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

That is why there are many people who are blocked in their daily lives and are not able to get on with their projects. “Why do I find it difficult to get things done” is a recurring thought in these cases. In this article we will see what the possible causes of this problem may be and how it can be overcome to get out of this blocking situation.

Why do I have a hard time doing things?

When it comes to getting started, there can be several reasons why we postpone that action or abandon it after several attempts to get started .

Below we’ll look at the most common reasons why this can happen.

1. Excess of perfectionism

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

This is a situation that occurs especially when the action to be taken 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 in the behaviour of others makes us not carry out certain actions that suit us, or certain responsibilities.

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

3. Fear of facing a stressful situation

Another reason why we feel it is difficult to get things done may be the fear of being exposed to a situation that makes us feel a peak of anxiety or distress , before which we prefer not to address the problem and experience a lower level of anxiety but which accumulates over time.

For example, if we’ve been putting off answering emails for a while, just sitting in front of the screen and watching the ones that have been accumulating can make us feel bad, so we avoid it.

This is one of the reasons why we postpone 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

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

For example, if we do not value order, we may not have much incentive to do so.

5. Depression or other mood disorders

Depression and psychological disorders of its kind, linked to moods, can lead to a phenomenon called abulia, characterized by the almost total 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 these kinds of disorders can only be diagnosed by mental health professionals.

How to solve the problem and get down to business?

In order to start doing things that have been waiting for some time, the solution is to divide the task into a chain of simple objectives to be carried out, so that it is easy to start the action sequence. 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 of stress and regulation of emotions, or in cases where the task is complex and the stakes are high.

Bibliographic 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.