Richard L. Fellner
You have plenty of time, but can’t get things done? Busy with many little
things, but way too often find yourself postponing the really important tasks?
Then you might be one of the many people suffering from
procrastination. Procrastination often looks like self sabotage, since it can
result in missing important business opportunities, offending others by
repeatedly arriving too late at appointments or not finishing crucial steps in
achieving career-related or educational goals.
Out of that, many develop feelings of guilt, stress and a
reduction of self-esteem, which itself can lead to further procrastination, and
even depression. So-called ‘Messies’ often show symptoms of procrastination as
well.
Another cause for difficulties in achieving goals can be
juvenile or adult ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). People with
untreated ADHD often appear to be disorganized, have chaotic lifestyles, and
tend to rely on (non-prescribed) drugs and alcohol to get by. While childhood
ADHD gets lots of attention these days, psychologists and psychiatrists have
found that quite many adults are suffering from the same impairments, though
with slightly different symptoms.
But how to get rid of this inhibition of getting things done?
My observation is that many people who are suffering from it tend to buy an
abundance of guidebooks with lurid titles like ‘Everything Is Possible!’ which
usually contain at least a few dozen instructions and tips each - but at the
end, this only leaves them feeling more frustrated and inapt than before. If you
want to get to the roots of your problem, first check for ADHD as a potential
cause by getting a diagnosis from a psychiatrist, psychotherapist or
psychologist. While ADHD may require medical support in many cases,
procrastination in general is a problem that can be successfully dealt with
through regular counseling and coaching over a reasonable amount of time.
