How to cure procrastination induced by anxiety with tea
- Sep 2, 2015
- 3 min read
I am sure you have heard of tea reducing stress, but have you heard of tea alleviating procrastination? The Wall Street Journal, September 1, 2015 published an article entitled “Never Procrastinate Again” that links procrastination to deep rooted stress and anxiety. This article hit a nerve! I don’t consider myself a procrastinator but long to-do lists and seemingly never ending agendas have caused me to have a few mental break-downs or two…or three…
The article encouraged breaking down tasks into smaller tasks easier to complete. A concept I couple with a tea ritual worth sharing so that you too can reduce anxiety, get your work done and stop procrastinating!
No Procrastination Tea Ritual
I have a No Procrastination Tea Ritual that I perform each time I find myself hesitating to accomplish a task. Mental organization and tea preparation help me see my future self and fight the anxiety that usually leads to procrastination. My No Procrastination Tea Ritual can help you also avoid “giving in to feel good.” (Dr. Psychl, The Wall Street Journal, September 1, 2015)
Step #1: Accept Your Feelings
Anxiety may cause you to want to do another task that is more pleasing. We all experience anxiety when we feel overwhelmed and many factors can contribute to this stress. Accept it and do not blame yourself for these feelings.
Step #2: Calm Yourself
Anxiety is nothing to play around with and can be more overwhelming than the task at hand! Confront your anxiety with a real solution instead of powering through it! White tea is high in theanine which relieves anxiety and balances the mood. Brew yourself a quality white tea, sip and…
Step #3: Create A List
At the top of your list write your end goal. For example, if your room, kitchen, bathroom, closet are messy, fundamentally, your task is to clean your house. “Clean your house” will be at the top of your list. However, this task can seem overwhelming and too all inclusive, break this task down into smaller, more specific tasks such as: tidy your closet, put up the dishes in the sink, clean shower. Don’t forget to sip your tea as you create your list! When you finish your cup of tea (not two cups, or three cups, we are trying to avoid procrastination! Just one cup please) and your list is complete, it is time to attack!
Step #4: Attack & Scratch!
Start with the easiest and quickest task. When you are done, scratch it off and continue until all of the items on your list are scratched off. Yes, you must scratch vigorously! There is power and a sense of accomplishment in being able to scratch something off as done.
Step #5: Reflect & Reward
Congratulations! Your work is accomplished and you did not give in to anxiety and procrastination! Now, there must be at least 3 more steeps left in your white tea…enjoy.
Read “Never Procrastinate Again” in
The Wall Street Journal, September 1, 2015.
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