procrastination and your kids

www.SharonBallantine.com

Helping your children to know when it is helpful and when it’s a hinderance.

Procrastination 101:

http://www.SharonBallantine.com


“Parenting with the Law of Attraction in Mind”

From Life Coach & Parenting Coach Sharon Ballantine





Whether we like to admit it or not, procrastination is something that most people have indulged in at

some time in their life.



It can be tricky as a parent to lecture your kids about their

own tendencies toward procrastination when they see

you engaged in the same habits.



Maybe you procrastinate because a task at hand is boring or not

engaging. Or, perhaps you don’t have the time and energy necessary

to do a job right and well.



Fear of failure or embarrassment can be

another strong motivator to incline a person toward

procrastination.



Equally powerful, fear of success can be an inhibitor to getting things done.

Implications connected to success, like deeper levels of responsibility or higher expectations can definitely motivate a

person toward a tendency to procrastinate.



Your kids may choose to procrastinate for many of the same reasons that you do. Whether it is

putting off homework, not cleaning their room, not training for a sports

team try-out or slacking on remembering lines for a play, it can

be difficult for you to intervene if you have displayed the same tendencies.



Some of us (and our kids) will say that we work best under pressure and that is why we wait until the last minute to take care of our responsibilities. That can

sometimes be okay.



Procrastination is not, by nature, a bad thing. Sometimes it is simply a process of holding

space until true inspiration comes, or until you are better

rested and clear headed.



Every day we make choices. Every decision

is a choice, including whether you want to act

now, later or never.



The best wisdom you can offer your children is to consider

that the most important part of any choice is how they feel

about it as a result.



Ask your child if they feel good that they put off

writing a paper until the last minute when they are

inspired, or do they feel bad because their time

constraints will hinder the quality of their work.



If procrastination feels right for them because it enables them to

adequately prepare for the task at hand, then they could be in perfect

alignment to get the job done.



Some people simply work better under pressure. If you are the type

that likes to get tasks done way ahead of a deadline but your child

performs better under pressure, you might find it challenging to support

them in their process.



It can also be challenging for your children if the reverse is true.

Perhaps you are the type to put things off until the last minute and

your child is seeking help with a school project weeks before it is

due when you are inclined to put it off.



Collaborative projects can be challenging because people have

different working styles and must come to compromise in order to work

effectively together. One person might feel pressured to get the work done

before they are in the flow and another may feel like they are carrying the

project on their own.



Encourage your children to tune into their internal guidance system so

they are able to feel good about their process. Help them to understand that every has a different working

style and encourage them to honor their own style and the style of

others. It can be helpful to remind them to trust the process.



Procrastination is not always a negative thing. It is the feeling

behind procrastination that dictates whether it is a positive or

negative habit.



By teaching your children to be honest with their feelings around their work habits and encouraging them to work

toward their highest good, they will find that a little procrastination may actually

serve them in a positive way.



They might also find that giving

themselves a good push to get started might be the best course of

action sometimes.



Ultimately, procrastination is only as good or bad as the feelings behind it.

As you teach your children to tune into their internal guidance system they will

learn to choose work habits that best support their highest good.



If your child is a heavy procrastinator, encourage them to

check in with their internal guidance system about how they might feel if

they let a project slip for too long and let their team down.



“Parenting with the Law of Attraction in Mind”

From Life Coach & Parenting Coach Sharon Ballantine


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