115: How To Spot 4 Hidden Signs of Procrastination

It’s possible you’re procrastinating without even noticing you’re procrastinating - our brains are that good at getting stuck in this mental habit!

Today I’ll share 4 super common signs of procrastinating that disguise themselves as work. Plus, what you can do to get your brain more comfortable taking action. Okay let’s dive in.

If you’ve been listening to this show for a while, you’ve probably noticed that tech stuff isn’t my strength. Almost as many of my stories are about my disasters trying to get computer stuff figured out as they are about me tripping (I’m also very clumsy).

So it’s probably no surprise that a few months ago I was working on a new project and was getting stuck in a tech sinkhole.

I was putting together a new toolkit to help the busy professionals in our community get their massive to-do lists under control, and stop feeling like they’re rushing around all day and getting nothing done. Check out www.drnicolebyers.com/toolkit to learn more.

Part of this toolkit I was recording video lessons. I’ve done a number of online courses over the past few years and there are a bunch of different programs you can use to record video. Everything from as simple as looking at my iphone and talking, all the way to complex set ups with microphones, cameras, and editing software.

I had everything planned out that I wanted to include in the videos. I’d made some slides to go with my talk…

… and then I got stuck in that tech vortex of procrastination, and didn’t even realize I was procrastinating. Let me explain.

I started researching the best way to record these videos:

I read some blogs about different software and setups,
watched a few youtube videos,
searched in some of the facebook groups I’m in for online business owners for recommendations from my colleagues.
And before I knew it most of the day had gone by and I was no closer to actually getting these videos recorded.

Then I realized I had been procrastinating with one of the sneaky ways our brains procrastinate that make us feel like we’re working - endlessly researching or looking for the “perfect” solution but never actually taking action. And that is Sign #1 of procrastination disguised as work.

Sign #1 of procrastination disguised as work = researching the “perfect” solution

We’ve all been there, right?

You’ve got a new project at work and you’re not sure what to do. There are a bunch of potential directions you can take.

Maybe you’re setting up a new program for your team, or you’re working on a new solution for a client. And you’re not feeling totally confident about what to do first. Because it’s new, and you don’t want to make the wrong choice.

So your brain says, hmm I’m not sure what to do, hey there’s this amazing thing called the internet where I can get my answers.

But instead of spending a few minutes deciding on a plan, you go down a rabbit hole of researching all the possible solutions because you're not sure you’ve found the best one.

Our brains don’t like to make mistakes. That’s normal. We want to make the best choice.

And when we’re not sure what that choice is, we can get stuck researching the best solution, or overthinking all the possible solutions, or asking everyone you know their opinion, and not taking action…

There’s nothing wrong with a little research or critical thinking. The problem is when this becomes a desire to find the “perfect” solution, which leaves us stuck.

And we end up procrastinating, without noticing because it feels like we’re being productive. It feels like we’re taking steps towards our goal with all that researching and brainstorming, but what we’re actually doing is avoiding making a decision in case it’s the wrong one.

Sign #2 of procrastination disguised as work = waiting until the last minute then rushing to get it all done

Let me be clear, we all need a little fire under our butts sometimes to take action. There’s a famous psychology study done a number of years ago that found we need a certain amount of stress or pressure to take action.

Not enough stress/pressure we procrastinate.

Too much stress we feel overwhelmed and avoid.

The trouble is when we get into the habit of always waiting until the last minute, then feeling rushed and overwhelmed trying to get things checked off. Because this isn’t a great place for your brain to be.

After rushing to get stuff done your brain says ugh that felt awful. Rather than taking that as a message that you want to give yourself more time so you’re not in this situation again, often our brain’s react to that discomfort by procrastinating more.

Sounds counterintuitive I know. But your brain says, well that felt terrible, I don’t want to feel that again, and your brain associates that feeling with doing the task (not the procrastination).

Your brain continues to put things off to avoid doing the thing, then rushes to get it done, feels bad, but the cycle continues.

Plus, this sends a message to your brain that you’re rushed all the time, so it makes your brain go into red alert mode often, which just burns you out.

Sign #3 of procrastination disguised as work = Doing everything else on your list first and getting stuck in busy work

Busy work is the most sneaky form of procrastination in my opinion.

Because you are BUSY,
you are taking action,
you are getting stuff done,
but not the stuff that makes the biggest impact.

For example, if I get to my desk in the morning and on my to-do list I have

respond to emails,
return client calls,
order new office supplies,
prepare for next productivity challenge…

…my brain knows that the last item “prepare for my next productivity challenge for our community” is a lot of work. The other stuff is going to be faster to do.

So I spend the first part of my day answering emails, making calls, and ordering office supplies. Yes that stuff is good to get done, but I know it’s not helping me move forward in my career. Getting that next challenge ready for our community is really what moves the needle.

But it’s so tempting to get caught up in busy work because it feels productive. I feel like I’m getting a lot done by spending an hour checking emails. But most likely I’m not. I get those emails checked off then there are just more emails.

We all have our own versions of busy work in our jobs. If you feel like you're rushing all day, busy all the time, but not making progress towards your goals, chances are you’re stuck in busy work.

Sign #4 of procrastination disguised as work = distractions and urgent tasks.

Distractions are a type of busy work. They pull your focus and keep you from doing the productive work that’s going to help you progress in your career. That could be email alerts, colleagues popping by to ask you questions, the printer jamming, anything that pulls your focus from the tasks that actually move the needle.

Again, if you’re feeling stressed at work and burnt out, distractions disguised as urgent tasks could be holding you up.

The solution? How to stop procrastinating

So what can you do? How do we get our brains out of these procrastination habits so we can feel in control of our time and energy?

Noticing when you’re stuck in one of these procrastination disguises is the first step.

Here’s my challenge for you this week - start to notice when you’re feeling rushed, stressed, or like you don’t have enough time at work.

For me I notice I get cranky, tense, and fidgety.

You might feel different - for you maybe your body starts to feel exhausted, your motivation goes down, and you’re reaching for that second pot of coffee. But start to notice what your brain and your body are telling you.

Then notice what you're doing when you feel that way.

When you start to feel overwhelmed by everything on your plate, is that task one of these procrastination traps?
Procrastination disguised as work?
That work that makes you feel like you’re making progress but it’s really just stressing you out?

The more we become aware of these habits, the easier it is for our brains to take charge and change that habit.

Episode bonus resource: Free workbook

Want some more strategies to stop procrastinating? Check out my free workbook - Your Insider’s Guide to Stop Procrastinating. 5 questions + 4 simple strategies to go from Endlessly hesitating, second-guessing yourself, and waiting for the “perfect” time to start… to Getting more done! And having the clarity, energy, and focus to take action on your to-do list every day. You can snag your copy at www.drnicolebyers.com/stopprocrastinating

Key takeaways

Our brains are clever. And they’ve figured out some clever ways to procrastinate, and make us think we’re making progress.

Usually because that thing we’re procrastinating on feels uncomfortable. A project you’re avoiding starting because you have no clue what to do first, or a conversation you’re avoiding with a colleague because you’re not sure which way it will go.

But the more you become aware of the times you’re procrastinating or avoiding with things like busy work or looking for the perfect solution, the easier it is to start taking action, and the faster you’ll reach your career goals.

Show Highlights

[0:00] It's possible to procrastinate without noticing.

[1:36] How I got stuck in a technology sinkhole working on a new project a few months ago.

[3:19] Sign #1 of hidden procrastination.

[5:02] Sign #2 of procrastination disguised as work.

[6:38] What’s sign #3?

[8:13] Sign # 4 procrastination in disguise

[8:48] How can we combat these signs?

[9:02] Your challenge for the week.

[10:28] Episode recap and key takeaways.

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