The Paradox Power of Procrastination for Creatives

Never put off till tomorrow what may be done the day after tomorrow.

Just as well. So said Mark Twain, when describing

something that most of us have succumbed to at some point.

I'm talking procrastination. Now procrastination is when we

act against our better judgment. We delay tasks, we avoid

responsibilities and instead we focus on things that aren't

in our long term interest. Even when we consciously set those goals

for ourselves. Does that sound familiar? I thought so. But wait.

Before you start feeling guilty, let's take a different spin. Let's take a different

perspective. What would you do if I told you that procrastination isn't

always the villain in your story? Now, if you use it correctly,

it can actually work in your favor. Now stay with me as I

unpack the paradox of procrastination and

discover how it sometimes can be a advantage

rather than a self destructive hab.

Firstly, what is procrastination? Now it's fair to say that

we've all been there, caught red handed, delaying important tasks for

just that little bit longer. I'm holding my hand up by the way, in

acknowledgment. And we've been told that procrastination is a negative thing,

right? Well, guilty is charged. It's often linked to

laziness or inefficiency. But let's just dig a little bit

deeper. Now at its core, procrastination is a self

regulation problem. It's not about being lazy, it's about. It's

about delaying tasks. Even when we know that doing so will

have consequences. And for creatives, procrastination

can manifest itself in many unique ways. Now think

about it. Have you ever found yourself cleaning your entire

workspace instead of starting that new painting? Browsing the

Internet for inspiration instead of writing that article? If that sounds

like you, well, you're not alone. Why do we

procrastinate? Now procrastination isn't random.

It often comes from a fear of failure. The pressure to

create something amazing can be paralyzing. That rabbit in the

headlights feeling. Perfectionism. If it's not perfect, why

do we start at all? We might also refer to that as over

engineering. Thirdly, there's the idea of overwhelm. Too many

ideas, fries our brains, too little time, and where

do we even begin? And lastly, there's the

lack of motivation. Sometimes we just don't feel it.

Does this sound relatable? Well, the good news is once we

recognize why we procrastinate, we can start to take control

of it. Now how can procrastination be a good thing. Now

let's flip the script. Now, believe it or not,

procrastination can be useful. And here's how. Well,

firstly is the idea of delayed decision making that

equals better choices better. By stepping away from a problem,

we can allow our subconscious mind to work on in the

background. Now, this means when we do take action, we often make

smarter, more informed decisions. There's the idea of

creative incubation. Now, some of the best ideas we come up with don't

come instantly. They need time to simmer, evolve and

take shape. Now, when you take breaks, even if they're unintentional,

your brain is still working on in the background. Thank you

brain. Have you ever had an aha moment while you're in the shower walking

outside? Well, that's the magic of delayed thinking at play.

Let's consider the idea that procrastination helps you to

prioritize. Now, sometimes procrastination is your brain's way

of telling you that a task isn't actually important or urgent.

By adding that delay, you filter out what really matters. Let's talk

about how we overcome unhelpful procrastination.

Now, of course, not all procrastination is helpful.

Sometimes it just keeps us stuck. And here's some practical ways I want to

share with you of how we manage it. Firstly, break it

down. Instead of thinking about the entire project, just focus on

one small part. Do you have to design a new portfolio? Write a new

play? Well, start by choosing a template. Just a small step

forward gets that momentum going. Secondly, consider the

five minute rule. Tell yourself you'll work on something just for five minutes.

A sprint if you wish. Often starting is the hardest

part. But once you begin, you will keep going. Thirdly,

think about the idea of time blocking. Set specific time slots

in your day dedicated to work and breaks. Anyone heard of the

Pomodoro technique? And lastly, remove

distractions. Put your phone in another room, Lock it away,

turn it off. Use apps that block your social media. Turn off your

notifications. I promise you, your future self will. Thank

you. Now, if procrastination is causing problems in your creative

business, there are tools that can help, especially when it comes to the

finances. Take a look at Budget Wiz that we've got. It's

designed to make your financial planning and your cash flow tracking

easy so you can focus on the work you actually love. Why struggle with

your finances when a tool can do the heavy lifting? We've got some final

thoughts, so let's recap. Procrastination isn't always

the enemy it's made out to be, it can actually help with creativity

and decision making. Recognize why you procrastinate.

Self awareness. Self diagnosis can help and helps you

address it. Come up with simple strategies like breaking tasks down,

using timers, removing distractions. This will help keep

you on track. Now, next time you catch yourself procrastinating,

don't panic. Don't give yourself a hard time. Instead, ask

yourself, am I avoiding work or am I allowing my

brain the space to create? Now, use it wisely and you might

just find that procrastination is the unlikely ally

you never knew you needed. Until next time, folks. Keep

creating. Keep pushing forward. And remember, numbers don't have to be

scary. Plan it, do it. Profit.