Reframing Procrastination: A New Path to Navigate Challenges

Lately I've been feeling a bit lost, for lack of a better word. One thing I find myself saying in times like these is that I wish I had some navigational beacons to help me feel confident that I am on course. The clarity to guide me on the way forward.

And every time I say it to myself, it comes out in the voice of Jimmy Buffett from the song ​It's Five O'Clock Somewhere.​ Something to help me keep it between the buoys.

And the thing is... I TOTALLY KNOW what many of those things are. I just choose to ignore them.

Sound familiar?

Self-Sabotage and Procrastination

I recently learned that self-sabotage is a form of procrastination. And procrastination is an ​emotional management problem​.

Learning that was a huge 'aha' moment for me.

Seeing the issue from a different perspective, a ​reframe​, helped me start to see different solutions, different ways to navigate through the problem.

It helped me put more trust into the buoys and navigational beacons that have served me well in the past.

• journaling

• alone time

• noticing obsessive habits/thoughts aka rabbit holes

And got me curious about what other ways I could try.

• somatic movement

• new routines

• conscious moments of focus

Know Yourself

What are the ways that you self-sabotage? Is it staying up too late to operate at your best the next day? Eating a food that doesn't agree with your body? Spending time in situations or with people (including social media accounts) that make you question yourself?

Noticing where you self-sabotage is a powerful first step.

Then play with what practices can help you navigate through it.

For me ​stream of consciousness journaling​ is incredibly powerful because it helps me have space to organize my thoughts and holds them safely on paper.

Depending on your innate ways of being, something else may be your procrastination kryptonite.

• Set reminders on your phone to help ping you to take small, ​aligned actions​ throughout the day. Trust in the reminders to remind you and build up that follow-through muscle.

• Practice "being in the moment" when you are around others. Notice details and nuances without diving into past stories.

• Give yourself space to ​mentally reset​ each day and zone out. See what floats through your mind when you give it space to wander without an agenda.

• Take a fresh look at the ​daily habits​ you would like to change or reinforce. What are some creative ways you could make that happen that get you excited to keep them going?

• Do a check-in with yourself about how your behaviors and decisions align with with your ​personal values and beliefs​. What alignment or dissonance do you notice?

• Step away from the thick of the moment and spend some time people watching. Notice different interactions and the reactions they generate.

• Practice playing with asking yourself '​what if...​' and see how that helps you see a clear path forward.

To help you with your journey toward knowing yourself better, experiment with journaling and with one of the suggestions above. See what helps you feel like it acts as a navigational beacon for you.

Use journaling to help you get back on track in life and feel confident that you are heading in the right direction in life.

What is your go-to method of self-sabotage? What do you find yourself procrastinating on?

If you want to discover personalized ways you can take aligned action and break the cycle of procrastination, send me a DM on Instagram or LinkedIn. For some extra motivation/perspective, fall officially starts late Friday night/early Saturday morning (based on your time zone). And there are 102 days left in the year. If you want to finish the year strong by tackling procrastination, hit reply and let's talk.

*post may contain affiliate links

---

Stephanie Rose is a mom, wife, business owner and a forever student in finding ways to know herself better. She acts as guide for your own journey, sharing insights, tools and practices to help you remember your magic and live a life that lights you up. Sign up for her newsletter and check out her free resources.

Related entries