well under pressure."

This procrastinator forces themselves to focus by shrinking the time they have to tackle a task. It's waiting until the last minute until you really need to get something done, leaving yourself less time to complete the project. 

Biggest Challenge: Getting started

Possible solution: Schedule a start date and add structure

Motto: "I'm so lazy right now."

This procrastinator is really the opposite of lazy. So they're extra hard on themselves when they don't want to do something. They tend to blame an action on laziness or stubbornness rather than admit they're tired. And what they really need is maybe to show themselves a little bit of grace.

Biggest Challenge: Taking a break. I know, I know - you're too busy.

Possible solution: Recharge. Try taking a walk or find an activity that helps you recharge.

Motto: "I'm so busy."

This is when busyness becomes an excuse for not doing something. It's usually an indication of avoidance. Rather than facing a challenge head-on or admitting they don't want to do something, it's easier to blame having other important things to do.

Biggest Challenge: Creating chaos to avoid facing what you know you need to face right now.

Possible solution: Take a moment of introspection. Ask yourself - "What am I really avoiding?"

Motto: "I just had the best idea."

This procrastinator has a terminal case of Shiny Object Syndrome. They constantly come up with new projects to take on—and then get bored with them a week later. They're intrigued by the latest trend and will be quick to implement it but not follow through.

Biggest Challenge: All the new things!

Possible solution: Find an accountability partner or set due dates.

The hallmark of this type of procrastination usually has an outcome attached to it. For example, you deep clean the kitchen instead of starting your project. We like to call this "procrasti-cleaning." And it's one of Emily's favorite forms of procrastination.

These are things like watching tv or scrolling through social media, even reading a book in some cases. There's no end goal with these activities. You are just using up time.

Procrastinating is not a sign that you do not want to do the activity. Many times, it's the opposite. Several factors contribute to why we procrastinate:

Now that you've identified why you are procrastinating, you can figure out what to do about it. But, keep in mind that procrastinating is not always a bad thing. If it's something that is truly standing in your way, here are some strategies for your consideration:

Looking at you Overbooker! Delegate tasks that can be done by someone else, especially if it's something you don't like or you're not good at (and don't want to get better at).

This can be fear of failure or fear of success.

If you don't know your goal, it is difficult to know where to start. Take time to outline your goals. You may also lack clarity about the specific steps you need to take to get there. Once you figure this out, it's easier to move forward.

Once you make a decision, move on. Don't second-guess yourself. Endless research and waffling on a decision is energy draining.
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​Try the "decide once" technique. This is best for simple, daily decisions like what to eat or wear. Decide one time that you will do a specific thing. For example, wear the same thing every Monday or eat the same thing for breakfast (until you get tired of it). You'll save yourself from decision fatigue.