How-to: Driving Change module

Human beings have three motivational systems. We move between them based on the situation and how we’re feeling. The three systems are:

Threat System: this is activated when you notice a threat or feel overwhelmed.
Drive System: this is linked to motivation and goal-setting.
Soothing System: this helps with emotional regulation and self-soothing.

Procrastination can occur when our drive and threat system are competing, making us feel stressed and overwhelmed.

In this module, think about a task you've been procrastinating on. Notice if it triggers feelings of threat or stress.

Do any self-critical thoughts arise? For instance, thoughts like "I can't do this" or "It's too hard." Do you feel pressured to have it go perfectly, perhaps not wanting to start until the conditions are ‘just right’? This is our threat system talking. Working this way might help us out in a pinch, like when there’s a big deadline looming, but it tends to be tiring over the long term

This module will help you brainstorm ways to turn off the threat system, and let your natural drive take over. To do this, we activate our soothing system. There are lots of ways to do this, and the module can suggest a few to try.

By understanding and balancing your Threat, Drive, and Soothing Systems, you can break the cycle of procrastination and drive positive change. Practice these steps regularly to build a more compassionate and effective approach to your tasks.

Let's get started and drive some change!

Once you’re finished, you’ll be able to access your answers again through My Tools, so that you can refer back to them yourself later or share them with a support person.