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We often talk about procrastination, but what exactly is it and how do you stop? In this episode, Richard MacKinnon distinguishes procrastination from laziness or busyness, and tells me that procrastination is about irrationally delaying something and with resultant consequences. Usually the cause is some sort of discomfort with the task required, and as a result we tell ourselves stories to try and justify to ourselves why we are not taking action. But we forget that sooner or later, the task will still need to be done. He advises people to notice when they find themselves in circumstances that lead to procrastination, to pause and notice what's going on (being honest with yourself), and then make a considered choice of what to do.

Richard is a Chartered Psychologist and coach with over twenty years experience as a practitioner. He's the founder of WorkLifePsych, a team of accredited and experienced workplace psychologists, providing coaching and training to clients worldwide. He supports clients with their wellbeing, productivity and interpersonal effectiveness. He's also the host of the 'My Pocket Psych' podcast, all about the psychology of the workplace. You can connect with him on LinkedIn, and he has shared some practical resources for dealing with procrastination here.

Listen at https://matdaniel.net/podcast/; https://open.spotify.com/show/1j8uLaUU1g5bYTRVuwUX7j?si=672ec26a73164d7f; https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/doctors-at-work/id1701284564; or watch on www.youtube.com/@dr-coach/videos.

You can find out more about Mat's coaching to help doctors create successful and meaningful careers at www.MatDaniel.net.