Pandemic Procrastination Is Here & It’s A Thing
Photo by @sharosh at Unsplash
I can attest to it!
Back in the Spring, after moving to France in the Fall, procuring a long-stay visa (took three months) and finishing my Primal Health Coach course at the end of January, I fell into the dark hole of procrastination.
Whether it was fatigue or distraction (fell in love) or just plain overwhelm, I don’t know. But it seems that getting back on The Path, now that summer’s over and the distraction has simmered down, isn’t as easy as all that.
Our world has changed, and finding opportunities to be of service have changed with it. That’s my quandary now, how to hit reset and get back on track.
Procrastination is the act of wilfully delaying or avoiding something despite knowing there will be negative consequences.
Have you found yourself procrastinating more since March 2020?
If you have, you’re not alone.
Several articles have been written describing the reasons many people lost their mojo over the past 18 months. Read a good one here and here.
Basically, procrastination is a struggle between (at least) two parts of our brain: the limbic system, which is a primitive structure involved in emotional responses, instant gratification, pleasure-seeking and survival; and the prefrontal cortex, a higher level brain area involved in planning and decision-making.
The limbic system is our ‘want’ brain; the prefrontal cortex is our ‘should’ brain - and you can see that when we procrastinate, the want brain wins.
You can also imagine (or perhaps have experienced) how the stress, uncertainty, anxiety and upheaval of the sudden shift to working from home, home-schooling, and restricted movement coupled with the overarching fear of a sinister virus out-of-control, could kick the want brain into high gear - wanting fun, wanting pleasure, wanting distraction from the new reality that is our world.
But the work still had to be done. We still had to make an income, educate our children, and shop, cook, feed and look after ourselves. If we didn’t eventually get around to taking care of these tasks, negative consequences such as physical or mental illness, missing academic or work goals, and financial strain could result.
Procrastination is the thief of time. ~ Edward Young (1683-1765)
So, where are you “at” right now? Is your should brain starting to take over, or are you still in the struggle?
Have you lost sight of Your Path - meaning your goals for optimum health, abundance, your best life?
If you’ve diagnosed this syndrome in your own pandemic experience and have successfully overcome it and moved on, please share in the comments section below.
On the other hand, if you’re struggling to overcome procrastination and it’s affecting your well being, please see your health care provider for an assessment.
How to get back on The Path as the pandemic drags on
First of all, go easy on yourself. Self-compassion and mindfulness have been shown to help overcome procrastination.
Recognize that this is a common response to the lockdowns and restrictions, fear and uncertainty of our times, and show yourself some love.
Know that your path is still there, waiting for you to return to it. All is not lost!
Forgive yourself for dragging your feet, and get to work on your list of short and long term goals - the one you were working on before the pandemic. Spend some time tweaking and updating it as of September 2021.
Consider breaking each goal down into very small, easy-to-manage tasks that build on themselves until you’ve successfully met the goal.
Prioritize the tasks.
Now you have roadmaps to each of your goals. Just this activity alone means you’re back on the path!
Make a to-do list for today, based on your priorities. Keep the tasks bite-sized.
For example, you want to get back into a daily walking program; you were at 3 miles per day before the pandemic. Start with a 10 minute walk and gradually increase the distance and time.
Reward yourself for finishing a task. Take a walk in the sunshine or have coffee with a friend to celebrate your success.
Remember, take small steps to avoid falling into overwhelm and that dark hole again. Not sure how to do that? Here is an amazing book that I found very helpful.
Get into a routine; start at the same time and go to bed at the same time every day.
Take frequent breaks to move, breathe and drink water.
Finally, practice mindfulness for at least 5 minutes twice a day. Simply sit quietly and focus on your breathing, or take a mindful walk focussing only on each step, and breathe. Be aware of how you are feeling - and the thoughts you may have been having when you drifted into procrastination.
Need some inspiration? Read The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks PhD. It’s life-changing.
And now, begin!
You may have to push yourself, so remember the reward you promised yourself, and GO FOR IT!
Comment below, please, if you have an experience to share. I’m also getting back on my path, and I’d love to hear from you.