How Can I Stop Procrastinating?

Make a commitment now to begin living your life on the unlimited resources of Christ, who is in you and ready to work through you by His Holy Spirit.

Why do you continue to delay contacting your client? Why do you keep ignoring that list of phone calls? What is preventing you from writing that report? What is inhibiting you from inviting your boss to lunch? You are practicing a self-defeating habit called procrastination! Many highly qualified, talented people will remain in the lower level of their vocations because they are procrastinators. Life leaves them behind.

Two Causes for Procrastination and Their Results

Procrastination is the habit of putting off until tomorrow what is uncomfortable to do today. There are two primary causes for our procrastination. The first is called “discomfort dodging.” This is the practice of putting off an activity because some parts of it are associated with uncomfortable or anxious feelings. So the goal is to avoid bad feelings. The second is called “self-doubt.” This occurs when we feel inadequate and become preoccupied with our faults. We allow ourselves to be harassed and tormented by feelings of worthlessness and incompetence, which are unfounded but nevertheless real to us. This negative view of ourselves is naturally followed by hesitation and delay.

The effects of this destructive habit are numerous and costly both to our emotional health and our advancement. The procrastinator always feels behind and guilty for not getting the work completed; is stressful; is tense; becomes insensitive to the needs of others because he has so many of his own needs; cannot enjoy time away from the office because he worries about what was left undone; causes frustration in others; misses exciting and profitable opportunities; and fails to perform according to his ability because of inadequate preparation. He never has quite enough time.

How to Cure Procrastination

What is the cure for procrastination? Of course, you can make lists, plan ahead, rearrange your work area, and make a new schedule. All of these are good ideas. But until you deal with the truth about the way you feel about yourself, you will drift back into your old state.

“Be honest with yourself”

Jesus said, “The truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). How does this apply to your bondage of procrastination? The root cause of your problem is your feelings about yourself and your work. What is the real truth about you? You have received Christ as your personal Savior and now you belong to the family of God. You are a person of great worth–remember, Christ died for you! You now have the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through you, making you competent. You have the right to say with the apostle Paul, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). You have all you need to achieve every goal God has set for your life. He promises to “supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Make a commitment now to begin living your life on the unlimited resources of Christ, who is in you and ready to work through you by His Holy Spirit. Replace “Going to start tomorrow” with “Getting started now!”

For further insights, read the following passages:

• Proverbs 27:1
• Proverbs 29:1
• Matthew 19:16-22
• Luke 9:59-62
• 2 Corinthians 8:10-14