{"id":4034,"date":"2022-11-10T11:10:46","date_gmt":"2022-11-10T11:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/how-to-avoid-procrastination-and-stick-to-writing-goals\/"},"modified":"2026-03-19T11:33:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-19T06:03:58","slug":"how-to-avoid-procrastination-and-stick-to-writing-goals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.editage.com\/insights\/how-to-avoid-procrastination-and-stick-to-writing-goals","title":{"rendered":"How to avoid procrastination and stick to writing goals"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Graphical<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Source: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i>https:\/\/twitter.com\/WorkRetireDie\/status\/1451241637359853576<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span> (@WorkRetireDie on Twitter)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Everyone at some point finds themselves in a situation where they know that something needs to be done but are unable to bring themselves to do it. This gap between intention and action is considered procrastination. <\/span><\/span>For most researchers, getting started is the most challenging part of the writing process. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We all procrastinate, but why?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

At any given time, if you ask a researcher what is bothering them the most, they will likely talk about not meeting writing goals or struggling with writer\u2019s block. This \u201cblock\u201d may not necessarily be a creative obstruction; it might be a form of procrastination.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Procrastination is not a negative reflection of your productivity or time management. It does not make you a terrible researcher. <\/span><\/span>Experts consider procrastination a problem of self-regulation. <\/span><\/span>The science behind procrastination is the tug of war between your limbic system and the brain\u2019s prefrontal cortex.1<\/sup> The limbic system acts autonomically to root for survival and avoid the unpleasant (e.g., it directs you, \u201cEat that burger and watch that movie to feel good!<\/i>\u201d), while the prefrontal cortex is controlled by you and lets you make decisions based on information (e.g., \u201cYou need to finish writing that paper!<\/i>\u201d). <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It is important to identify why<\/i> you are delaying your writing task. Recognition and awareness of your state of mind can help you retrain your brain to react differently and break negative patterns. Below are some ways to deal with <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>the <\/span><\/span>feelings that might be keeping you from achieving your writing goals<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Reasons you are delaying your writing task and how to handle them<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1. Lack of motivation to begin:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i><\/b> <\/b>Just like your body needs to \u201cwarm up\u201d before a run, your mind should be allowed to slowly warm up to a challenging mental task.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What can you do?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/u><\/i> Be patient with yourself: you cannot just flip a switch and transform into work mode instantly (some lucky people might be capable of this!). A cup of coffee or tea is just what you might be needing to increase alertness and motivation. Physical activity like a brisk walk or run can boost your mood and make you feel more ready to take on a challenging task.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2. You are wallowing in self-doubt:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/i><\/b> You might not feel confident of your writing abilities. Your blank document stares back at you, and you get that insecure feeling that you aren\u2019t ready or <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span>smart enough to write. Try to assess this feeling further. What part of writing stresses you out? <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n