What REALLY happens when a person procrastinates?
Their dreams, goals, projects and intentions all get pushed aside.
Procrastination and overthinking cause people Jay Shetty interacts with every day to feel frustrated, scared, or too stuck to realize their full potential. There is hope for getting out of the procrastination rut, however.
People often focus on fixing the symptoms of procrastination and overthinking instead of dealing with the root of the issue. Shetty is convinced the main cause for procrastination and overthinking is the simple action of putting the cart before the horse.
In a recent episode of his podcast, On Purpose, Jay Shetty tackled the root of procrastination and overthinking with a few simple frameworks. This article details these frameworks and shows how to use them to narrow down the focus of what is causing the root of procrastination, address what needs to be addressed, and move forward.
The Procrastination Myth
Some people claim that procrastination motivates them. Others say they do better work under pressure. Jay Shetty discourages letting procrastination become a habit.
“The interesting thing about overthinking and procrastination is sometimes they can actually evolve into innovation and creativity in the short term,” he explained. “Letting an idea grow in your mind in the short term with a deadline and a plan can actually lead to innovation and creativity.” Procrastination isn’t a long-term solution, however.
“So if you’re doing this for like a month, or if you’re doing this for like three months, that’s cool, But overthinking and procrastination in the long term can actually limit your potential,” Jay Shetty concluded.
Shetty went on to describe the stress and burnout that happen when someone is constantly overthinking or coming in just under the wire. While it may seem like a rush at the moment, it is taxing to live with that stress over time.
It may seem daunting to take procrastination off the table, but Shetty promises that working at it will improve your health and productivity. Like anything successful, that takes work. Building the skill and mindset to get over the procrastination hurdle will pay off.
“If you can build a muscle, you can build a mindset,” he says. Keep reading to learn more about preventing procrastination by building a healthy mindset. It’s time to get to work.
Spot the Six
The first step to nipping procrastination in the bud is identifying what you’re procrastinating over. Jay Shetty believes that when it comes to putting things off, people tend to procrastinate things that are:
- Boring
- Annoying
- Arduous
- Ambiguous
- Unstructured
- Lacking in purpose
One of these 6 things is the root of each instance of procrastination. Shetty challenged readers to go back to the root when they’re having trouble shaking off procrastination.
“Ask yourself,” he encouraged, “Do I find this thing boring, annoying, arduous, ambiguous, unstructured, or lacking in purpose?” The answer will help find the root of why you are dragging your feet.
