Solving the Procrastination Equation
Solving the Procrastination Equation
A few months ago, I had a talk that was quickly approaching. Try as I might, I struggled to set aside time to work on it. When I found time to prepare, my focus was scattered. There always seemed to be something more urgent. I knew if I didn’t figure something out quickly, I would be on stage feeling bad for the people that were in the audience, feeling bad for me as I stumbled through my presentation. I stumbled across The Procrastination Equation at the right moment.
Procrastination is avoiding or delaying progress, usually through inaction or taking action on the wrong things. We’ve all experienced the trap of procrastination, so how do some escape while others fall prey? If motivation is in short supply and the stakes are high, Steel’s Procrastination Equation can help us identify the weak points in our motivation and behaviors. When we multiply value and expectancy and divide that number by the product of impulsiveness and delay, we’ll discover our current motivation. For high motivation, we’ll want high numbers on the top and low numbers on the bottom. It looks something like this: Motivation = (Expectancy x Value) / (Impulisivity x Delay)
Expectancy
As I assessed my expectancy, I reflected on past public speaking events. I had some wins and a few disappointments. I have a glass-half-full mindset because I am good at finding the pitcher when it’s time for a refill. Even though my confidence took a hit during my last presentation, I could identify several improvement opportunities within my control to change this next round. I had also sensed a clear yes when I prayed about accepting the invitation to speak at the upcoming event. I had a God-glorifying message of encouragement that I could share with proper preparation. Expectancy was high.
Expectancy is often the simplest factor to assess in this equation. Do we expect that our desired outcome is achievable? We’re determining whether it’s within the realm of possibility, not if it’ll be easy. We need to expand the limitations of our expectancy, especially on projects we feel God has called us to work on. We have unknowable potential if we build on a firm foundation of faith. We must work diligently, persistently, and on the right things at the right time. If we do this, what do we expect to achieve? That’s our first number in the equation.
Value
Jerry Seinfeld pointed out, “According to most studies, people's number one fear is public speaking. Number two is death… This means to the average person, if you go to a funeral, you're better off in the casket than doing the eulogy.” I don’t love public speaking, but I enjoy conquering fear. I haven’t found a stage in my comfort zone, but I won’t hesitate to step into the unknown if I can encourage others to see their God-given potential. I didn’t seek out the opportunity to speak, but every blessing, success, failure, and challenge point straight to the goodness and grace of my Heavenly Father. I’m not smart, strong, or brave enough to be where I am today, yet I stand on a firm foundation. My story is just a thread, but it becomes beautiful as it’s interwoven into my Creator’s work. We each have a story worth sharing that showcases our Creator’s love. Using this platform was a valuable opportunity to show God’s redemptive love and generosity. The value was high.
Value often comes from what we expect to gain by accomplishing something. It’ll be difficult to maintain any level of motivation if we are working towards an outcome we don’t value. If we can’t find significant value, we need to walk away. If we see value in the outcome, we should consider our motives. Wanting a good thing for the wrong reason diminishes fulfillment and erodes value. Let’s examine the perceived value and weigh our motives, so we don’t waste our time and resources on empty accomplishments. How strongly do we desire this outcome, and is our desire supported by honorable motives? If so, our value will be a high number. That’s the second number in our equation.
Impulsiveness
My top number (expectancy x value) in my motivation equation was high, but I found some issues when I evaluated the denominator. Impulsiveness is the tendency to act or react without thinking or planning. My time blocks for working on the talk were often derailed. Someone needed a favor, the bookshelf needed dusting, or a ten-minute break spiraled into two hours. I failed to build boundaries around this project that would help me to stay focused and disciplined. Reducing my high score on impulsivity was important to improve my overall motivation, so I brainstormed a few offensive strategies to begin using immediately.
I will spend my first deep work block of my day on this project.
I will communicate this appointment with my inner circle for support and accountability.
I will put my phone on do not disturb and store it in a drawer out of sight/touch/mind.
I will set a 90-minute timer and work without interruptions.
I will keep my planner nearby to capture “urgent” tasks to address during my break.
I will not turn off my 25-minute break timer until I am back to my desk, ready to work.
Unlike expectancy and value, we want our impulsiveness to be low. Impulsivity is our tendency to behave without much thought or consideration of the consequences. Instant gratification of immediate desires or feelings leads to rash decisions. Self-discipline isn’t an exclusive trait reserved for the unicorns of our world. It’s something that any of us can develop. The best defense is a good offense, played by eliminating cues for unwanted behaviors. Stashing away my phone helps me eliminate distracting cues rather than trying to ignore or manage them. We can play defense with if-then algorithms when impulsive cues sneak in. When tempting invitations were offered, I predecided that I would only say yes if it didn’t conflict with my deep work appointment. Eliminating distractions and preparing for unavoidable cues helps us reduce our impulsiveness to focus on what truly matters. How likely are distractions and impulsivity going to slow or derail your progress? That’s the third number in our equation.
Delay
My talk was still weeks out, so I didn’t feel a sense of urgency. The delay ranked high, but I couldn’t change the event date. I don’t enjoy the stress, but pressure creates results, so I set some mini deadlines. I would need at least a week to practice for optimal confidence, so I started working backwards to schedule some draft, revision, trial run, and recording deadlines. These milestones were challenging and engaging enough to keep me focused. The event might seem far away, but the initial draft was due in three days.
Delay refers to how soon we expect to accomplish something. We want our delay to be low so we can sustain motivation. We rob delay of its power by celebrating milestones along the way to our wildly important goals. Is the delay high or low for achieving your desired outcome, or celebrating a milestone as you work toward your outcome? That’s the final number in our equation.
Progress
As I walked onto the stage, I hoped I didn’t look as nervous as I felt. I took a moment to find my center, then I shared my message with the confidence that comes from preparation. Several weeks before, I decided that procrastination would not prevent me from putting in the reps. I committed to doing the hard, tedious work behind the scenes, so it would look easy when I stepped on the stage. The procrastination equation helps us focus on the vision of a job well done, but also challenges us to confront obstacles. We must do both to overcome procrastination.
None of us is immune to procrastination, but we can reduce the likelihood of it derailing our progress by solving Steel’s procrastination equation as soon as we notice a resistance to doing our work. This formula helps us figure out our weak links to make progress on what’s important. Sometimes the equation may even reveal that we are working towards the wrong things or with the wrong motives, so we can release the procrastination guilt and course correct to a truly motivating goal.
Where are you feeling the resistance of procrastination? Which factor can you improve to help you take action?
Faith Encouragement:
Ecclesiastes 11:4 – Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
Hebrews 12:11 – No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Piers Steel – Since its first appearance in the English language in the sixteenth century, procrastination has identified not just any delay but an irrational one—that is, when we voluntarily put off tasks despite believing ourselves to be worse off for doing so. When we procrastinate, we know we are acting against our own best interests.
Cal Newport – Efforts to deepen your focus will struggle if you don’t simultaneously wean your mind from a dependence on distraction.