Dr. Rebecca Nerison

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Procrastination

Lawyers are infamous procrastinators. You avoid doing things you need to do. Even things you want to do. Your clients grow impatient and complain. You rob yourself of the pleasurable jolt of accomplishment that comes from tackling something difficult and seeing it through. Why?

First, procrastination is essentially a protective function. It protects you from unpleasant feelings like fear and uncertainty. Procrastination comforts you when you don't know how to do something. You're afraid you won't be able to do it well, so why disturb the image of competence that enables you to get up in the morning? If the result of your effort will be criticized and judged, why put yourself through that pain and humiliation?

Second, in addition to helping you avoid fear and pain, procrastination conserves energy. Every effort has a cost associated with it. The cost may be time you could spend doing something you know feels rewarding, like reading a good book instead of writing a brief. Or the cost could be money you'd prefer spending on a home improvement rather than malpractice insurance. If you are ambivalent about paying the price to accomplish something, you probably won't pay it.

Third, sometimes the thing you're avoiding is important but not urgent. It's much easier to attend to an urgent task - even if it's relatively unimportant in the grand scheme of things - than a long-range project with no deadlines, such as thinking about how you want your career to look five years from now. Unfortunately, long-term neglect of important dreams and desires often results in feeling dissatisfied and even bitter down the road.

Procrastination is a habit of mind and spirit that is, fortunately, amenable to change. All that's needed is a commitment to face the hard things first, a willingness to pay the price, and an eye toward long-term goals and desires.

This is easier said than done. Sometimes working with a professional can speed the process and help to structure your efforts in a way that is most likely to produce a positive result.

Call Rebecca at (206)217-5438 for a free consultation if you'd like to start doing something about the procrastination habit. Or send an email to rebecca.nerison@lawstress.com.

 

Make a free, no-obligation appointment. Contact Rebecca at Life Counsel for Legal Professionals today. For a free consultation call (206) 217-5438 or email.

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