People in all walks of life, including students, workers, business owners, and the jobless, struggle with procrastination. The young and the elderly are equally susceptible. It might be preventing you from reaching your financial and personal goals.
Not only do you risk missing out on opportunities and/or losing money if you put off doing what has to be done, but the very thought of the activity you’re putting off may cause worry, tension, and exhaustion.
Depression, sleeplessness, poor self-esteem, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and even hypertension and other medical illnesses may set in when procrastination becomes frequent and chronic. In addition, your relationships will suffer as others stop trusting you. Your employment could be at stake.
What am I waiting for?
Of course, we all have days when we just don’t feel like doing much of anything. And don’t feel bad about letting loose and playing about for a time. Perhaps you will return feeling refreshed, revitalized, and eager to get things done. That’s a whole other issue.
However, procrastination is an altogether other beast. Whenever you have the feeling that the activity you are supposed to do is difficult, unpleasant, or time-consuming, procrastination is likely to set in.
Some individuals are predisposed to the disorder because of their perfectionist tendencies: an insatiable need for everything to be exactly so, coupled with an irrational dread of failing to live up to their own lofty standards. So until they feel sufficiently motivated or ready, they continue to put things off.
For others, it’s the consequence of too much exposure to social media and other types of entertainment, which stimulate the brain’s reward system to the point where it becomes difficult to concentrate on more vital tasks (which may seem dull in contrast).
A Course of Action
Consider these options if you feel your procrastination is getting out of hand:
1. Recognize Your Fears
If you are dreading doing anything because of vague concerns about its unpleasantness, you are just human for putting it off.
Identifying your specific apprehension is the first step in overcoming it. It’s best to record them or read them aloud. Yes, even if they don’t make much sense or appear trivial. You’ll be able to see things more clearly and be encouraged to take charge of the situation after doing so.
2. Start off slowly
Perhaps you are avoiding getting started on the project because you are feeling overwhelmed by how much work has to be done. A better question is: why not? You’ve decided to dedicate yourself for only 10 minutes. Once you get into the zone, you may not want to stop working until the job is finished.
Bear in mind that perfection is not required. Allow yourself to get started in a sloppy fashion and tidy up as you go. Constantly keep in mind that doing anything will provide you clarity.
3. Determine what you want to accomplish and work toward it
It’s possible that you’re not getting anything done because you’re daydreaming about far-fetched, fantastical things. Dopamine is released and you’re able to maintain a euphoric mood while engaging in such mental exercises. Consequently, you become lazy when it comes time to really complete the task. Whenever things become challenging, you lose all willpower.
If you want to accomplish anything, you need to break your lofty ambitions into manageable chunks. Then go on to the next least controversial step. Alternatively, you may start with the most intimidating part. That’s a great confidence-booster for when the going gets tough. Your ability to see things through depends on your ability to take swift, controllable action.
4. Link the activity to a routine you currently have
If you find yourself putting off a responsibility, you may find it helpful to associate it with something else you do often. Take up the task as soon as you come to the workplace or at lunch if you’re having trouble getting started on that proposal.
Wash them right away if you hate doing dishes after you prepare or eat.
