Twitter Thread By Therapist Omar Bazza Linking Procrastination With Mental Health Will Change How You See ‘Laziness’
I am pretty sure that each one of us might have procrastinated at some point or another. Be it a project you had to submit, an exam you had to study for or some household chores you were feeling too lazy to start, we’ve all been there and if you haven’t, I beg you to teach me your ways. And let’s be fair, we have all associated procrastination with being lazy or careless. However, I recently found out there is so much more to you not being able to muster up the willingness to get off your couch and do those dishes in the sink than just “feeling lazy”. So on this Mental Health Awareness month, Twitter user, YouTuber and therapist Omar Bazza took to Twitter and spoke about the association between procrastinating and your mental health which I think is very essential for all of us to read. So, let’s take a look,
[THREAD] let’s talk about procrastination and how it relates to mental health. It is by far in the top of what bothers people the most when it relates to their mental health. It impacts everything we do including our daily habits such as hygiene and food. Let’s dive deeper.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
Procrastination is not a disorder or something that can be “fixed” on its own because it is a consequence of other mental health issues. Pretty much every single mental health concern can show itself through procrastination because it is a matter of energy output.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
I have always wondered about this. There are days when I have the energy to run a marathon and then there are some days when stepping out of my room feels draining,
When we are doing well physically and psychologically, we often don’t realize how much energy it take to get through all the tasks in our day. We take them for granted because they seem so easy. Picking up a toothbrush, taking a shower, or even stepping outside seem easy.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
This makes so much sense though,
However, when we burnout, suffer from depression, anxiety, trauma, etc. most of our energy is diverted to our thoughts/moods/solving what is happening, leaving very little for our daily tasks. This means that we now have to deal with the same routine with much less energy.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
Also Read: Mental Health Awareness Month: 8 Ways To Lift Your Spirits On Days When You Feel Low
Given that it is impossible to do the same things with less resources, our brain tends to prioritize certain things that seem inescapable or essential to survival, leaving out the rest as “non essential” and can be dealt with later.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
His thread is making so many things clear for me now,
But, what our mind considers essential may not be the same as what we consider essential. Working a lot, showers, exercise, going to appointments are things we consider essential but may not have the energy for them left.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
There are days when I cannot get myself to pick up calls from friends or I am too drained to hold a conversation.
That phone call to the dentist or replying to a friend seem like impossible tasks because when we are done with what we had to do, there is nothing left in us to give. Even if we force it a little, then we have even less energy for the next day.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
Okay wow, the personal attack here is real
Given this constant trap of procrastination, we do what we think is best and that is to hunker down and work harder. After all, I am just being “lazy” and need to focus on my priorities. Right? Nope, that is exactly the opposite of what we need to do.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
Koi desi parents ko ye bataao please,
Yes, society and family may call us lazy, incompetent, but this is simply not true. Laziness does not exist. No one who is doing perfectly well just chooses to do nothing. So we feel shamed into action. We may go into overdrive for a few days, a few weeks, but then we crash.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
He makes very valid points,
That is because our inherent ambition or wanting to do something was never the issue. We borrowed even more energy when the bank was very depleted. We didn’t turn our attention to where it was needed? That is our mental health. The cause of what triggered this lack of energy.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
Also Read: Mental Health Awareness Month: 16 Questions To Ask Your Therapist Before Your First Appointment
Basically, if we don’t solve the cause, we can’t solve the consequence. Procrastination is the consequence. The cause is the culprit that is keeping us low/doesn’t allow us to function at our full capacity. Again, it could be any form of mental health or physical health issue.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
Checking in on ourselves, something we should all be doing
We need to do an assessment (physical and psychological) to see what is happening and how we can fix it. Most of the time, it would fall under depression/anxiety/burnout category. We need to take care of it, whether it is through meds/therapy/both.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
Mental health is a tough journey but it is worth it,
Unfortunately, there is no shortcut. It takes a while to get into the procrastination phase, and it will take treatment to get out of it. We have also lived a global traumatic event with the pandemic and the mental health issues from this are still in display now.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
I am sure many of us struggle with being hard or harsh on ourselves,
The first step is to understand that procrastination is not us being less smart, less capable, worse than our peers, etc. It is not something that we did badly or deserve. When we get frustrated with ourselves or even angry, we entrench ourselves deeper in the cycle.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
Prioritising yourself is so hard but essential
We need to put more of whatever is left from our energy into our wellbeing and empathy towards ourselves. Yes, that mean being there less for others, or that our work may not be optimal. It may mean putting things we find important on hold.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
This may go against every instinct and upbringing we have but it is necessary. We are constantly told, don’t be lazy, guilted into action with no regard for our wellbeing and made to be there for others even when we have nothing left to spare, but we have to put a stop to it.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
Put yourself first, those who don’t understand you aren’t your problem,
Whether those around us understand or not doesn’t change the nature of what we are going through. Even if we have just one ally or someone helping us through this can make a world of a difference. Don’t hesitate to ask for help, especially if it is someone you trust.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
He is absolutely correct,
Procrastination is an alarm system that something is wrong. We need to press that pause button and focus on our recovery. In our life of constant action, stressors, and attention, exhaustion is normal and we need that healing in order to take care of ourselves.
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
This is so sweet!
I hope that this thread helped clarify this topic a little bit and hope that you can get something out of this that you can implement in your life. You are worthy and amazing regardless of your productivity. Love ❤️
— Omar Bazza (@bazzapower) May 18, 2022
Omar Bazza is absolutely right. We tend to prioritise so much of what is happening around us that we tend to not notice what is happening within us. While wanting to work hard and be there for the people in your life isn’t inherently bad, it is important to realise just how much we are neglecting ourselves. And I am saying this to you just as much as I am to myself: take a breather. Allow yourself time to rest. It is okay and it is important because nothing in your life is as important as yourself. Make time for yourself.
