An Antidote to Procrastination

There are so many things that need to be done and yet I don’t do them. Why do I keep putting things off? 

Psychologist Timothy Pychyl writes in a piece titled, Teeenagers, Identity and Procrastination that if we can’t answer the questions ‘Who am I?’ ‘What am I?’, we are more likely to procrastinate.

In a study conducted amongst undergraduates, Dr. Pychyl and graduate student Matthew Shanahan learned that a lack of identity (knowing who we are) was positively correlated with procrastination.  Said another way, when the undergraduates 'knew who they were', they were less likely to procrastinate.

Most of us have observed the skill with which young adults procrastinate, but isn't it also true that we have had periods in our lives when we ourselves were notorious procrastinators?  And not just when we were in college? 

Source:  istockphoto

According to Dr. Pychyl, procrastination can be explained by the interconnectedness between identity and agency.  “Identity is that knowledge of who we are.  Agency is the belief that we are in control of our decisions, we make things happen.  Being an active agent, depends on identity, or knowing who we are.”

If we are going to make things happen, we need to know who we are.

Perhaps then, the antidote to procrastination, is not to browbeat ourselves about putting things off, but rather to put them off some more, and focus on figuring out who we are.  We just might discover that when we return to our to-do list, we're getting things done.

Had you ever considered that you (or your children) might procrastinate when you aren't sure of who you are?

What about the times in your life when you are really productive, how is your 'knowing who you are' during those times?

If you are feeling like you want to get more done, what if you were to focus on your identity for a few months, or for even a few moments a day?     

Comments

[Lisle]

Oooh, thanks for a thought-provoking post! I always think I'm just making a list that's too long, but maybe it's that the list is too much. Good time of year to re-evaluate.

[Macy]

I definitely think there is something to this. I went to a great photography/life seminar last week and they talked a bit about this. Their theory was that we procrastinate because we are perfectionists. That if we aren't going to be able to do something up to our standards, we end up putting it off. That's completely me.

[Blue]

Whitney, this was excellent. I believe it could only be improved upon by cross-linking to any posts you may have on the subject of figuring out Who You Are and What You Are. Which presumes you have posts on them...but if not, perhaps you can work some up.

[Whitney]

Great point Blue -- something to keep in mind. In the meantime, here are a couple of posts to get us started.

On discovering our intelligences
http://daretodream.typepad.com/weblog/2006/11/seeing_with_new.html

On the feminine hero's journey
http://daretodream.typepad.com/weblog/2006/11/stories_we_love.html

Play to your strengths
http://daretodream.typepad.com/weblog/2007/05/simmons_school_.html

Who are your heros?
http://daretodream.typepad.com/weblog/2007/08/what-ive-learne.html

[Jenny]

I am a daily procrastinator.
This is good food for thought.
Thanks, Whitney.

[Chrysula Winegar]

When identity is intact, known and lived, the motivation to go forward and do what we know to be right and best for our personal, professional and familial outcomes becomes integral to that identity. Voila, no need for procrastination.

Only it seems some days I know who I am way better than others :-). Great piece. Thank you for sharing this.

[Janna]

This post is a breakthrough idea. Thank you for reminding me to administer patience to myself and others during our necessary (and sacred) times of procrastination.

[Rebecca]

Fascinating. Just what I needed to read today.

[Alyson Jenkins]

Is that why I can't get my act together these days? Then again, I think I know I need to rediscover who I am and have been putting that off.

[Jennifer R]

What an eye-opening idea. Great post. I used to feel sharp and productive when I had a regular full time job at an office, but I find myself lost sometimes working from home where I have many identities. I will try to wear only one hat at a time, so I know "who I am" in the moment something needs to get done!

[Robin_Dickinson]

Hi Whitney, thanks for this post.

A couple of thoughts come to mind...

a) I'm hearing that it might be more productive to work on our 'to be' list before tackling our 'to-do- list;

b) What if we chose an identity that empowered our productivity? For example: who would I have to BE to become really productive? This can create different possibilities for those who have labelled themselves in disempowering ways e.g. 'I am a procrastinator.' 'I am lazy.' etc

Best, Robin

Twitter: Robin_Dickinson

[Whitney]

I like that Chrysula. 'Some days I know who I am way better than others..."

And... shall we tackle out 'to be' list before the 'to do' -- rather pithy.

"Sacred time of procrastination."

Great insights. Thank you all.

[Emily O]

Knowing who we are engenders us with a sense of purpose or mission and then we use our agency to validate that knowledge.

Interesting comments about self-labeling, too. This reminds me of the shark-tank post about VC's looking to fund products that validate their perceptions of themselves. We fund, with time and resources, those things that validate our perceptions of ourselves.