Procrasti-learning in action!

“Procrasti-learning”

Denise Duffield Thomas

The term procrasti-learning, coined by Denise Duffield Thomas, refers to our ability to go on (and on) researching and learning about a topic to put off taking action on a task or project while justifying this to ourselves by calling it “research”. Alternatively, procrasti-learning can present as delaying starting a project by finding something unrelated “but essentially important” that you need to learn about “right now”.

How do I know if I’m a procrasti-learner? Here are some clues…

• Building a website could be your specialist subject on Mastermind but you haven’t yet registered the domain name for your new business idea.

• Your calendar reminds you that you have 3 follow-up calls to make after a networking event this week, but learning how to make pasta from scratch for the evening meal becomes an essential way to spend the afternoon (and the chances are you’ll still rip open the packet of dried fusilli come 7pm)

• You have no idea where the last 4 hours have gone, but you can now explain what the little coloured squares at the bottom of toothpaste tubes are for.

Why do we do it?

Like most forms of procrastination, procrasti-learning is a way of managing the fear associated with our work being judged, which we can perceive as personal judgement. We can tell ourselves that we are positively and proactively learning about a topic that is essential to the success of our business (and the interwoven personal success). That we are making progress and moving forwards and that we will take action when the time is right and we know EVERYTHING. Internally we have the perfect justification that we are busy and productive while not actually having to put our work “out there” for judgement.

Tips to break the procrasti-learning habit…

Image by @kellysikkema

1. Prepare a list of the essential things you think you need to learn at the beginning of a new task or project, then set a “stop researching, start doing” deadline. Share this deadline with an accountability partner who you trust to tell you to “stop faffing” and then learn all that you can up to that deadline. After which it’s ACTION, ACTION, ACTION.

2. Flip your mindset - dive into the project or task first and then adopt a just-in-time approach to learning as you go.

3. Reward yourself - if you genuinely love learning new things, give yourself the gift of a new and unrelated learning experience AFTER you have completed the task/project you’ve been procrastinating on - just don’t use this time to procrasti-learn about your next big scary task!

4. Take a sheet of paper and divide it into two columns. In the first column, write down all the subject areas you are knowledgeable about and interested in. In the second column write down the name of at least one other person in your network who also knows a lot about your subjects of interest. Next time you are tempted to start “researching” and diving deeper, email or message that person and then keep working until the response comes in. There’s a good chance that a) you’ll answer your own question and b) you’ll have finished the task before the reply hits your in box. If the reply suggests a modification to your task - it’s a quick update and not a reason to dive off down the nearest rabbit hole.

5. Change state, and go for a walk/do a workout, getting those endorphins flowing will help to embed your learning and encourage action on returning to the task.

Think you would benefit from peer accountability? Check out The Club Networkout sessions

NIA, a blend of yoga, martial arts and dance

Nia translates from Swahili as “with purpose”. It a non-impact aerobic way of moving that combines yoga, martial arts and dance. Even more unique is the instruction methodology where class participants are positively encouraged to make movement their own, taking the essence of each part of a routine, rather than focusing on following the instructor’s every move.

Instructor Ruth, from TRuthful Rhythms describes the benefits of Nia…

“If you want a class focused more on your heart than your heart rate; if a more nurturing, less punishing, workout sounds appealing, then Nia is for you.

 The Nia Technique is a revolutionary way to get fit combining moves from the dance arts, healing arts, such as yoga, and martial arts, including tai chi, moving to music.  Nia offers holistic conditioning and a connection to pleasure – created as an alternative to the “no pain, no gain” attitude to fitness, it is designed to nourish and nurture your body now and in the future.  Follow the pleasure principle – if it feels good, do it: if it doesn’t, stop.  The result is a fusion of movement styles that is more free than other cardiovascular exercises.

Usually practiced barefoot, it is low impact, improves your flexibility, agility, mobility, stability and strength, and every movement can be adapted to individual needs and abilities.  No previous dance experience required.

With the philosophy “Through Movement We Find Health”, Nia classes empower people of all ages, shapes, and sizes by addressing the whole person through music and movement, connecting the body, mind, emotions, and spirit.  Stop exercising.  Start moving.  Use your body the way it was designed to be used, and positively shape the way you feel, look, think, and live.”

If you would like to try Nia for yourself, you are invited to join us for a complementary Nia NETworkout session on 14th July from 12-2pm. During the session we will explore life/work blocks and then apply the creativity and energy generated by a Nia class to find ways to reduce or remove these blocks. NETworkouts are hosted online.

For more information email Kelly at connect@clubsynergy.co.uk or complete our contact form.

You may have spotted pictures of our mini labradoodle, Candy on my social media channels. So what’s that got to do with business, fitness and the future? More than you might think.

These dark mornings and evenings have brought the need for torchlit dog walks, and while out walking you do some thinking. On this occasion thinking about the parallels between torchlit dog walks and future plans, hopes and goals.

For some of the walk, the beam of the torch was lighting the spot just in front of my feet. This was over ground that was new terrain for me and where I was somewhat anxious about slips and trips. I took my eye away from the distance and focused on the area right in from of me. Interestingly this did two things - slowed down our pace considerably, and made me a little nervous about what was lurking up ahead!

I then decided to focus the torch beam some distance ahead, concentrating on where I was heading and not giving too much thought to where I would place my feet - you guessed it - our pace picked up, I felt sure footed, confident and certain.

A reminder to focus on future goals, have clarity of purpose, trust in yourself and let the “correct” next steps take care of themselves.