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CAREER DEVELOPMENT
The language of procrastination
With apologies to Nike, “ do it” is the most appropriate response to the myriad of excuses we all use when we procrastinate. And, we all do it. Procrastinate, that is. We have all said things like:
• “ do my best work when I’ up against a tight deadline.”
• “’ still time to think this through a little more thoroughly.”
• “ need to polish it just a little more before I turn it in.”
• “’ still waiting for the latest figures.”
Regardless of how true these things might be, they are symptoms of putting off until tomorrow— next week or next month— things that probably should have been done yesterday.
Most of us are pretty creative when it comes to procrastination. So creative, in fact, that we may not consciously recognize that behavior for what it is. But, if we look at how we think and the language we use to express ourselves, we can identify the ways we procrastinate. By being able to identify the problem— procrastination can get us into trouble— can begin to work on a solution.
THE PERFECTIONIST. If you are the kind of person who uses a lot of shoulds in your vocabulary, you probably act from a need to control yourself, the situations in which you find yourself, and the people around you. If people were asked to describe you, some would flatter you by saying you are too hard on yourself, but others would criticize you by saying you are judgmental. You seek flawless performance, so you work on things until they are perfect. And you work, and you work, and you work, and you work… never get anything done. Why? Because perfection is almost impossible to achieve, making it a great way to procrastinate.
THE INDECISIVE ONE. If you like to look at a variety of possibilities, scenarios, or situations before you settle on a course of action, you probably use the phrase what if a great deal. You are great at not making decisions until you are absolutely forced to… then only reluctantly. Your critics call you risk averse. Your allies call you cautious and deliberate. Either way, when they really need to get something resolved, you probably are not their choice of a teammate. Your tendency to ask what if just one more time means procrastination, not resolution.
THE EXAGGERATOR. “’ a disaster— unmitigated disaster.” This is a phrase used by those who tend to exaggerate for effect, dramatize for attention, and need a crisis to motivate action. You wear yourself and the rest of us out with this approach to procrastination. That is why none of us are enthusiastic when you get the assignment that requires meeting a deadline.
THE LIST MAKER. Another approach to procrastination involves making lists. “ let me add that to my calendar… ‘ do’ list… schedule…” are the phrases used by people who just can’ say no. If it is on one of their lists (and they have several), it may never be forgotten, but it is not likely to get done anytime soon, either. If you practice procrastination by listmaking, you are always very busy but you usually do not have much to show for all that activity in the end.
THE THINKER. And finally, there are the folks who “ need to give it a little more thought.” It might be the report that was due last week, the performance appraisal your lead engineer has been anticipating for months, or the paper you agreed to coauthor with one of your peers. The give-away for this procrastinator is the phrase, “ wish . . .”—I wish I could say the report was ready, I wish I could sit down with you this afternoon, I wish I had the time to give the paper machine scheduling the attention it needs.
CHANGE YOUR LANGUAGE. How to get over all of this creative procrastination? Change some of your vocabulary. Change “ wish” and “ should” to “ will.” Change “’ add it to my list” and “ if…” to “’ take care of that today.” Change “’ a disaster” to “’ something I can head off sooner next time.”
By changing your language, you will begin to change your thinking— your commitments. Both will help you begin to change your behavior, and the increase in your productivity will hopefully be a positive result that will be far more rewarding than the ways you are meeting your needs for control, attention, and those other things that procrastination is doing for you now.
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