How to beat procrastination - part 1 : know your tendency

This new series will cover a myriad of ways to beat procrastination, for good! This is part 1

In my recent reader survey, the main pain point mentioned by my readers is that they can’t stop procrastinating.

Procrastination is hard! We all do it, I do it also. But, over the past decade of me reading every productivity book under the sun, watching videos, listening to podcasts, and coaching clients, I have come across many tools to beat it, starting with discovering first why we do it.

In today’s newsletter, I want to cover one, if not the main reason, why we procrastinate. Our innate tendency.

The Four Tendencies

According to author and podcaster Gretchen Rubin, we all fall into one of four tendencies.

The four tendencies are Upholder, Obliger, Questioner and Rebel. Today we will unpack the four tendencies, and explain why they apply to procrastination.

How do you react to expectations?

The Four Tendencies framework explores this very question.

How do you deal with deadlines? With your spouse nagging you to run errands or fix something in the house? With your own expectations, such as starting a diet or a new exercise regimen?

Inner expectations and outer expectations are at the center of this framework. And procrastination is an answer to these expectations.

How does each Tendency react to expectations?

In this section, we’ll dive into a short description of each of the Tendencies.

The Upholder

The Upholder is a person who will react well to inner and outer expectations alike. She can set and achieve goals, will respect deadlines and do what others expect of her. She likes to-do lists and rules. She can sometimes seem uptight and rigid, but you can always count on her, and she can count on herself.

She’s the least likely to procrastinate, but if it’s not on the calendar or her to-do list, it might not happen. Making a note and adding it to her schedule will incite her to take action. It’s all about checkboxes!

The Questioner

The Questioner questions all expectations. If they make sense to him, he will perform what’s expected of him. In that sense, he turns all expectations into inner expectations. He will often ask too many questions and can experience analysis-paralysis when faced with a decision.

He’s most likely to procrastinate when he is unclear on what is expected of him, or why it’s important. He will be ready to take action after he has sufficient information and is clear on his WHY.

The Obliger

The obliger readily meets outer expectations, but struggles to meet the expectations she sets for herself. This is the most common tendency. The obliger is the perfect friend, spouse, employee, because she’ll always do what’s expected of her, but she can sometimes become frustrated by her lack of ability to reach her personal goals. She can also fall into obliger rebellion.

She is most likely to procrastinate on her personal goals, such as going to the gym or reading for leisure. Her best bet to beat procrastination is to get some form of outer accountability, such as a coach, or a motivating friend who will check up on her.

The Rebel

The Rebel resists inner AND outer expectations. He will do things if he feels like it, and often, being expected to do something will trigger his rebelious side. The Rebel also struggles to do things for himself and doesn’t like being bound to a schedule, a habit or anything that would tie him down.

He is the most likely to procrastinate, as outer expectations rub him the wrong way and he likes to feel free. Having a sense of what kind of a person he wants to be, a clear sense of his identity, can motivate him to take action. For example, if you want to be someone who’s healthy or atheltic, it can be a good incentive to exercise.

Which one are you?

Have you recognized yourself in one of these?

Most people have a clear dominance in one of the categories, although some people have a second inclination. I am an Upholder who leans to Questioner. Which one are you?

If my short descriptions leave you wondering, you can take Gretchen Rubin’s quiz by clicking here. This quiz has been answered by millions of people worldwide and has been highly refined in the process.

So, which one are you?

If you would like to learn more about the Four Tendencies, Gretchen’s book is the complete guide on how to identify and harness your tendency to accomplish what matters, to you and your loved ones. You can order the book here.

Also, her podcast is a treasure trove of tendency goodness. The Happier podcast is also fun and lighthearted. I never miss an episode.

Until next week, stay productive! (And happy!)