Procrastination

Most depressed people are great procrastinators. Procrastination means putting off for a later time what "should" be done now. The "should" may come from outside, as with the teenager who dawdles over homework, or from within, as with me getting around to mowing the lawn. When it comes from without, it's easy to see the rebelliousness that procrastination expresses. When it comes from within, it's hard to see immediately what purpose procrastination serves — but it may serve many.

Most procrastinators donĚt really know how work works. They assume that all really productive people are always in a positive, energetic frame of mind that lets them jump right in to piles of paper and quickly do what needs to be done, only emerging when the task is accomplished. On the contrary, motivation follows action instead of the other way around. When we make ourselves face the task ahead of us, it usually isn't as bad as we think, and we begin to feel good about the progress we start making. Work comes first, and then comes the positive frame of mind.

Closely allied to this misunderstanding about motivation is the idea that things should be easy. Depressed people assume that people who are good at work skills always feel confident and easily attain their goals; because they themselves don't feel this way, they assume that they will never be successful. But again, most people who are really successful assume that there are going to be hard times, frustrations, and setbacks along the way. Knowing this in advance, they don't get thrown for a loop and assume that they're at fault whenever there's a setback.

Procrastinating only adds to the feeling of guilt and inadequacy that most depressives experience all the time. Taking a hard look at your work habits can have a powerful effect on your self-esteem.