Have you ever noticed that even with clear purposeful goals and a good time management system, certain critical projects are still not moving forward? It’s often the projects with the greatest potential impact that cause us to drag our feet.
The Paradox of Important Projects
Perhaps you’ve blocked out time to work on that book you’ve been developing for the past two years. Or maybe it’s that TEDx talk you want to write to expand your visibility. It could be something seemingly simple, like recording a video for your website’s homepage.
Suddenly, you just need to organize your desk, dash off a text, or start planning dinner.
Sound familiar? In our hyper-connected, multi-tasking world, there’s never a shortage of distractions to turn our head. And these distractions often intensify just when we’re about to stretch into new territory, especially with projects that with long-term rewards.
It’s because our brains are wired for survival, not stretching beyond our comfort zone.
What we often label as “procrastination” is actually your brain’s beautiful protection mechanism at work. Enter SOD—the “Shiny Object Syndrome.” That pleasant buzz you feel when switching to an easier task isn’t just random; it’s your brain’s way of celebrating a successful retreat from perceived danger.
Each time you move away from a challenging project toward a familiar activity, your brain gives you a little hit of satisfaction. “Ah!” says the brain. “Wonderful; we’ve averted potential failure once more. We’ll have safety in what’s known.”
Understanding Your Brain’s Three Primal Imperatives
To transform this cycle of distraction into purposeful action, we need to understand the three fundamental survival strategies hardwired into our brains: (1) to avoid harm, (2) to approach reward, and (3) to form secure attachment.
Think of the last time you planned to work on that project that’s been stretching you, and you did something else. Which primal survival strategy distracted you?
If you kept moving your deadlines, the “avoid harm” need is likely up. Break your big goals into easier short-term sub-goals. If you’re writing a book, set a goal to just create an outline or focus on a single chapter.
If you decided it was time for a snack or time to do that easy job instead, it’s likely that the “approach reward” system hijacked you. Perhaps you’ve been driving yourself too hard and need to give yourself some short-term rewards. Schedule more breaks and do something fun.
If you find yourself on email or chatting online too much, chances are your “form secure attachment” imperative has taken charge. Consider whether you’ve been too isolated and trying to do too much on your own, and it’s time to find collaborators for your project or join a mastermind.
Redefining Productivity
If you find yourself simply losing track of time, it’s very easy to set up an alarm or alert that will bring your attention where it needs to be at a certain time.
Then, give yourself the choice to either tackle that project, or spend time inquiring into what other needs and wants are tugging on you now. Once these needs are met, you’ll find much more energy to tackle the harder tasks.
Ultimately, productivity isn’t just about tackling tasks. It’s about aligning your actions with your deeper purpose. Sometimes, what appears as procrastination is actually your brain’s way of telling you that you need to adjust your approach.
The path to accomplishing your most meaningful work isn’t about pushing harder. By expanding your definition of “acting on purpose,” you’ll find harmony between your ambitious goals and your brain’s primal needs.
What projects have you been putting off? How will you approach them now?