Don't Delay

I'm procrastinating by reading about procrastination. And I know *exactly* how I will feel about that tomorrow.

Yes indeed, I think that many of us can forecast these emotions/feelings accurately. Interesting, isn't it? Despite knowing the emotional consequences, we persist now. Why do you think that is?
tim

I'm not sure if this has been answered elsewhere ... so please forgive me if it has

I would like to put it another way

In the last bit Professor Tim writes something like, planning to do something tomorrow can make us feel better today.

I would like to turn this around and say, doing feeling better today can make us more likely to do something tomorrow

Perhaps this is related to the podcast where Professor Tim examines where those students who forgave themselves for procrastination, actually procrastinated less next time.

To explain this further, I have got a lot out of a podcast called "Inside Out Weight Loss" especially episodes 16, 17 and also 51.

This has helped me to confront both my fears of success and failure (by making me visualise both outcomes) and then to let go fully of the outcome (decreasing stress in me and making me more likely to do the task as I am less fearful of it).

To explain more clearly, this is how I understand this three-step process which has helped me:
1. visualise what I want
2. imagine briefly what would happen if I didn't get it - would it be so bad - would I be able to cope - could I still carry on as normal pretty much?
3. fully let go of my strong desire to get what I want (and leave it up to the universe, God, etc)

In episode 51, Renee Stephens expands on how "feeling good now" can help you to achieve your goal. She says you can plan how to achieve your goal, but to stop planning once you start to feel overwhelmed or stressed by it.

I know you have mentioned that motivation often follows action (once we overcome the initial inertia), but have you also considered strategies about how 1. firing up motivation and 2. decreasing stress and fearful emotions can also help one to do a task.

PS Professor Tim thank you so much for your wonderful, caring podcasts !

I need something actionable. What can I take away from this article and use?

I must agree that there are many times I make plans for the future based on present feelings. When the future comes, most likely I forego the event, not even able to recall why I wanted to do or go in the first place and usually feeling guilty for making the commitment! (Or even worse, rationalizing that I thought more positively about it then (in the past) than I do now (in the present)).

Perhaps this speaks more to commitment and the ability to discriminate than procrastination?

In other words, caught up in feelings of wanting to help or wanting XXX, I am very likely to "say yes." When action time comes, feelings are dissimilar and that commitment gets weighed against everything else that is happening and re-prioritized (evidence that we really cannot predict future state-of-mind).

That being said, when commitments are made, most people rely on those making the commitment. Thus someone like myself should learn to discern, discriminate and say "no" often, given the likely possibility that I will not even attend or do whatever it is that I am committing to.

One option to spur action is to write down the perceived benefits and perceived detriments of every commitment - BEFORE making a commitment. This should be reviewed at some future date and then a decision should be made regarding that future event. If a commitment is made, the event should be put on a calendar. Finally, the day of the event, the benefits should be reviewed so one remembers the basis for the commitment.

Any and all feedback appreciated!!