Thank you for subscribing to Whimsy, a weekly newsletter designed to help creatives from all walks of life sustainably improve their literary citizenship. Guilliean (hard G) Pacheco and the team at Writeropolis Media joyfully compile this newsletter for your consumption. Add Guilliean on your favorite social media platforms, or refer the newsletter to your friends and enemies.
Hi there,
Happy Black History Month! I’m glad that you’re here, and I spent most of January buried in job applications. Anyone looking to hire a starving generalist writer/editor? Hit me back!
On another note, it’s tax season again. If you’re getting ready to do your taxes, I highly recommend FreeTaxUSA. This isn’t a paid ad, but if you use my link, I’m in the running to win a fun sweepstakes. Thanks in advance if you do.
I was delighted with my experience there this year. Super easy to import last year’s data, even if you used a different company. To make the experience as smooth as possible, I recommend that you collect PDFs of your important tax docs, like W2 and the like, before you get started.
Even though my taxes are a done deal now, it’s hard not to feel nihilist while the world is burning down around us in so many ways. But, we can’t give up. Keep moving forward. All I can do is take care of what’s in front of me and within me, to the best of my ability.
This month, I’m going to look at procrastination, which would be my weakness if I were ever asked in a job interview, full disclosure. And, this week, I’m going to discuss how procrastination affects us at work, and what to do about it.
Table of contents
- Visual prompt
- This week’s article
- More from Writeropolis Media
- Final thoughts
Visual prompt
Time to get writing! What does this picture evoke for you? Write about it, and if you’re so inclined, email me back and let me know if anything came out of it.
Stuck in the slow lane: 4 warning signs of procrastination at work
Procrastinating at work is a red flag, and avoiding the reasons why can hold you back professionally.
This might be a common scenario for you, fellow procrastinator. You’re feeling frustrated and anxious, rushing to finish your work assignments every week. Even if you promise yourself that you’ll do better next time, you might end up in the same situation by next Friday, missing another deadline and working extra hours to try and hide your poor output.
Here are some common reasons people might be procrastinating at work or at school, along with tips to help you overcome them:
- Overwhelmed by a task: The work can feel overwhelming even if you know how to complete the project. When you identify this challenge, try breaking the tasks into smaller steps. Save the tasks you enjoy for last, and start by dividing the ones you dislike into even simpler parts.
- Fear of judgment: The fear of getting the job done in front of coworkers or disappointing a manager is all too real. If this is the case, share those concerns with your coworkers or manager. As long as you demonstrate you want to make sure you’re doing the job correctly, your manager might be more receptive than you think.
- Zero passion: Often, not caring about your work can cause problems such as poor quality, missed deadlines, and creating more work for your team. If you keep putting off completing the work, it might be time to think about why you’re there. Ask yourself whether you like the work, feel connected to it, or could easily walk away from it.
- Dislike working: There will always be things you might not enjoy doing, even if you like the work. Consider finding ways to make it more fun and give yourself breaks after finishing each task. Rewards, such as stepping away from your desk for 10 minutes or treating yourself to a sweet treat, can help.
More from Writeropolis Media
Gotta dance the pain away, can’t go to sleep just yet
If you struggle with perfectionism, watch for my next email. I’m going to share some insights on letting go of the need to be perfect. See you then!
Got something to say?
Leave a Reply