Just do it now
We’ve all had times we postpone things meant to be done immediately or in an assigned time to later or the last hour. These things could be important or meaningful tasks that are meant to be done at a specific time but then, we postpone and spend our time doing less important things. There are good habits we have promised ourselves to start doing like hitting the gym, starting a new lifestyle, learning a new language, learning a new skill, quitting bad habits e.t.c but we fail because we always postpone starting them and sometimes we procrastinate because we are afraid to start. This act is known as Procrastination.
When we procrastinate, we have a strong will to carry out tasks but can not motivate ourselves to start, which results in postponing these tasks until they are convenient or during rush hour. Procrastination can appear as waiting till the last minute to do a long overdue task or assignment, waiting till the deadline to work on an application, postponing house cleaning, or postponing booking a doctor’s appointment, browsing social media instead of working, repeatedly promising to get started on a project without making any progress, making excuses to wait before starting positive habits or lifestyle.
Someone who deliberately postpones actions, decisions, or tasks unnecessarily is called a Procrastinator. Some people procrastinate because they believe they are more productive when working under pressure. They procrastinate intentionally and find satisfaction in this approach. They see the pressure they face as motivation for them to get things done or be more productive. These people are classified as Active procrastinators, while some people struggle with being decisive about their goals and have difficulty accomplishing a task. These kinds are classified as Passive procrastinators. Regardless of how beneficial they can be, the results of these types of procrastination are negative and undesirable because they lead to low motivation and an increase in stress levels.
A lot of factors contribute to procrastination. Sometimes, it is caused by the inability to focus, lack of self-esteem, unhealthy self-image, inability to prioritize goals, poor plan formulation, poor time management, overestimating our motivation, and underestimating the time some tasks can take. People who are depressed are more likely to procrastinate because they experience a lack of motivation to carry out activities or tasks even when they are fully aware of the result of that action if they do so.
There are always consequences of procrastinating, there is always something to lose and never something to gain. It negatively affects different areas of our lives whether financially, physically, socially, or mentally. It could lead to a drop in grades in academics and also a decrease in work performance.
Procrastination keeps you from achieving the life you want and desire for yourself. It keeps you one step behind from becoming the version of yourself that you want to appear as and represent. Procrastination could cause you to miss out on life-changing opportunities, jobs, or scholarships because you fail to do the needful task now and delay it for later. Procrastination, if not dealt with, can disrupt your personal life too.
There are several effective ways to overcome procrastination. You have to make conscious efforts to not procrastinate. It can be difficult at first but with determination, you will get better and stronger. You can start by using the 2-minute rule meaning that if an activity or a task does not take up to two minutes, then it should be done now. So, instead of saying “I will do it later“, say “I will do it now“. You have to learn to keep yourself motivated. Remember “if it is important, it should be done”. When you want to deal with procrastination, working on your discipline and self-control is very important. You need to have the self-discipline to go from being a procrastinator to being fully committed to your activities. Learn to plan early. Make a list of things you want to accomplish and try as much to follow through with such tasks. Figure out what triggers you to procrastinate. It could be an environment, people, activities, words, or any form of distraction that makes you procrastinate. Stay disciplined.
There are tools that you can use to start being more committed. You can use a to-do app or a task management app like the Trello app or you can write a list of things you want to achieve on a paper and tick them when you have done them, it can help you become more productive. This will help you create a task that you want to achieve, keep you on track and help you achieve them.
Never forget to appreciate and reward yourself when you complete a task or do something that aligns with your goals. Always take time to congratulate and validate yourself after accomplishing little tasks. By doing that, you are increasing your motivation and building your self-esteem.
Overcoming procrastination does not just happen in a day. You can take baby steps. Start with creating smaller and easy tasks that you can accomplish, break down your goals and stay honest with yourself. Being motivated all the time may be impossible because we experience different levels of emotions and stress that can determine our motivation. It is okay to take rest too when you are tired, stressed, and unmotivated. When you feel tired, stressed, or unmotivated and there are important tasks to accomplish like school assignments, work projects, or personal commitments, Take a break or rest, and have a long refreshing bath. You can set an alarm, sleep for thirty minutes or an hour, and thenbegin your work. Try not to force yourself to work when you are tired. You are more likely to be productive when the body and mind are both sound and active. Also, try not to waste time or spend all your time chatting, scrolling social media, or doing unnecessary activities. You can engage in activities that keep you motivated. The benefits of rest cannot be overemphasized.
Do not forget — procrastination is a thief of time.
Make a decision today to start! What is a better time to start than now?
