A Case of Mixed Feelings

Procrastination is due to mixed or conflicting feelings and involves wanting to do something and also not wanting to do it or fearing doing it. We want to: go to the dentist but hate pain, vacuum the house and also want watch our favorite TV show, find a better job but fear rejection.

Overcome mixed feelings by:

Not using the word procrastination which has a negative connotation and leads to feeling bad about ourselves which kills motivation. Just say, I have mixed feelings, a neutral sentiment.
If your parents put off doing things they needed to do, you likely picked up this behavior from them-Dad kept saying he’d stop drinking and didn’t or Mom swore she’d clean out the basement to make a rec room but never did. They couldn’t teach you skills they didn’t have, but you can learn them now.
Don’t bully yourself with words like should/must/have to/need to, which only generate internal rebellion. Replace them with want/wish/desire/would like to.
Focus on rewards for doing unlikeable tasks, rather than dwell on why you don’t want to do them, a process called leapfrogging. Skip over the bad feeling and immerse yourself in the good feeling.

Contributors: Karen R Koenig from KarenKoenig