On procrastinating better

Okay, so I’m sitting down to write this post instead of working on the novella I’m supposed to finish by the end of this month. Procrastination or legitimate writing break?

I guess it depends on you. Are you procrastinating on something, or taking a legitimate break?

Today’s world has plenty of distractions you can easily shut out on a good day. But when your energy is low, even a single unrelated blip from your phone can upend your entire day.

My question today is whether there’s a way to procrastinate better. When we don’t have the luxury of putting life on hold so we can get waylaid, how can we get the benefit of procrastination’s self-soothing effects while getting shit down without stressing the hell out?

A few years ago, I chatted about this with a professional PA, Karisma Carpenter. Here’s what she advised:

A dedicated workspace to avoid psychological contamination

“Well for starters try to give yourself a designated space to get your work done that’s away from distractions like the TV and snack cabinets.”

At least then you’ll have your work within reach while you’re being distracted. This lines up with James Clear’s tips in his bestselling productivity book, Atomic Habits, to get back on track quickly when you slip.

A clear, easily reference-able organisation system

“Set up something visual like a large calendar. This way you can put due dates and any other things you have going on in one central place. Try breaking up your task into sections so it’s easier to manage and not so daunting.”

A great tip to alleviate the kind of procrastination that comes from low self-efficacy, ie. the feeling that you’re not up to the task. When I can’t make the 2,500 words a day my fellow author makes, I aim for 250, which has often gone a long way to me finishing a manuscript during months too hectic for long writing sessions.

Social accountability

“Share your progress. Tell a friend or even post on Social Media what you plan to accomplish, so that you have someone or somewhere to check back in with about your progress.”

If the “social” part of social accountability isn’t your jam, it can also help to use word counts and progress bars to track your efforts. Some writers I know have one or two accountability buddies they swap work with regularly. Others keep beautiful notebooks of handwritten word counts. Even if emailing and logging numbers can come with distractions of their own, it’s worth it to keep you going.

Hacking your brain’s reward circuits

“Reward yourself! Everyone deserves rewards for doing things they need to, even you. However make sure you rewards are comparable, for example for 20 minutes of productive work give yourself 5 minutes to relax or do something fun.”

Certain kinds of procrastination stem from the mental exhaustion of dealing with a hard task, especially when it’s not immediately rewarding – like filing your taxes or squaring your accounts. Sometimes you just need a break, a way to get your energy back, so you can find flow again amidst a sea of distraction.

Mindful and deliberate self-care

“Know when to call it quits! I know, I know, we’re talking about being productive here but, if you have been putting true effort into getting work done and nothing productive is coming out it’s time to take a time out. Trying to struggle through it will only make you frustrated and make your task at hand suffer. So do something relaxing like take a 10 minute walk, or grab a bite to eat and come back to your task. Sometimes being distractible means you need a break, so remember to look after yourself too.”

There are whole frameworks built around how to approach self-care in service of high performance. My personal favourite is “Full Engagement” by Tony Schwarz and Jim Loehr, a system of flexibility that includes what you might call ‘indulgence’ if your work tends to give you tunnel vision. In reality, it’s just about acknowledging what you as a human being need in order to thrive while being productive.

Okay, enough “legitimate writing break” for now. My WIP isn’t going to write itself. Until next time!

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JL Peridot writes love letters to the future on devices from the past. Visit jlperidot.com for the full catalogue of her work or subscribe to Dot Club for a collection of her tiny stories.