How I self-sabotage
5 things I do that aren't doing me any favours
I’ve realised recently that as proactive a person I am, I am also a procrastinator. I’m a kind of all or nothing person that flits between being really productive and adopting avoidance tactics. So here are the things that I do, that are really not working well for me. I am writing this post in the vein of a confession, in the hope that by putting pen to paper (or keys to screen), that I’ll be shamed into doing better.
Doom scrolling. When I don’t want to get into work I just sit on social. It starts with me checking social media posts for work purposes (so legitimate work), but quickly turns into me just going deeper and deeper into a mindless scroll. This does not do me, my mental health, or my productivity any favours. Nothing is all bad, so occasionally I’ll press save on some useful inspiration, but I’d say 80% of the time, this is an absolute waste of my time.
Not getting ready until mid morning. I’ll get up early with the children and rush around doing chores for them and in the house, dipping in and out of emails and work WhatsApp’s as I do. Kidding myself I am being productive by getting minuscule pieces of work done. By not just jumping straight into the shower and into focused work, I am again, wasting my time. Time which I then make up late into the evening. *Sitting here in my dressing gown writing this*
Not eating properly. If my husband didn’t put food in front of me, I’d possibly not eat at all. I am always washing up though.
Doing what I fancy doing, not what I should be doing. I’ve tried to be better at setting myself smaller to do lists for each day, so I actually focus on the things that are going to be most beneficial to me, the team and the businesses. But, I do find myself gravitating towards doing the things I am in the mood to do. It could be writing, video editing, strategic proposals, if I have the flexibility in my schedule, flexible in my actions I will be. Put me on a time crunch, and I will be one efficient and productive person.
Getting a second wind at night. I should be winding down in the evening, getting good rest and be raring to go for the next day. Instead, I log back onto work once the children are in bed at around 7.30pm, usually when energy levels are low. The trouble with that is, I then get a second working wind by about 8.30pm and feel reluctant to stop, as end up doing some good work. And then, end up staying up late as I need to watch some TV, do a quick (but effective of course), skincare routine and read my book to drift off into sleep without a thousand thoughts bouncing around my brain.
I’d be interested to know if I’m not the only one to self-sabotage. My husband will be pleased about this post as a lot of this really annoys him. At least I am self-aware Dan.