5 Common Procrastination Causes That Are Stopping You From Achieving Your Goals

Did you wake up this morning with a massive task in front of you, but you couldn't seem to muster the courage to get out of bed and get at it? Or, maybe you have the goal of losing 10 pounds but keep putting off going to the gym. Whatever you are struggling to take action towards, here are 5 of the most common procrastination causes and how to fix them.

Cause #1: You Don't Have Compelling Reasons

Perhaps the most common reason for procrastination is not having compelling enough reasons to achieve the goal or task. Ever wanted to achieve something so badly that you couldn't stop yourself from taking massive action to achieve it? It could’ve been something as simple as cleaning a messy home or getting your Driver's License.

The Fix: Write out a list of 100 reasons why you need to achieve a goal. Yes, that's right, 100 reasons! By writing out every possible reason for achieving a goal, you light up the furnace of your motivation and will become truly unstoppable.

Cause #2: Mental Health Challenges

With at least one in four Americans being diagnosed with some mental health challenge, it is no surprise that poor mental health can lead to procrastination.

If you struggle with a mental health challenge, there is nothing to be ashamed of. However, you also need to understand that an untreated condition can massively impact your productivity levels.

The Fix: Consider online or in-person therapy if you struggle with a mental health challenge, such as anxiety or depression. You can significantly improve your productivity by addressing your mental health and seeking treatment.

Cause #3: Lack of Accountability

The greater the pressure that you have to achieve a goal, the more likely you will achieve it. When we set goals, we are accountable to only ourselves. Because of this, we are much more likely to let ourselves off the hook. However, if you become accountable to other people, you're much more likely to take action and follow through.

The Fix: Thanks to social media, getting accountability is easier than ever. If you have a goal that you've been procrastinating on, post your goal on social media for your friends and family members to see, and doing so will rapidly increase your drive to achieve the goal or task.

Another option is to hire a coach that you can be accountable to. It's the most potent option because you've made a significant investment in yourself. A coach is an accountability partner that doesn't let you off the hook. They gently give you a solid and constant push that you need to take daily action towards your goals.

Cause #4: You Made Your Task or Goal Bigger Than Reality

It's very easy to imagine any given goal or task to be much bigger and more complicated than what it actually is. This is known as the Spotlight Effect - when the brain focuses on a particular task and magnifies it to look way more complex than what it actually is.

The fix: Understand that no matter how big a goal or task is, it simply breaks down into a series of tiny action steps. Changing your perspective of whatever task you have in front of you makes a world of difference. Instead of constantly obsessing over achieving your goal, focus on one small action step that you can take today.

Cause #5: Poor Planning

One of the most common procrastination causes is not having a system to achieve your goal. If you don't have a plan to achieve a goal, then you are pretty much planning to fail.

Without a proper plan to achieve your goal, you won't know which action steps you need to take. A solid action plan gives you the clarity and momentum that you need to be an achieving machine.

The fix: Rather than daydreaming about a goal, start creating a plan for achievement. Write down your goals and then make an action plan for achieving each goal. Then, begin scheduling each task needed to achieve the goal that you're after.

Recap

There you have it: 5 of the most procrastination causes. Most likely, one of your primary reasons for procrastination was mentioned. If not, that's okay. There are still many reasons for procrastination. If you need help solving the mystery of your own procrastination and lack of motivation, consider hiring a life coach. You can solve the issue of procrastination in your life and restore your natural motivation! It's just a matter of troubleshooting to find the cause.