Procrastination is normal. Procrastination during a worldwide pandemic is inevitable. The expectation that people can do the same work they did prior to March of 2020 is unrealistic, to say the least. When everyday responsibilities seem to diminish in meaning, it is totally understandable to put them off until you feel like you’re drowning in work. As a serial procrastinator, I’ve been there plenty of times. However, with the power of therapy and inner self-work on my side, I’ve learned some short-term and long-term methods to get things done in a more timely and way less stressful manner.
- Affirmations
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Getting a bullet journal or any kind of journal can be super helpful with this one. Affirmations can look like anything you want them to! I learned a lot from TikTok and have also been writing down my own. My favorite affirmation right now is, “I do not chase, I attract. Everything that is meant for me will find me.” Writing this down three times consecutively in my bullet journal every day has helped me to stop trying to control the things I know I can’t, and to focus on the things I can control that matter.
- Start early and do a little at a time
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Making a header for that paper that’s due in two weeks counts. Once the Google doc is open and the header is there, maybe you’ll even write the thesis statement. The smallest amount of work is still work, and giving yourself the leeway to only complete the header releases any pressure of having to get the whole paper done right away.
- Reward yourself for the little things
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Sometimes your room gets messy, and the mere thought of cleaning it is anxiety-inducing enough. However, deciding to get an iced coffee as a reward for cleaning your room is exciting and motivating. Punishing yourself for not wanting to do easy or hard tasks is officially out. Completing tasks you didn’t want to do and then rewarding yourself for the amazing work you just did is officially in.
- Change your thought patterns
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I learned this in therapy, and it is definitely a long-term goal that takes time to really take effect. Although we can’t control our thoughts, we can change them. Negative perspective and negative thoughts can be the main reason why starting tasks is so hard to do. I found when I started changing my thought patterns that I had to speak the positive thoughts out loud in order to really embed them into myself. For example, if I have the thought, “I didn’t get anything done today, now I’m mad at myself for being useless and unproductive,” I then say out loud to myself, “My body and mind are obviously exhausted today and the best way to help them is to rest. I should rest now and start again later/tomorrow.” Over time, it will become easier to replace those negative thoughts automatically in your head without speaking, and before you know it, you’ll learn to fully love and accept yourself.
- Remind yourself that doing things you enjoy still takes up energy
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Maybe it’s hustle culture, but it seems that for some reason, people have started to think that doing things you like doesn’t take up your energy. Whether you love to read, paint or go on runs, you’re still doing something that takes up your energy. Therefore, you will probably at least be a little tired after you’re done. Listen to your body and give it the rest it needs when it tells you.
Even with this list of ways to help yourself, procrastination is still inevitable, and you should still be kind to yourself when you leave things until the last minute. If there’s anything we should all take out of this pandemic, it’s that self-care and self-compassion are way more important than any deadline.