Why do I find it hard to get things done? 5 causes of this blockage

Causes and possible reasons why we feel blocked and do not attend to our tasks.

One of the aspects of the human mind that psychology has been studying the most is the separation between the path of facts and the path of reason. Even if we know what we should do, it does not mean that we will ultimately do it.

For this reason, there are many people who in their day-to-day lives are blocked and are unable to get down to work on their projects. "Why do I find it hard to get things done?" is a recurring thought in these cases. in these cases. In this article we will see what can be the possible causes of this problem and how it can be overcome to get out of that blocking situation.

Why do I find it hard to get things done?

When it comes to getting down to doing something, there may be several reasons why we procrastinate or give up after several reasons why we postpone the action or abandon it after several attempts to start doing it..

Below we will see what are the most common causes for this to happen.

1. Excessive perfectionism

It is relatively common for us to feel intimidated at the prospect of starting a complex task.

This is a situation that occurs especially when the action to be carried out is complex or involves a certain amount of creativity and decision making, and not so much in cases where the tasks are more automatic, monotonous or routine.

2. The possibility of attributing blame to others

Sometimes, the simple fact of being able to find an excuse an excuse in the behavior of others makes us not carry out certain actions that are convenient for us, or certain responsibilities.

For example, if we have to do some team work and a colleague does not send us his part, we may be tempted to do nothing, as if the problem did not exist, and let time pass. The reason: we take refuge in the moral superiority that comes from having done what was agreed, at the cost of sacrificing the final result..

3. Fear of facing a stressful situation

Another reason why we feel that it is difficult for us to do things may be the fear of being exposed to a situation that makes us feel a peak of stress. a situation that makes us feel a peak of anxiety or anguish, so we prefer not to tackle a stressful situation.We prefer not to deal with the problem and experience a lower level of anxiety that accumulates as time goes by.

For example, if we have been putting off answering emails for some time, the simple fact of sitting in front of the screen and seeing the emails that have been accumulating can make us feel bad, so we avoid it.

This is one of the reasons why we procrastinate the tasks that are given once other reasons have led us not to do those actions before, when it was time to carry them out.

4. Lack of motivation

Lack of motivation is a reason that overlaps with the previous ones, but can also be based on something that has not been mentioned so far: what we have to do does not seem meaningful or stimulating in itself.The reason we have to do it does not seem meaningful or stimulating in itself, unless other reasons unrelated to the task (rewards, scolding, desire not to cause rejection in others, etc.) are added to it.

For example, if we do not value tidiness, we may not have much incentive to do it.

5. Depression or other mood disorders

Depression and psychological disorders of its kind, linked to mood states, can lead to a phenomenon called abulia, characterized by the almost complete lack of energy and motivation to do anything..

However, in the vast majority of cases this is not the reason why people do not do what they should do, and in any case this kind of disorder can only be diagnosed by mental health professionals.

How to solve the problem and get down to work?

To get down to doing things that have been waiting for some time, the solution is to divide the task into a chain of simple objectives to be achieved, so that it is easy to start the sequence of action. Once we have started, it will be much easier to complete the task..

On the other hand, if the situation becomes complicated, the help of psychologists can be very helpful, especially if there are problems with stress and emotion regulation, or in cases where the task is complex and the stakes are high.

Bibliographical references:

• Burka, J. B., and Yuen, L. M. (2008). Procrastination: Why you do it, What to do about it now. Cambridge: Da Capo Press.
• Gosling, J. (1990). Weakness of the will. New York: Routledge.
• Ferrari, J. R. (2001). Procrastination as self-regulation failure of performance: Effects of cognitive load, self-awareness, and time limits on "working best under pressure." European Journal of Personality, 15(1), 391-406.