Procrastination - What it is and how you can cope

I bet you know the feeling. The date for your project is due, the stack of tests need to be graded by tomorrow, you've got household chores or errands to complete today. Yet, you can't seem to get yourself to actually finish the task at hand. Something else always seems to attract your attention, a video on Youtube, your favourite series on Netflix or your social media feeds are just begging for your attention.Hours later you realise you've wasted all your precious time, which means you have to finish your work in much less time. As a result you feel horrible about yourself, not to mention your stress levels skyrocket.   

I know I have been guilty of this. So much wasted time and energy. I remember feeling awful, loathing myself because I could not discipline myself enough to finish my daily tasks. Needless to say, my stress levels were at an all time high those days. It's only in the recent five years or so that I actually managed to overcome it, to a great degree. It's not easy and the road has been bumpy. For sure, I fell back on my old habits more times than I can count. But I always bounce back and I'm proud to say that I'm getting better and better every single day.

The issue of procrastination is not something specific to our era. It is a timeless issue. So timeless, that the ancient Greek philosophers Socrates and Aristotle coined a word to describe it. Akrasia. In modern speak it means acting against your better judgment and doing one thing you know full well you should be doing instead of something else. According to Merriam Webster dictionary, procrastination is defined as intentionally putting off doing something that should and can be done.    

So, why do we procrastinate? There are numerous reasons, some of which even touch on a personal level, but I will list eight reasons below.

1. Perfectionism.  The notion itself is restricting and stress-inducing. Nothing and no one is perfect. By expecting everything we do to be perfect, we set highly unrealistic standards for ourselves and make it more difficult to get through the task. One way of overriding this is to work through the mistakes we make in the  process rather than starting over and over again. This saves us not only time but also unnecessary stress and frustration.

2. Proneness to distraction. This has been a big one for me. I have a restless and wayward mind which, if not reined in, wanders in many different directions. It's much, much more manageable now that I'm older. And wiser (!!😂). All joking aside though, distraction is the killer of productivity. If this is your weakness, be proactive and make sure to remove all temptations till you're done. Mute the notifications on your phone or remove game apps from your phone for example. Isolate yourself in a quiet room to study or work if it really can't be helped otherwise. It works wonders, I can tell you. Set reminders,  maybe a post- it on your fridge or alarms on your phone to remind you what needs to be done.

3.You are not clear about how to get started. I've been there and I know the feeling. It no fun feeling this way. Use the get things done approach  by breaking down your task in smaller, more manageable steps. Schedule and follow through. That way you'll still feel victorious because you did get some work done and feel confident and optimistic that you'll see it through.

 

 4. You know it will take a long time and hard work - Working on bigger projects can be daunting and scary. It is easily a reason why many feel demotivated and eventually either keep postponing the project or give it up altogether. Once again, breaking your project into smaller, more manageable steps scheduled in your week, makes it somehow less scary and overwhelming.

5.You are not motivated.  If you can't see how this project connects to your goals or interests, it's more likely that you'll find it difficult to find the motivation to go through with it. As with everything else, it all boils down to your "why'.  Your why will fuel your energy and determination.You need to answer this question : "Why is this task important to me and my goals and how will it move me closer to them?"

6.  Fear of the unknown. I think we all agree that knowledge is power- or rather potential power. Knowledge can be transmuted into power only through deliberate action. Push past the feeling of uncertainty, do your research if you must, ask someone who is more knowledgeable, but take that first step towards action!

7. The "I'll do it later" approach. I'm definitely guilty of postponing tasks. It all comes down to how you prioritise the task at hand and how much you value your time and energy. In the end it is a personal choice you must make for yourself. If, however, a task is a high-priority one, best put it at the top of your to-do- list. If, on the other hand, it can wait, make sure to break it down into smaller steps and work on it a little every week.  

8. Accountability. Tell your parent, your friend or your coworker about your intention. They can serve as accountability partners to keep you on track whenever you tend to deviate from your plan.  

 

Just to be fair, procrastination is not the devil neither are all those who procrastinate lesser human beings for it. It is something that can be overcome with some willpower and strategic steps. Even the acclaimed author Margaret Atwood herself admits to spending her mornings worrying and procrastinating before she finally gets down to writing late in the afternoon. Taking into account how prolific a writer she is, it would seem that procrastination has not particularly hindered her from becoming a successful and established author!

Generally speaking, procrastination causes much more harm than good, regardless of how well you believe you can function effectively under pressure. Apart from the impact it can bear on your work and credibility, it can cause stress and other related health issues. Try to apply the hacks above and why not, have a look at the book Atomic Habits by James Clear, a #1 New York Times bestseller. It is chockful of useful tips on becoming better at managing your time.You can read a short exerpt here  on how to stop procrastinating using the 2 minute rule.    

 As always, sending you ripples of positivity and love,

Lia 😀💓