Reframing a chore into an opportunity

A simple trick to tackle procrastination

Have you noticed how quickly our dreams transform into chores? One day you are dreaming of getting into University, another you are dreading the due date for the assignment that feels too hard to handle. You may have dreamt of starting your own business for years but tax season makes you want to shut it down and get back to your 9-5.

I am fascinated by this mental shift. I had so many dreams that turned into chores and triggered endless procrastination, making me question if I really wanted what I now have. Finding yourself questioning your commitment and capacity to handle the work associated with your dreams can be frustrating. It affects your self-respect and accumulates into big fat distracting self-doubt.

I found a simple solution that helps me trick my brain, get shit done, and feel good about myself. Whenever I find myself dreading a deadline and putting things off, I reframe the task. Instead of telling myself "I have to do this!", I say, "Hey, I get to do this!" It works like magic. As soon as I reframe the task into a privilege, the self-deprecation and shame cease. I feel free to choose to do it or prioritise something else.

Procrastination is a coping mechanism and a stress response. It is possible to override it by acknowledging the hard work it's doing for us (keeping us safe). Fighting against procrastination is an exercise in futility because it's simply not an enemy. It's hard and scary to do the things that propel us in life: the stakes are high and the reward is great. The overwhelm we experience when faced with a to-do list is a sign that it is important to us. Learning to acknowledge and regulate our emotions can be the best investment not only into our wellbeing but into our future too.