Procrastination and Why it is the Succubus for all Creativity

Everyone who has ever had to complete a task has faced the three-headed beast that is procrastination. Sprouting from surface level disinterest, there are multi-layered reasons behind an inability to finish.

I once had to complete a research paper on procrastination itself and managed to find mounds of evidence and statistics to support the pillars of lack of understanding, disinterest, financials, and every form of passion ever added to literary journals. Yet, I was never able to find any articles detailing why I personally struggle with procrastination and how it manages to leech itself onto my head no matter how hard I try to shake it away—fear of failing.

This reason might stick out to a lot of you, or none of you, or no one ever because who knows if anyone will actually read this. But the fear of failing is so vast and heavy that it manages to push people from even beginning to try. It has nothing to do with lack of understanding, I am about to graduate with a degree in English Literature so its clear I understand the language at least a little. No familiarity with disinterest as I would give a kidney if it meant all I had to do was write in my journal all day. And financials has no reason to ruin anything as writing is wonderfully free of charge.

I am simply afraid of writing something that sucks.

I find that when it comes to a new hobby, so many are afraid to dip their toe into the pool of opportunity for fear of sucking at it—or being noticed at sucking at it. When I first joined my ballet studio, I was sweating buckets thinking everyone could see how inflexible I was. Or when my friend first joined the gym and thought others would judge at how little weight he could lift, thus inhibiting his desire to go to the gym in the first place. The important thing to remember is that one opinion from a stranger should never be the nuke that destroys your self-confidence nor diminish the yearn to try something new—and yes this technically counts as procrastination.

When it comes to writing, well my writing at least, I put it off so often because I believe I would crumble at the idea of it not being born perfect. So, leaving it unfinished = zero possibility of sucking! But I have learned that I have to make my stories exist first, and then I can make it perfect. Leaving my stories untold for fear of failure is letting the succubus win—and I am the most competitive person.

The concept of creating something is a sacred act in itself, its why most people opt for newborn baby photoshoots and also why your artist friend 9 times out of 10 would rather take a bullet than let you see their sketchbook. Once you have created something perfect, of course you want those you love to see it. However, nothing is ever born perfectly—most creations require painstaking research, practice, unwavering interest, and courage to battle that three-headed beast.

Procrastination is the root of all regret. Whether it be confessing your romantic feelings, trying something new, or finishing something drenched in your blood, sweat, and tears—if you let procrastination rob you of these possible joys in life, you will live to regret it.

So, if you have kept reading my words up to this point (thank you!) remember to make it exist first, then you can make it perfect. P.S. While I am sure most of this was a giant blubbering, staggered mess—at least its completed!