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Your Personal Brand of Self-Sabotage is… Procrastination!
Are you always racing the clock? Do you ride the edge of tension with deadlines and social engagements? Do you tell yourself you perform better under pressure? Chances are pretty good your self-sabotage specialty is procrastination.Don’t feel bad, every one of us has struggled with this at some point.When you feel overtired, stressed, and mentally drained, the last thing you want to do is finish that project, answer that email, pack for your trip, or clean the whole house – so you find a distraction and put it off until later.Eventually, later becomes now, and sometimes, it even becomes too late.Too late to actually get that laundry put away, get the permission slipped signed for school, get that project done well for work. It get's to be too late to show those around you, and yourself, what you're truly capable of accomplishing. It's time to get to the root of the problem. All of that, too lateness can have a real impact on you mentally and physically. Because research has shown that people who describe themselves as chronic procrastinators, also reveal higher levels of stress, anxiety, and even depression.If you find yourself always giving in to the lazy meh feeling of putting off the things you know you’re going to eventually have to do anyways, the time is now – not later – to uncover why you keep leaving things your current self doesn’t want to do for your later self to do them, only with less time.Because that leads to feelings of failure and inadequacy when you can’t complete the task well, and the results are unhappy and less than ideal. And those feelings translate into every aspect of your life. I can't lead that team I can't even get my kids out the door on time for the bus. ORHow could I be on that committee? I can't even manage to get my normal work done on time.Any of that sound familiar? Action, or in this case lack of action, leads to more of the same. Procrastinating this time leads you to not wanting to do the next task that comes along, because you didn’t do so hot on the last one. See that self-fulfilling cycle ready to repeat itself?Luckily, there are some ways to retrain yourself from procrastinator to proactivator.1. Recognize when you’re procrastinating – If you start an important task, only to stop immediately for a coffee break, or put off doing something until you feel motivated to do it, or even pack your schedule with other easier but less important tasks that you’d rather do… you’re procrastinating.2. Dig deep to figure out WHY – Dreading something because it’s hard work or not fun isn’t the real reason you keep putting it off. If you’re avoiding a task because you aren’t organized, then it’s time to look at organization strategies.If you put things off because you’re afraid you won’t get them just right, it’s time to look at the self-sabotaging beliefs behind perfectionism. Remember – Finished is always better than Perfect.If you’re afraid that completing a job successfully will only come with the reward of more hard work and the expectations that come with success, then you need to look at why that success scares you.3. Work on Anti-procastination – First, forgive yourself for your previous procrastination patterns and work towards the Get It Done mentality that will help you overcome them.Commit to your tasks, create accountability by sharing your schedule with others and encourage them to check in on your progress, and set up a reward system for when you’ve completed something in a timely fashion. (a fun drink or walk with my pup once I finish the thing is my favorite)“A day can slip by when you’re deliberately avoiding what you’re supposed to do.” — Bill WattersonAlso, give yourself some grace. This work takes time, and sometimes you need outside help to guide you down the path. Watch your email for more tips on how to change your self-sabotaging ways and implement them. Action over time equals change. That action doesn't have to be perfect. You've got this friend and if you want a little more support, read on.Self-Sabotage EspionageHey there, self-saboteur! I'm Kelly Hirn, Career and Leadership Strategist that is here to help you push your career toward success, whatever that success looks like for you. In my 20 years of leading leaders, I've found that many people have the potential for more but simply can't get out of their own way. They create self-limiting beliefs and repeatedly engage in the self-harm that comes from self-sabotage.I decided it was time to empower people and guide them in changing their mindset through objective reflection and imperfect, consistent action to take their career fulfillment to the next level. Challenge Your Ways!Check out these helpful resources to help you ditch your self-sabotaging ways!1. Follow me on Instagram. From helpful tips and mindset hacks to reels and Lives that focus on leadership in real life, @hirnkelly will supply you with resources and mindset shifts to engage you in leading in your career, home, and all aspects of life. 2. Follow along with the blog on Transitional Leadership where I share my passion for helping people take action and transition into their best season of their career and life.3. Are you ready to commit to pushing past the self-sabotage and take action to build your career on your terms? The Feedback Bootcamp is an action packed bootcamp style course that will support you in pushing past your own self-sabotage to build the career you want, on your terms. Click here to be first to know when doors open and get early bird prices!Get To Know YourselfNow that you've got some insight into how you’re holding yourself back, keep an eye on your inbox for a Self-Sabotage Counterattack Strategy based around your quiz results.“Self-destruction and self-sabotage are often just the start of the self-resurrection process.”― Oli Anderson
