(read time about 5 minutes)

Let's be honest: making art and being creative can feel quite daunting at times. There can be a significant amount of uncertainty present in the creative process, so it is completely understandable to sometimes seek out something more comfortable to engage in instead.

Procrastination is when we voluntarily put off an essential task or obligation, where we decide on doing something yet do not commit to the actions needed to complete it.

Procrastination is one of the main drainers to our confidence, as it can create a cycle of anxiety and self-doubt. Over time, this behaviour can transform into a bad habit that we automatically act out without even noticing we are doing it. We tend to engage in this pattern as a way to cope with tasks that evoke feelings of uncertainty, overwhelm, discomfort, or fear of failure.

It’s much like driving a car towards a carefully chosen destination. You might feel an eagerness and excitement, raring to go; yet, unexpectedly, a massive detour becomes more urgent and we head off in that direction without thinking about it. After time we might remember where we truly wanted to go, and then we may feel a renewed sense of eagerness to set off once again on our journey. However, it seems that yet again, a detour becomes increasingly pressing, leading us down alternate paths we had no intention of exploring… and the cycle continues. Ultimately, it consumes far more fuel, road space, time, and energy than it truly needs to get to the original destination.

If you notice that you are consistently doing this, it can be helpful to take the time to identify your various types of procrastinators and understand the underlying reasons why you keep putting things off repeatedly. By doing so, you can significantly improve your productivity levels, enhance your overall motivation, boost your self-confidence, and help you to fulfil your creative potential and achieve your dreams.

The four steps to understanding more about procrastination and how you do it.

STEP ONE: WHY DO YOU PUT THINGS OFF?

Bring to mind something that you've been putting off. You will probably find that this particular task has many, if not all, of the characteristics listed below, which collectively make the task seem worthy of putting off.

Procrastination is a way to avoid things that you may find:

Boring
Uncomfortable
Pressure
Difficult
Unclear what to do
Not rewarding enough (i.e. you don't find the process fun)
Lacking in personal meaning

STEP TWO: HOW DO YOU POSTPONE THINGS?

How do you distract yourself from making art, or initiating that long-awaited project, or pursuing the career you have always dreamed of?

What's your go-to distraction? .....................................……………………………………...............

STEP THREE: WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?

The effects of postponing things may not seem all that bad at first glance, but over time, those negative effects can build up significantly.

They may be about losing precious time, sabotaging your goals, blowing opportunities or creating added stress and eroding self-confidence.

STEP FOUR: WHICH NEW HABITS DO YOU WANT INSTEAD?

Instead of letting procrastination take hold and disrupt your productivity, take the time to develop effective time management techniques that will help you address it promptly when it first appears.

Ask yourself:

What do I want instead of putting things off?
How do I want to act if I wasn't procrastinating?
What would I say to myself to help me get started making art?
What would I notice about myself when I am not putting things off?

Let these answers inform you of the new helpful habits you want to engage in that help your creative growth and development.

LET’S PUT IT ALL TOGETHER!

We have looked at the why, what, how, and which, and I hope you’ve enjoyed finding out more about what is getting in the way of you regularly making art.

💡 Now, write down your answers to the questions in each step from above. I’m intrigued by what you have found out. There is something about writing down what is floating around in your mind that makes it more tangible to deal with and less overwhelming.

ONE: I tend to put things off because the task at hand is …

TWO: I often find myself procrastinating by engaging in …

THREE: Which ultimately leads to …

FOUR: To help me stop procrastinating effectively, I will commit to …

We are not perfect or robots, and procrastination is part of human nature, and there can be beneficial reasons for doing so.It becomes a problem when it keeps us stuck in our comfort zone and gets in the way of the progression and growth that we crave.

Please remember not to be too hard on yourself when you find yourself procrastinating; it’s truly about how quickly you manage to get back on track again, engaging in the activities you love most, and making art that you enjoy and are passionate about ❤️

Angela xx

Are you procrastinating in making the art that you dream of?