pro·cras·ti·na·tion

/prəˌkrastəˈnāSH(ə)n/ noun

1. the action of delaying or postponing something.

2. "Ehh. I'll do it tomorrow."

Procrastination is one of those things that we do as humans at one point or another in our lives. Sometimes for good. Sometimes for bad. But the things is this: we never look deeper into the WHY of the word. Why do people put things off? I can’t say for them, but perhaps I can shed some light on my own personal experiences. If you know me, I make it no secrect that I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (also known as O.C.D.) more times than not, anxiety and depression are linked with O.C.D and typically go hand with the disorder.

O.C.D doesn’t just come in the form of having to keep things clean and organized. Sometimes it presents itself as long nights of pacing back and forth Replaying a seemingly small detail of some random event that happened that day. The kicker? It could have been a really positive thing that happened. However wonderful the event may have been, thinking about it with the focus and precision of a doctor conducting surgery on a fruit fly becomes quite exhausting after a while. So what does this have to do with Procrastination? “According to the studies regarding tendency to procrastination, the reasons were listed as poor time management skills, self-efficacy beliefs, discomfort regarding tasks, personal characteristics (responsibility, perfectionism, and neurotic tendency, etc), irrational thoughts, inability to concentrate, fear of failure, inability to orient objectives of success, lowered self-respect, anxiety, external controlledness, problem-solving skills, unrealistic expectations, and working habits.” (Mücahit Kag˘an et al. / Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences 2 (2010) 2121–2125; Alexander and Onwuegbuzie, 2007; Aydo÷an, 2008; BalkÕs, 2006; ÇakÕcÕ, 2003; Ferrari et al 2007; Howell and Watson, 2007; Pfeister, 2002; Senecal et al 2003; Watson, 2001) As you may see, there are a few words I’ve bolded. A normally functioning minded person may say, “Oh you’re just lazy.” Often times it goes further than just being lazy. It’s a fundamentally deep routed fear of something mixed with an imbalanced nervous system. Now, there are the type who are fueled by success. Failure and the anxiety of not being good enough push them to grind hard and sacrifice just to achieve a goal. Yet the opposite is also true. It’s being so frightened of failure that you will do anything but a task that could possibly lead to your downfall. It’s an overstimulation of thought and emotion. It’s not feeling good enough. It’s trauma. It’s unhealed wounds and so much more. By no means do I condone using your diagnosis as an excuse every time you don’t want to do something or to lash out on others. At the end of the day, you have the choice to help yourself or get stuck in the same cycle of self-deprivation. change is not easy. It’s hard. There are days I don’t want ‘to.’ Period. And I have to remind myself why it’s important ‘to.’ The best advice I could give (and please take it for whatever you will) is to take a breath and be kind to yourself. Life is already tough. A brain that thinks a little different makes it even tougher. Don’t punish yourself for your mistakes. Instead, reflect on them. Find creative ways to enjoy the things you’re doing. Even if it scares you a little. And most importantly: Asking for help doesn’t make you a failure. It makes you aware. It makes you strong. Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s necessary. Care for yourself enough to seek help when you need it. Love your cycle half,

Stephanie

*This Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this Website.