![Quantcast](http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-GS-HF4BKvzCmv.gif)
![6 Not-So-Obvious Ways Procrastination Can Impact Your Ability To Move Forward](https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8zMzI2OTMyOS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTc1MDkzMDM4NH0.-MnbTwWC0afLyY0-v3khnRag1ytJaDPt41yLQpTO0Fo/img.jpg?width=1200&height=600&quality=90&coordinates=0%2C0%2C0%2C354)
6 Not-So-Obvious Ways Procrastination Can Impact Your Ability To Move Forward
When it comes to our productivity, procrastination will always be our greatest adversary.
Most of us live busy lives, with goals and dreams that we work tirelessly to achieve, but when the sneaky presence of procrastination starts to creep in, it can have a significant impact on our efficiency, which lead to delays, missed deadlines, and feeling of dread.
While it’s often not our intention to put off important tasks and focus our attention on trivial tasks, when we reach mental blockages like fear or imposter syndrome, we can’t help but to fall into the trap of low performance and lack of motivation brought on by procrastination.
But what’s the reason for this? Procrastination is a complex subject and comes in many different forms. It’s generally defined as an involuntary delay of an intended action, despite being aware of the negative consequences associated with said delay. Beyond the many ways that procrastination can present itself in our day-to-day lives, it’s important to note that there’s much more happening underneath the surface.
While some may reduce procrastination down to laziness or the lack of discipline, it can be viewed through several frameworks that apply to different people in different manners. For example, the temporal motivation theory suggests that individuals weigh the costs and benefits of different tasks and allocate their time accordingly. This mental dilemma known as “opportunity cost” is procrastination showing up in how individuals prioritize short-term rewards like socializing and entertainment over long-term goals like studying, exercising, or seemingly mundane tasks.
On the flip side, the self-regulation model highlights the role of emotion regulation in procrastination. According to this model, individuals may procrastinate as a means of avoiding negative emotions related to anxiety and boredom that are typically associated with an activity. However, this can ultimately have an increased negative effect, resulting in lackluster performance and outcomes.
With research identifying several factors that contribute to procrastination, including individual differences like impulsivity and perfectionism, environmental factors from distractions or lack of structure, and task characteristics like the complexity or unpleasantness of a task, we can all see ourselves each category depending on our mood or the capacity of tasks or project. However, when we find ourselves facing the consequences of our procrastination, it can lead to even greater impacts on our mental health and well-being.
The loop of procrastination can be a difficult web to get untangled from. When we procrastinate, we often feel guilt, shame, or even anxiety about the work neglected, which can bring about unwanted stress and negative self-talk. We can sometimes attach our productivity to our self-worth and associate our value with our output. When these loops occur in our minds, it further exacerbates a decrease in our productivity, as we may become distracted or demotivated.
Overall, it's important to identify the reasons behind our procrastination and find ways to overcome it to achieve our goals and lead a fulfilling life. If you find yourself in the loop of procrastination, it’s important to identify the cause so you can get to the solution. That’s why we’ve curated a list of procrastination triggers and how to correct them.
Trigger: You find yourself doing unimportant tasks like scrolling social media instead of the important ones you need to be working on.
Try This: Try creating distance from your distractions and the tasks at hand. If you find it hard to stay focused on top responsibilities, it may be time to install a social media blocker app on your phone and set it for the duration you’d like to complete your work in. You might even want to try putting your phone in a different area than where you work so that it’s less easy to grab in between assignments.
Trigger: You feel overwhelmed or stressed about the work you need to do, but you can't seem to make progress on it.
Try This: When it comes to the duties that stress us out the most, it’s essential that we understand that we can only do what’s in front of us first. We don’t get to the next tasks until we finish the first one, so put less on your plate by giving yourself smaller portions and working your way through. Before you know it, you would have tackled your biggest tasks, bit by bit.
Trigger: You feel guilty or ashamed about your lack of productivity or progress on important tasks.
Try This: It’s time to give yourself some grace. Self-compassion goes a long way when you know that procrastination is less about you as a person and more about the stimulus that’s causing you to put the tasks off. When you begin to feel that negative self-talk begin to creep in, pause, and allow yourself a moment to collect your thoughts, grab a snack, take a walk, or simply breathe before you reapproach what’s at hand. Beating yourself up about procrastinating will only create more procrastination, so forgive yourself and move forward.
Trigger: You are often working on tasks at the last minute, which can lead to low quality work or mistakes.
Try This: Before you start your next tasks, it’s important to remember that it’s okay to approach them in small chunks. Oftentimes, we work on things at the last minute because it feels too big and overwhelming to take on. But if we are reminded to pace ourselves and not try to take everything at once, we can give ourselves the time necessary to present our best work.
Trigger: You find yourself easily distracted and unable to focus for long periods of time.
Try This: Time blocks are going to be your best friend here. By breaking down a larger task into smaller, manageable blocks of time, you can make it less intimidating and easier to start. By setting a clear structure and working in short bursts, you can overcome procrastination and make steady progress toward completing the task.
Trigger: You have a lot of unfinished tasks or projects that you keep putting off.
Try This: Sometimes we put certain tasks off because we may not have the capacity to complete them, or they might simply not be in our realm of expertise. In this case, it’s perfectly okay to ask for help. Delegating tasks and projects over people who are more skilled and have more time to complete them, can take them off our plate and allow us to execute our to-do lists in a timely and stress-free manner.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Xavier Lorenzo/Getty Images
Aley Arion is a writer and digital storyteller from the South, currently living in sunny Los Angeles. Her site, yagirlaley.com, serves as a digital diary to document personal essays, cultural commentary, and her insights into the Black Millennial experience. Follow her at @yagirlaley on all platforms!
This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Tubi has been gaining popularity due to its free sign-up and a vast selection of series and films. According to Deadline, the FAST (free ad-streaming television) service has seen a 14.7% growth from May and now has similar numbers to Disney+. So while many people have joked about Tubi having low-budget movies, the numbers don't lie.
In fact, I was one of those people who didn't get the appeal of Tubi, but the more I watched it, the more I enjoyed the content. They have some of our favorite TV series, such as Scandal and Star, as well as big films like the Fast and Furious franchise and cult classic Love & Basketball.
Tubi even has its own original movies and series that are just as entertaining. But while Tubi is on the come up, some of the low-budget movies and hood movies are still a must-watch. From Tubi originals to the hood movies, we've put together a list of shows and movies to add to your watchlist.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is an original Tubi movie that stars Hailey Kilgore (Juke from Power Book III: Raising Kanan), Damon Wayans, and Pam Grier. It's a love story gone awry after a robbery turns deadly, and a young couple faces many challenges to make it out alive.
The Dirty D
The Dirty D is one of the first things I watched on Tubi, as many people highly recommended it. It's a series set in a Detroit club, and it has all the drama you can think of. Murder, drug dealing, cheating, greed, and more.
Black Men Don't Cheat
In this film, a young woman grapples with the death of her husband while also discovering his secret life, which puts her in danger.
Mother May I
This movie fully captivates the overbearing mother. However, the ending will shock you as she goes a little too far.
The Stepdaughter
When a young girl moves in with her dad and his new wife, a series of unfortunate events occurs. This Tubi original will keep your attention with every turn.
These Men For Everybody
These Men For Everybody is a film that highlights the tangled web of friendships and relationships and how you can't trust anybody.
Best Friend
What happens when your best friend is obsessed with you? This movie, which stars Serayah and Marques Houston, answers this very question and takes us on a ride in the process.
What's Done After Dark
What's Done After Dark shows us that everything isn't always what it seems. The twist at the end is a real doozy.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by rez-art/ Getty Images