Page 62 - End Procrastination Now Get it Done with a Proven Psychological Approach

30 End Procrastination Now!

Otherwise, you’re doomed to repeat the pattern. You tell yourself
that until you get around to this archaeological expedition into the
depths of your psyche, you’ll never be free from procrastination.
Meanwhile, you have a perfect excuse for procrastinating forever.
This ploy can have the surface appearance of seeking deep
answers to profound questions about the self. It can sound like a
sophisticated act. Yet it serves the same purpose as the other con-
tingency ploys: avoidance, avoidance, avoidance.
There is no compelling evidence that scientifically demon-
strates that searching through incomplete and biased memories
to reach premapped but speculative unconscious territories cor-
relates with reducing procrastination. However, understanding
what you do today to create needless delays can be productive.
Recognizing procrastination thinking, for example, opens an op-
portunity to change your thinking and get under way with what is
important to do now.

Self-Handicapping and Procrastination

Self-handicapping is a term coined by psychologists Edwin Jones
and Steven Berglas; it describes a cognitive process of enhancing
self-esteem in dealing with tasks or goals that you may or may
not be good at. Self-handicapping plays a critical role in your pro-
crastination process. By laying the blame on uncontrollable ob-
stacles, you can save face when you deliver subpar or failing
performances. You have to take your hat off to anyone who creates
this no-lose form of self-protection. However, does it come with a
price? The price is likely to be in the direction of procrastination
and mediocrity.
Here is how self-handicapping can feed procrastination. Your
boss explains that because the economy is tight, your new assign-
ment is to renegotiate purchasing contracts with the company’s
suppliers. She wants to put the company into a better competitive
position by reducing prices without affecting profit margins. She
thinks this is an opportunity to increase market share.