1 00:00:00,970 --> 00:00:04,542 Hello, and welcome to the traveling Introvert. Today I am going 2 00:00:04,596 --> 00:00:08,286 to talk about procrastination, but in 3 00:00:08,308 --> 00:00:12,106 a way that we're going to talk about the link between procrastination 4 00:00:12,138 --> 00:00:16,282 and creativity. Procrastination, when used in moderation 5 00:00:16,426 --> 00:00:19,966 and intention, will enhance your creative thinking and 6 00:00:19,988 --> 00:00:23,226 problem solving skills. And so we're going to talk about and explore 7 00:00:23,258 --> 00:00:27,394 the relationship between procrastination and creativity and suggest practical 8 00:00:27,442 --> 00:00:31,394 ways to tap into its benefits while minimizing 9 00:00:31,442 --> 00:00:34,818 its downsides. So have you ever heard of the phrase 10 00:00:34,914 --> 00:00:38,310 necessity is the mother of invention? Well, 11 00:00:38,380 --> 00:00:41,658 procrastination is often the father. When you're faced with a 12 00:00:41,664 --> 00:00:44,906 deadline, your brain kicks into high gear and you 13 00:00:44,928 --> 00:00:48,250 start to think more creatively. Procrastination can 14 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:52,262 free you from your usual thinking patterns, so you quickly develop innovative 15 00:00:52,326 --> 00:00:55,914 solutions to problems and or really zone 16 00:00:55,962 --> 00:00:59,486 in on what needs to be done and what is sort of a nice to 17 00:00:59,508 --> 00:01:02,754 have and would be a bonus. And this is why many 18 00:01:02,792 --> 00:01:06,366 famous artists, writers and inventors were known 19 00:01:06,398 --> 00:01:09,410 to procrastinate. For example, 20 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,754 Leonardo DA Vinci famously took years to complete some of his most 21 00:01:12,792 --> 00:01:16,130 famous works. Similarly similarly, 22 00:01:16,470 --> 00:01:19,698 Douglas Adams, the author of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 23 00:01:19,794 --> 00:01:23,334 was known for his procrastination habits. He once said about 24 00:01:23,372 --> 00:01:27,240 deadlines, I love the whooshing sound they make as they go by. 25 00:01:28,270 --> 00:01:31,894 The science behind the link between procrastination and creativity 26 00:01:32,022 --> 00:01:36,090 is rooted in the concept of the incubation period. 27 00:01:36,670 --> 00:01:40,886 When you're actively working on a problem, your brain is focused. 28 00:01:41,078 --> 00:01:44,846 However, when you take a break and procrastinate or do something else, 29 00:01:44,948 --> 00:01:48,382 your brain shifts into a more relaxed state. And during 30 00:01:48,436 --> 00:01:52,206 this time, your brain works on the problem in the background and may suddenly come 31 00:01:52,228 --> 00:01:55,858 up with a breakthrough idea. And this is why many people experience 32 00:01:55,944 --> 00:01:59,166 Eureka moments when they least expect it. I know I've 33 00:01:59,198 --> 00:02:02,814 previously talked on the podcast about being in the shower or washing 34 00:02:02,862 --> 00:02:06,358 the dishes because you're just doing something natural and normal to you 35 00:02:06,444 --> 00:02:09,510 and that's when these things happen. Don't get me wrong, 36 00:02:09,580 --> 00:02:13,410 there are downsides to procrastination. While procrastination 37 00:02:13,490 --> 00:02:17,154 can be used to increase creativity, it's essential to recognize 38 00:02:17,202 --> 00:02:20,890 the downsides of unplanned procrastination. 39 00:02:21,310 --> 00:02:25,270 Procrastination often leads to unnecessary stress and anxiety, 40 00:02:25,430 --> 00:02:28,746 especially when facing a looming deadline. Plus, 41 00:02:28,848 --> 00:02:32,320 it negatively impacts your productivity and mental health. 42 00:02:32,690 --> 00:02:36,394 When you're constantly putting things off, you're going to feel overwhelmed 43 00:02:36,442 --> 00:02:39,994 and demotivated, which leads to a vicious, vicious cycle 44 00:02:40,042 --> 00:02:44,094 of procrastination. So how can you use procrastination 45 00:02:44,142 --> 00:02:47,826 to boost your creativity? Set aside specific 46 00:02:47,928 --> 00:02:51,550 times for procrastination breaks. Instead of procrastinating 47 00:02:51,630 --> 00:02:54,990 all day, set aside specific times for breaks. 48 00:02:55,070 --> 00:02:58,342 For example, take a 15 minutes break every 90 minutes to do something 49 00:02:58,396 --> 00:03:01,586 unrelated to work, such as going out for a walk or listening 50 00:03:01,618 --> 00:03:05,554 to music. You could use procrastination to brainstorm 51 00:03:05,602 --> 00:03:08,850 and generate new ideas. When procrastinating, 52 00:03:08,930 --> 00:03:12,314 use this time to let your mind wander and jot down 53 00:03:12,352 --> 00:03:15,946 the ideas as they come to mind. Or leave yourself a voice note, even if 54 00:03:15,968 --> 00:03:18,330 they seem silly or irrelevant. 55 00:03:18,910 --> 00:03:22,810 Switch between tasks to avoid burnout and increase productivity. 56 00:03:22,970 --> 00:03:26,382 Switching to a new task when you're stuck this can help you 57 00:03:26,436 --> 00:03:29,866 and help your brain think differently. This helps avoid burnout 58 00:03:29,898 --> 00:03:32,938 and will increase your overall productivity. However, 59 00:03:33,124 --> 00:03:36,770 please do avoid multitasking switch and 60 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:39,700 focus on the new thing, not on both. 61 00:03:40,390 --> 00:03:44,334 Use visualization techniques when you're procrastinating, 62 00:03:44,462 --> 00:03:48,230 visualize yourself. Completing the task successfully. 63 00:03:48,570 --> 00:03:52,246 Seeing what you want to achieve helps you focus and feel more motivated to get 64 00:03:52,268 --> 00:03:56,274 it done. You can also practice mindfulness to increase 65 00:03:56,322 --> 00:03:59,954 awareness and reduce distractions. When procrastinating is 66 00:04:00,012 --> 00:04:03,958 super easy to get distracted by social media, emails or other notifications. 67 00:04:04,054 --> 00:04:07,178 So practicing mindfulness and intention allows you 68 00:04:07,184 --> 00:04:10,686 to remain focused and reduces distraction. So take time 69 00:04:10,708 --> 00:04:13,790 to focus on your breathing, take some deep breaths 70 00:04:14,290 --> 00:04:18,206 in and out, and focus on 71 00:04:18,228 --> 00:04:21,550 the present moment rather than letting your mind wander. 72 00:04:22,050 --> 00:04:25,218 Now, there are a few strategies that can minimize the negative effects of 73 00:04:25,224 --> 00:04:28,862 procrastination, and you could set realistic goals and deadlines, 74 00:04:28,926 --> 00:04:32,930 break tasks into smaller, more manageable pieces, create a distraction free 75 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:36,782 environment, and maybe use positive affirmations 76 00:04:36,846 --> 00:04:40,038 to overcome negative thoughts. Procrastination is sometimes a 77 00:04:40,044 --> 00:04:43,430 double edged sword, but if you do it with intention, it can really 78 00:04:43,500 --> 00:04:46,966 unlock your creativity. With these strategies in mind, 79 00:04:46,988 --> 00:04:50,546 you'll soon became a master of the art of procrastination and achieve tremendous 80 00:04:50,578 --> 00:04:55,138 success. And don't feel guilty for planned procrastination. 81 00:04:55,314 --> 00:04:59,046 Plan for it and use it to your advantage. Thank you for 82 00:04:59,068 --> 00:05:02,654 listening. This is Janice@thecareintrovert.com helping you build your brand and 83 00:05:02,692 --> 00:05:04,380 get hired. Have a great rest of.