Procrastinate Like A True Writer

Search procrastination online. Chances are you’ll find how-to-get-over-it articles that boil down to this list:

Step 1: Make a to-do list

Step 2: Conquer X on your list, no matter what X is

Step 3: Repeat Step 2

Easy, right? Not so much.

Writers don’t work this way. We like to do a bit of Y, part of Z and avoid X like a dog avoids eye contact when guilty of eating the cat’s food.

You know what I’m talking about.

But sometimes procrastinating is the right thing to do. Sometimes you don’t have all the creativity and energy to jump into writing project X (to be known hereafter as X). Sometimes it’s too soon to write X if the idea isn’t fully flushed out.

My boss would disagree.

Procrastinating can’t always be the answer. You can force yourself to write X if you have strict deadlines, but there’s a reason why you’re revising it over and over again. There still can be wiggle room for procrastination, even with time limits.

So if you’re taking the procrastination route, be the best procrastinator that you can be.

Doesn’t make sense? I’ll explain.

Procrastinate Without Guilt

Don’t beat yourself up. Procrastinating doesn’t make you a bad person.

If you’re leaving X for a later time and place, don’t obsess about not doing it. In fact, don’t even think about it.

Let it go and do something else. Pick another writing project to tackle if you’re feeling productive.

Procrastinate 100%

Throw yourself 100% into not doing X. That means throwing yourself 100% into what you’re doing instead of X.

It can be another writing project, errands around town or even watching TV. But it can’t be even 1% of X.

Fully experience what you’re doing. How does this relate to X? Your best ideas for X can pop up while doing something else. That’s because your brain is relaxed and can make connections in your brain more easily.

Choose To Procrastinate

Don’t let procrastination happen to you. You shouldn’t be writing X then suddenly find yourself, well, not.

You have control, so choose to procrastinate. Don’t fight it. Say, “I will now procrastinate” and do it.

Make procrastination a conscious choice so that you always have a grip on your writing project.

Know Why You’re Procrastinating

There are many reasons to procrastinate. Yet none of them should be because you feel lazy.

Here are some examples:

• You want to step away from X in order to develop crucial ideas
• You want to recharge your batteries so that you have renewed energy for X
• You want to focus your attention on another writing project

You may find that X was an inefficient use of your time or not necessary to complete anymore. Whatever the reason, define your situation before procrastinating.

Take Responsibility For Procrastinating

If there are deadlines and commitments surrounding X, update your team on a new deadline or request one. Assure them that it will be completed and completed well. Own up to your procrastination and its consequences.

So I challenge you to procrastinate. And it can be done in only two steps:

Step 1: Pick X

Step 2: Don’t do X

Not only will you write X, but it will be better timed and better than you imagined.

What’s your procrastination process? Share your procrastination ways below…whenever you get around to it…