In today's article, we will be discussing a topic that affects many of us: procrastination. More specifically, we will delve into the concept of sophisticated procrastination and how it impacts our productivity. As we share our experiences and thoughts on this issue, we hope to spark your interest and provide valuable insights into overcoming procrastination.
Why "sophisticated"?
First, let us introduce you to the concept of sophisticated procrastination. This is not your everyday, run-of-the-mill procrastination. Instead, it involves using seemingly productive activities as a means to avoid doing the tasks that truly matter. For example, spending hours customizing a productivity app instead of actually tackling the work at hand.
We have both experienced procrastination in different ways. One of us tends to procrastinate when faced with activities that are outside of our comfort zone, such as making phone calls for business purposes. The other tends to procrastinate when faced with difficult or repetitive tasks that do not guarantee immediate outcomes.
Strategies
To combat procrastination, we have found that using affirmations can be helpful in boosting self-confidence. Repeating positive statements to ourselves, such as "I am a 20 plus years experienced MBA owner," can help alleviate the fear that often leads to procrastination.
Another strategy we have found helpful is not over-planning our day. When we plan too many tasks, it can be overwhelming and lead to procrastination. Instead, planning a smaller number of tasks allows us to feel more in control and increases the likelihood of completing them.
Planning the next day's tasks the night before has also proven to be beneficial. This allows us to have a more realistic perspective on what we can achieve in a day, rather than being overly optimistic in the morning.
A business model that incites tweaking
Sophisticated procrastination often involves using productivity tools and systems that are marketed as helpful but can actually enable procrastination. For example, the popular app Notion allows users to create and customize their own productivity systems. However, the time spent creating and tweaking these systems can easily turn into a form of procrastination.
Similarly, other applications like Roam Research offer a wide range of features and customization options that can become distractions rather than productivity tools. In these cases, it's important to recognize when we are using these tools as a means to avoid our actual work.
The solution might be analogue
We have also found that using simple tools, like a basic notepad, can be more effective in preventing procrastination. By eliminating the temptation to endlessly customize and tweak our productivity systems, we can focus more on completing the tasks at hand.
As we move into the new year, we plan to continue working on overcoming our procrastination habits. Breaking down our goals into smaller, manageable tasks with specific numbers can help us stay on track and measure our progress.
In conclusion, sophisticated procrastination is a challenge that many of us face in our daily lives. By recognizing the signs and employing strategies to combat it, we can work towards becoming more productive and achieving our goals. We hope that our experiences and insights have sparked your interest in tackling your own procrastination habits. If you have any ideas or suggestions for overcoming procrastination, please feel free to share them in the comments below.
