I… have a problem. I am the world’s greatest procrastinator. I know it, my friends know it, my mom knows it, and as sad as it sounds, it’s one of the hardest habits to break. Procrastination is often associated with laziness, irresponsibility, and just lack of effort. However, while this MAY be the case for some, I can assure you it is not the case for all. Procrastination is like most habits— you can’t just quit cold turkey. I know, I know, it’s just procrastination right? If you really wanted to stop something so benign, you just would, right? Wrong! Trust me it is NOT that easy, but it IS possible. I have a few personal methods that I want to share, and hopefully if any of my fellow procrastinators read this it’ll be of help to you as well!
But first, take a look at some of the reasons why we procrastinate, shall we?
THE PRESSURE
To anyone who constantly procrastinates, you know what I’m referring to. For those who don’t, let me explain. There is a certain thrill that comes from procrastination, and it comes from the pressure. Some work better under pressure than others, and true-to-heart procrastinators work even better under pressure. Having an assignment due the next day puts pressure on you to get the work done. You allow yourself to sit down and focus on nothing but the work, and you know you will get it done because you really don’t have a choice. As ludicrous and idiotic as it sounds, it just works, It’s the ultimate way to know you’ll get the work done, and that’s motivation enough.
THE POSITIVE OUTCOME
Not always, but nine times out of ten, the outcome is pretty good, and that definitely does not help because we don’t learn our lesson. Waiting until the last minute and then receiving a good grade, positive reviews, finding that outfit, etc., only encourages procrastination. Like I said, it’s not guaranteed every time, but if it happens more often than not you’re more than likely going to repeat it.
FORGETFULNESS
As preventable as it sounds, remembering every single thing on your agenda can become overwhelming, and if you’re prone to forgetfulness— like me— it only forces procrastination. I have a bad habit of taking on too many things at once, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. However, without a proper method of organization one can plan too many things at once and be forced to put off, if not just one, multiple responsibilities.
There is no cure to procrastination, just therapy, self-therapy that is. Procrastination is detectable; no one procrastinates and denies it because they often admit “I waited until the last minute.” With that being said, there are a few steps we can try to take to minimize these situations. Although procrastination has its reasons and temporary benefits, in the long run it leads to stress, anger, anxiety, irregular sleep, and potential failure. Here are some things that have helped me, and I hope it can help you as well.
AN AGENDA/ PLANNER
For the forgetful ones, this will be your savior. Keeping track of your plans in correlation to dates and importance, you’re doing yourself a huge favor. While we have multiple responsibilities, not all of them are equal in time, length or importance. With a planner, you can schedule which what tasks are due sooner, which ones will take longer to complete, and how much time you can allot them for completion. If a task is due at a later time than the other, get started on it first. If two things are due the same day, which happens more often than not, determine which one requires more work and handle that one first. Organization is key on so many levels. It helps us hold onto whatever sanity we have left. Your brain handles enough on a daily basis, leave the memory to a planner.
TIME MANAGEMENT
It’s a lot harder than it seems, I know, but it works wonders! Breaking an assignment down into days rather than trying to knock it all out at once the day before saves stress, time and excess pressure. As stressful as things get at times, it is nearly impossible to say we do not have even twenty minutes in a day to spare. In those twenty minutes you can start whatever task it is you need to do: a paper, studying for a test, preparing a speech for class or work, etc. Do this every day until the assignment is due— trust me when I say every minute counts! It’s like saving money. Yeah, you’d rather save in bulk so that it feels like you’re saving more, but then you end up putting too much away, only to take it back out because you need it. Putting five to ten dollars every pay period aside, or whatever spare change you have laying around, accumulates overtime with a pretty impressive outcome. Don’t fear patience!
Last but not least, and as obvious as it may seem…
TAKE ADVICE (PEOPLE, BOOKS, INTERNET)
Some people procrastinate once in a blue for whatever reason, while other procrastinate all the time for any reason. It’s practically second nature to some, and from personal experience, advice is one of the most therapeutic methods to procrastination. It helps to hear from someone who understands and it makes easier because like most bad habits, when you see someone else make it through, you have faith that you can make it through as well. There are so many books and online articles on how to deal with procrastination it’s incredible and inspiring. Check out the YouTube video, Tim Urban: Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator, it’s entertaining and accurate and helps make sense of this issue for the procrastinators and non-procrastinators.
To all my procrastinators, there is hope and there is a way. It all starts with acceptance and ends with determination. I hope my words offered some comfort and guidance, and like I said, it’s not easy, but it is most definitely possible. Best of luck!
