{"id":7619,"date":"2011-10-12T22:28:16","date_gmt":"2011-10-13T06:28:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=7619"},"modified":"2020-08-20T06:31:39","modified_gmt":"2020-08-20T14:31:39","slug":"are-you-relaxing-or-just-procrastinating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/are-you-relaxing-or-just-procrastinating\/","title":{"rendered":"Are You Relaxing \u2013 Or Just Procrastinating?"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>

<\/a><\/h1>\n

It\u2019s 6pm. You haven\u2019t really accomplished anything today … but hey, you needed some time to relax. You took a long lunch and re-watched a couple of episodes of a TV show. You spent an hour or two in a coffee shop, flicking through a few newspapers. You updated Facebook and Twitter and Google+ …<\/span><\/h1>\n

… so why do you feel stressed?<\/p>\n

Chances are, you weren\u2019t really relaxing<\/em>. You were procrastinating: putting off what you wanted to get done because you felt some resistance to it.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the difference:<\/p>\n

Procrastination<\/em><\/strong> is unfulfilling<\/strong>. It\u2019s a displacement activity \u2013 and you\u2019ve constantly got a nagging voice at the back of your mind reminding you of all those tasks on your to-do list. Procrastination might make you feel a bit better temporarily, but you\u2019ll end the day feeling frustrated with yourself.<\/p>\n

Relaxing<\/em><\/strong> is restorative<\/strong>. It\u2019s a deliberate choice \u2013 not something that you seem to fall into. You relax during scheduled breaks, or when your work is done for the day, rather than whenever you start to lose focus on a task. You\u2019ll not only feel good while<\/em> you\u2019re relaxing, you\u2019ll feel good afterwards, too.<\/p>\n

How to Procrastinate Less …<\/h2>\n

1. Block any websites that tempt you to procrastinate.<\/strong> (You might even want to shut off your internet connection entirely for an hour or two.)<\/p>\n

2. Remind yourself that if you get all your tasks done, you\u2019ll be able to relax sooner.<\/strong> It\u2019s easier to stay on-track when you\u2019ve got something to look forward to.<\/p>\n

3. Pick one<\/em> task to focus on at a time.<\/strong> It\u2019s very easy to end up procrastinating by constantly switching between tasks. (\u201cI\u2019ll just check my emails…\u201d) If you find your attention slipping, remind yourself \u201cI\u2019m working on X right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

4. Take regular breaks.<\/strong> No-one can stay focused for hours at a time. Aim to work for 20 \u2013 45 minutes at a stretch, then give yourself 5-10 minutes to stretch, walk around or even meditate.<\/p>\n

… And Relax More<\/h2>\n

1. Schedule in time to relax.<\/strong> You might, for instance, plan to go to a movie on Saturday afternoon \u2013 which makes it easier to stay focused on chores in the morning.<\/p>\n

2. Make a deliberate choice about what to do.<\/strong> You don\u2019t necessarily need to decide ahead of time \u2013 often it\u2019s good to follow the whim of the moment. But do pause to consider what you\u2019d really enjoy.<\/p>\n

3. Fight any feelings of guilt.<\/strong> We all need time to rest and recharge. Don\u2019t let other people tell you that you \u201cshould\u201d relax in their<\/em> way: if you want to spend Saturday catching up on TV, and you find that rejuvenating, then go ahead!<\/p>\n

4. Set firm boundaries around your work.<\/strong> You might need to do some tasks outside 9am \u2013 5pm (or whatever your hours are) \u2013 but try to set aside at least one full day every week when you don\u2019t work at all.<\/p>\n

So … will you find time to relax properly today? Let us know your thoughts and tips in the comments!<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Don’t Forget To Follow PickTheBrain on Twitter<\/a>!<\/p>\n

Related Articles:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

A Smarter Approach To Time Management<\/a><\/p>\n

Tips For Breaking Bad Habits and Developing Good Habits<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chances are, you weren\u2019t really relaxing. You were procrastinating: putting off what you wanted to get done because you felt some resistance to it. Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12163,"featured_media":7620,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[30,6],"tags":[672,66,1691,186,4639,1035,251,4629],"yoast_head":"\nAre You Relaxing \u2013 Or Just Procrastinating? - Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It\u2019s 6pm. You haven\u2019t really accomplished anything today ... but hey, you needed some time to relax. You took a long lunch and re-watched a couple of episodes of a TV show. You spent an hour or two in a coffee shop, flicking through a few newspapers. 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