Procrastination: Let's talk feelings of overwhelm and failure

It has been a hot sec y’all.

I have always wanted to use “hot sec” in a sentence. Sounds cool and yo-yo. And we all know I am cool and yo-yo. 🙋🏾

I have had these pics edited and ready to go for almost a month now. I just couldn’t find the time to sit down and write. Why? Bcoz not only am I cool and yo-yo but ALSO a social butterfly and my weekends have been busier than Elon Musk’s. True story!

Well well well…that jet-set excuse would have worked if only I wasn’t creating elaborate instagram stories that ~~definitely~~ require 2908 hours to make. So I am going to come out and say it…

I am a procrastinator when it comes to doing things that excite my soul ~~and instead of working on my dreams, I waste time watching teen parents on youtube. Damn girl!~~

Self-reflection is a huge part of who I am and the deeper I dig, the more I am able to unravel the mysteries of earth’s core. lol. ok I mean unravel the reasons behind why I procrastinate.

So why do I procrastinate? There are mainly 2 reasons –

I am scared. Scared of all the work that I need to be put in AKA feelings of overwhelm and
what if nothing happens even after I put in all the work? AKA fear of failure

Feelings of overwhelm – how to deal with it?

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with the amount of work that you need to put in for your goals/dreams? Does it feel like you will never be able to see the finish line? Do you wish and hope and dream to skip all the work and just reach the finish line? Like omg how will I ever be able to buy that yacht or charter plane? I don’t even know where to begin! And ~~unfortunately~~ stealing ain’t an option..

If you answered yes to any of these questions then you and I are going to be best of friends.

Quitting on your passions and dreams because of feelings of overwhelm are quite common (or I hope to believe so). Most of us begin the year excited to change the world but half way through struggle to change even the sheets.

Dreaming up big dreams is A+ but having the conviction to follow through A+++++.

So what’s the magic pill to deal with this overwhelming feeling? Yes there is one and it’s called “Breaking your goal into small actionable steps and then taking tiny steps every single day”. *boom. mindblown. This is a revelation. Monika you are a genius – I know, it ain’t easy being me.*

After years of research (ahem procrastination), what I have come to realize is that breaking down your goals into small actionable steps and then taking those tiny steps every single day is what differentiates a cool babe from a cooler babe.

Take my example. I have had a lifelong goal of washing my face every single night. *Dream big or go home is my motto*. In the past, I have never been able to stick with this crazy difficult goal of mine. Why? Because it’s not just about washing face but following a cleopatra inspired regime after aka serum, eye cream, face oil, moisturizer, bee venom, turtle poop and what not. See so much work! The better alternative is not to wash face at all at night and look like poop.

After looking and feeling like poop for a really long time, I decided to take this enormous goal and break it into tiny steps that I could take everyday. I started with just washing my face i.e. no venom and poop after. After a couple of weeks, I added eye cream and face oil. And that’s where I am right now. I don’t know when I’ll progress to the next stage but by taking tiny steps every single day, the feeling of overwhelm has subsided and I feel more motivated to keep going. A very poopy goal of mine that I am on the verge of achieving. Wohooo!

“If the finish line feels too far away, don’t look at it. Just look down at your feet and take your next, best step.”

Fear of failure – how to deal with it?

Oooo the big F word. Shhhhh this is kid friendly blog you guys. I meant failure!

One of my biggest fear is what if I put in all the hard work and don’t see any results. *Not that I am working really hard hence the emphasis on what if.*

There are few areas in life where success is guaranteed if you work hard. For example getting healthier, learning to play an instrument or a new language.

And then there are areas where the conventional idea of “success” doesn’t apply. Like starting a new business, blogging, the world of social media, YouTube, writing etc. There are no guarantees whether you’ll be a star or just remain human.

So how do you keep going when you aren’t sure whether your hard work is ever going to pay off? What’s the point of putting in the work when there is no guarantee of success? Honestly, I don’t know. But what I am learning is you have to enjoy the process and go all out with the best intentions. Even if you don’t succeed in the conventional sense, you are still going to learn so much. And where is there is learning, there is no failure. 😎

Fail BIG if you have to but don’t give up on your goals. Fail MISERABLY if you have to but don’t let go of your dreams.

The conventional definition of failure is bull-poop. Not having a huge following on social media is NOT a sign of failure. Not having tonnes of money in your bank account is NOT a sign of failure. Not owning a house or a car is NOT a sign of failure. Not being at the top of your game all the time is NOT a sign of failure.

But what failure most definitely is – NOT trying to work on your goals, NOT giving your best to make your dreams a reality, NOT putting yourself out there because of unfounded fears and NOT believing in yourself and what you have to offer to the world.

Ok now I am off to world domination..

“Knowing is better than wondering, waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beats the hell out of never trying”

I hope you enjoyed today’s post. Sharing my flaws ain’t easy but if sharing my deep rooted fears gives you some hope and comfort, then I’ll continue doing so. After all …