If you’re a business owner who is trying to grow your business and create more customers you may be stuck in the Productive Procrastination Trap. If you’re stuck here you’re probably:
- Trying to expand your business for at least 3 months
- Find that you “never have the time” to move things forward like you want to
- You’re posting on social media regularly
- You always seem to be busy
- You see people you know making more money than you
- You’re struggling to figure out why you’re not making your income goals.
The reason this is happening is that you’re spending time doing things that seem really productive but aren’t actually income-generating in your business.
You’re avoiding the most important tasks in your business.
Things like making offers, having sales conversations, meeting with your team and clarifying expectations, or putting together that new program that’s been in your heart.
You’re avoiding those important tasks because they make you feel anxious, fearful, or like you have to get them “right”.
And you’re taking action from that stressed and anxious place.
So in order to fix this you do a whole bunch of things on your to-do list that make you feel like you’re accomplishing a lot. (because let’s face it, you’re a high achiever and you know how to get things done!)
- You post on social media.
- You organize your content for the year.
- You tweak your website.
- You spend time analyzing what to do next.
- You study what other people are doing.
- You keep shifting strategies and trying new things.
- You clean the house.
Or my personal favorite (and the one I did a LOT when I completed my dissertation years ago). You end up quite busy, and you’re constantly moving and doing things.
You’re checking a lot of things off of your to-do list and at the end of the day feel totally exhausted.
You’re doing so much!
All the things!
Of course, you should be seeing the results, right?
Being busy and doing stuff means you should make more money, right?
Unfortunately not, the Productive Procrastination trap means that you’re keeping yourself busy in order to avoid the most important tasks in your business.
And this all comes down to a feeling of anxiety, stress, and overwhelm when you think about those big important tasks.
Often, when you’re a high-achiever you’ll put a lot of pressure on yourself to succeed.
That pressure creates stress and anxiety. That stress and anxiety drive you like a hurricane to get shit done. And then you collapse in a ball of “wtf” energy when none of your flurry of activity has actually resulted in the things you really want (more sales, more impact, more success).
The key is, you have to learn how to regulate both your emotions and your nervous system in order to stop falling into this trap.
You have to shift out of this flurried energy so you can create from a place of groundedness and pleasure.
If you think you’re stuck in the Productive Procrastination Trap send me a DM today @dr.ashleegreer on IG and let me know if I can help!
Frequently Asked Questions
I constantly feel busy but never seem to make progress on my goals. Why might this be happening?
You might be stuck in the “Productive Procrastination Trap.” This means you’re doing tasks that feel productive but aren’t actually moving you closer to your main goals.
What are some examples of productively procrastinating on business tasks?
Common examples include spending excessive time on social media, organizing content far in advance, tweaking your website endlessly, or researching competitors’ strategies instead of focusing on sales conversations or creating new programs.
Why do people avoid important tasks even when they know they’re crucial?
Important tasks can trigger feelings of anxiety, fear, or pressure to do them perfectly. This can lead to procrastination as a way to avoid those negative emotions.
How can being busy and checking things off my to-do list actually hinder my success?
Feeling busy creates the illusion of progress, but if you’re focusing on the wrong tasks, you won’t see the results you want. Productive procrastination keeps you occupied but avoids the income-generating activities that truly matter.
What’s the key to overcoming productive procrastination?
The key is to manage your emotions and stress levels. When you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s hard to focus on what’s important. Learning to regulate your emotions will allow you to approach your work with a calmer, more productive mindset.
