Normally, procrastinating is a bad idea. Things generally aren't easier to do tomorrow and you certainly won't have more time. In most cases, the standard advice is true: don't put things off, do difficult things when you have the most energy, write lists and focus on completion of them every day.
However, recently I have noticed an exception to this rule: Some things are best left.
Strangely, these are often the things that worry you most. You are convinced if you don't do something (anything!) then something awful will happen. These stress you out the most because you can't think what is best to do but you know something needs to be done.
I've had a few of these situations over the last few weeks and in each case waiting has helped. Either the problem resolved itself or became less of an issue or in other cases it turned out not to be a problem at all.
So how do you know when to procrastinate?
- You don't know what to do. If you genuinely don't know what will solve the problem, then give it a bit of time.
- There are lots of interdependencies. If a problem is very connected to a lot of other issues, there is a good chance that changes in these issues will change the nature of the problem. If the problem looks like a maze of issues, then step back and wait. These will change over time.
- It feels dangerous but you can't pinpoint why. Intuition can be unhelpful. If you can't say in simple words what the risk is of not acting, then chances are you don't understand it. Some things feel risky but are really just unknowns. Give them time and the issue will become clearer.
- You are not the expert. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing and when you are having to deal with things where you are not the expert (but have some knowledge) this can lead you to over-worry. Ask yourself: who is the expert here? Ask them. Don't do anything more.
- The problem has been around a long time. You may discover that the organization is doing something that it shouldn't be doing but has been doing it for a long time. While it may be that things need to change, it is possible there is a good reason why it has been left. Step back and wait. Maybe it is not quite as you see it.
Procrastinating can therefore help you reduce stress as you leave some of the most intractable problems to see if they resolve themselves. Write the problems down and check on them weekly. You'll be amazed how many of last weeks' problems aren't problems anymore.