Beware Of Productive Procrastination

“Hey, have you made any progress on your 3-year plan?” I asked my colleague, reminding them that I had previously followed up on this matter. “I’ve been occupied with other priorities, but I’ll start working on it soon,” my colleague responded apologetically. 

This is something common I notice often. We think we are moving the ball forward because we are very busy. We work long hours because we are diligent and see ourselves as super responsible for everything under our charge.

But wait. What if our busy schedule is just an excuse to keep us from pursuing our big dreams and goals?

Productive Procrastination

It’s not the type of procrastination where you lie in bed and watch Netflix all day. No, it is the type where you keep yourself busy doing many things but don’t do that one thing that you know you must be doing.

Productive procrastination is a curious combination of action and avoidance. You’re completing tasks, your mind is engaged, your hands are busy, but something’s amiss. You’re hustling, yet the most crucial task, the one that could really shift the dial, remains untouched or unfinished. It’s like running on a treadmill- but you are not moving forward.

Here is a simple method to figure out whether you are engaging in productive procrastination.

What are your three primary life and work goals? What are you doing right now to achieve them? 

If your to-do list is full of activities that address immediate and urgent priorities, without any of them addressing your long term goals, you are very likely engaging in productive procrastination. You’re doing things that make you feel productive but do not help you achieve your long-term goals. 

How Do You Avoid Productive Procrastination?

Imagine your big dreams and aspirations—personal or work-related—as a mountain peak. Every task that takes you closer to the summit is a step forward. However, productive procrastination is a bit like walking around the mountain’s base, admiring the scenery, picking flowers, or clearing rocks.

Having a vision of the mountain peak represented by your big dreams and goals is vital. When you have a clear view of the mountain peak(your long term goals) ahead of you, it is tough to engage in productive procrastination because any task or activity that is not moving you forward will prick you. You will immediately sense that you are not making progress.

Returning to the question I asked my colleague about the 3-year plan, I reminded him to prioritize long-term goals and avoid getting sidetracked by short-term priorities.

It’s essential to strike a balance between the two, or else you may find yourself engaging in productive procrastination. By focusing on long-term goals, you can ensure that you are making progress towards your overall objectives.