Her Renewed Strength Podcast | Episode 42

Are you guilty of procrastinating? Me, too.

Perhaps, at some point, you have asked yourself, “why do I procrastinate so much?”.

I have procrastinated in the past. While I still do it now, I do less than I did when I was younger because I am more aware of it now. In other words, I am not immune to procrastinating.

So girl, as much as this episode is for you, it’s for me too! Also, I have a few journal prompts to help you in the process of peeling back layers. I hope this blesses you.

Grab a notebook, a pen, and let’s dig in!

Why you’ve got to check out today’s episode:

• Find out what procrastination looks like in real life.

• Get a clear understanding of why you procrastinate and which tasks you often procrastinate on so that you can break your destructive habit and start forming good ones.

• Learn practical tips to overcome procrastination so that you can focus on reaching your goals.

“We have to get back to whose we are so that we can be confident in who we are. For us to be confident in who we are, we have to be confident in whose we are.”

Listen To The Episode

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Check out these episode highlights:

01.44 – I procrastinated when it came to writing long pieces, like papers or blog posts. This wasn’t because I didn’t want to write or disliked it, but because I was afraid that the product would be less than excellent. I justified waiting with excuses like, “I need the right atmosphere.” or “I don’t want to be distracted.” Truth is, I’ve written some of my best stuff in times when I was in the midst of noise, distraction, and busyness.

02:38 – The definition of procrastination

• According to the Oxford Dictionary, procrastination is the action of delaying or postponing something.

• According to Dr. Tim Pychyl, procrastination is a way to deal with boredom, anxiety, insecurity, frustration, resentment, self-doubt, and beyond.

03.04 – What’s the deal with procrastination?

• Dr. Tim Pychyl, professor of psychology and member of the Procrastination Research Group at Carleton University in Ottawa (that’s Canada and Dr. Fuschia Sirois, professor of psychology at the University of Sheffield say, “Procrastination can be understood as “The primacy of short-term mood repair … over the longer-term pursuit of intended actions.” Put simply, procrastination is about being more focused on “the immediate urgency of managing negative moods” than getting on with the task, Dr. Sirois said.

• Psychologist Dr. Hal Hershfield, a professor of marketing at the U.C.L.A. Anderson School of Management completed research that’s shown that, on a neural level, we perceive our “future selves” more like strangers than as parts of ourselves. When we procrastinate, parts of our brains actually think that the tasks we’re putting off — and the accompanying negative feelings that await us on the other side — are somebody else’s problem.

04.24 – In other words, Procrastination is an emotion regulation problem. But it might also result from deeper feelings related to the task, such as self-doubt, low self-esteem, anxiety, or insecurity.

05.35 – There’s something deeper. There are beliefs about yourself, the possible outcome, and how others view you that are getting in the way of you executing the thing you need to do.

05.53 – How to overcome Procrastination?

• Ultimately, these experts determined the best way to move forward from the emotional blow you’re fighting through is SELF-FORGIVENESS. They concluded that self-forgiveness supported productivity and allowed “the individual to move past their maladaptive behavior and focus on the upcoming event without the burden of past acts.”

• I disagree with the experts. To overcome procrastination is to get rooted in the truth of who you are IN CHRIST.

08.08 – Knowing WHOSE you are will leave very little room for you to believe anything else that could be said about who you are.

09.01 – Knowing your identity in CHRIST and standing on the truth of the GOSPEL crushes the need for self-forgiveness. If forgiving ourselves was the answer, wouldn’t that eliminate the need for a savior? The FACT that you don’t need to forgive yourself, your sins are already forgiven because of what Jesus did on the cross.

09.58 – I’m not mad at the research. It just shows and reinforces how flawed we are; how little we can do in our strength; how much we need God. I am, however, offering a different anecdote and, instead of relying on yourself, inviting you to rely on the Lord.

10.45 – Get to the bottom of why you’re feeling so crummy about this particular task. I invite you to dig into these Journal Prompts and let this be a process of peeling back layers.

• What tasks do you have a habit of procrastinating on?

• What are you avoiding?

• What’s the worst that could happen?

• Is procrastinating really worth the anxiety you feel down the road?

• How will you ask God to help you?

• When will you ask God to help you?

11.10 – More tangible tips to overcome procrastination

• Plan ahead and be prepared to do what you need to do. I share effective systems and strategies for being more productive in episode 16

  • https://herrenewedstrength.com/shownotes/episode16

• Time Block – I dive into this in episode 18

  • https://herrenewedstrength.com/shownotes/episode18

• Get yourself an accountability partner – this could be a friend or even a coach. I dive into whether or not you need a life coach in episode 36.

  • https://herrenewedstrength.com/shownotes/episode36

Key Takeaways:

• There is more to procrastination than laziness or poor time management. It is deeply connected to how you see yourself.

• You are God’s beloved and with that, you can do all things through His grace.

• Trusting only in yourself leads to destruction. Trusting in God unlocks your potential.

Resource:

• Get access to Firm Foundations, a completely free mini-course designed to build on the unshakeable truth about your identity, purpose, and calling in Christ.

• Find an accountability partner inside our Facebook group.

Connect with me!

• Instagram: @mrsdiazcastro

• Facebook: @emdiazcastro

• Website: Her Renewed Strength

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