Overcoming Procrastination

In this article, you'll learn about what procrastination is, and the possible reasons why people procrastinate. The purpose of this article is to know the concept behind procrastination, and present tried-and-true methods for overcoming it. You need to keep these 3 tips in mind when you are stuck in the pattern of procrastination, that is explained below.

It’s a breezy Sunday evening and you’re sitting by the window, taking in the wonderful view. Trees sway against one another. Birds sing to their little ones. The scent of wet earth fills the air. You are relaxed and calm. Sure, you have a report due in a week, but that’s 168 hours away. Today is just too beautiful; you’ll do it tomorrow.

It’s been 5 days. The report is due day-after and you haven’t begun. The panic sets in. You can feel your heartbeat against your chest. You begin to realize just how much work it really is. You realize you have no clue where to start. You sit at the computer but you don’t know what to type. Oh, how you wish you had started earlier!

If only this wasn’t every other person’s tale. Be it a school project, an office target to be met, a broken tap that needs looking into, a career switch to make…we’re all stuck in the pattern of procrastination.

We've all struggled with procrastination at some point in our lives. We have struggled with delaying, evading, and procrastinating on problems that important to us for as long as humans have existed. 

Let's understand the essentials first. What is the definition of procrastination? What does it mean to procrastinate? So, what exactly are we up against here?

WHAT IS PROCRASTINATION?

Procrastination is the act of postponing choices or actions unnecessarily. For instance, if you need to complete a project you wind up squandering time on the internet despite knowing you should be working, you are procrastinating.

Procrastination is the habit of putting off unpleasant or stressful chores that are often highly important in favour of less important, less stressful tasks. 

Procrastination is derived from the Latin term "pro crastinus", which roughly translates to "for tomorrow". Procrastination is definitely not a new concept, and it has been practised for at least thousands of years.

Procrastination is generally damaging to people's capacity to achieve their goals, as evidenced by the fact that procrastination is linked to achieving lower marks in school and earning a lower wage at work.

Furthermore, procrastination is linked to a slew of other difficulties, including increased stress and deterioration of physical and mental health (1).

WHY DO WE PROCRASTINATE?

Okay, definitions are wonderful, but why do we procrastinate in the first place? What is it about the human brain that causes us to avoid doing the things we know we should?

If you're a frequent procrastinator, you've definitely wondered to yourself, "Why do I procrastinate so much?" or "why do I keep procrastinating despite the fact that I know it's terrible for me?" These are key questions to ask since figuring out why you procrastinate is crucial to figuring out how to stop.

People frequently believe that procrastination is simply a matter of willpower, but the issue is significantly more complicated.

When presented with a difficult decision or a task to do, we frequently rely on our self-control to get things done.

Furthermore, our motivation, which is based on the expectation of earning some sort of reward for our efforts, might help us maintain self-control and increase the likelihood that we will complete tasks on time.

Overall, we procrastinate because demotivating forces such as worry and fear of failure overwhelm our self-control and motivation, which may be hampered by factors such as weariness and distant rewards.

This makes us unable to self-regulate our behaviour, causing us to put things off excessively, even when we know we should, which is why procrastination frequently results in a disconnect between how we intend to act and how we actually act.

Note that there are occasional exceptions to this rule, such as when procrastination is motivated by something other than boredom, such as rebelliousness or a desire to spice up otherwise dull labour.

However, the mechanism mentioned above is the most common explanation for why individuals procrastinate.

WHAT IS NOT PROCRASTINATION?

• Procrastination is not laziness: Procrastinators frequently postpone tasks, leaving them till the last possible moment, or even looking at the wall. However, keep in mind that procrastination is not synonymous with laziness.
  
  People that are lazy simply do nothing and are content with it. Procrastinators, on the other hand, have the desire to get something done but are unable to do it.
  
  It's a good idea to start referring to procrastination as opposed to laziness or putting things off. It gives a far more accurate picture of your predicament. You can only start working on your problem once you've given it the proper name.
• Procrastination is not relaxation: Procrastination should not be confused with relaxing. Relaxing gives you a boost of energy. Procrastination, on the other hand, depletes it. The less energy you have, the more anxious or even depressed you are likely to get, and the more likely you are to put off your tasks.
  
  So the polar opposite of procrastination is actually getting things done, as well as being able to relax, manage your workload effectively, and be content in the long run.

WHY FIGHT PROCRASTINATION?

Procrastination is one of the biggest roadblocks to waking up, making the correct decisions, and living the life you've always imagined.

According to recent studies, people regret the things they haven't done more than the things they have. Furthermore, regret and guilt associated with lost chances tend to linger for far longer.

All of our opportunities appear to be at our fingertips at times, yet we can't seem to grasp them. When you procrastinate, you are wasting time that could be spent on something more important. 

You will be able to do more and better harness the potential that life has to offer if you can defeat this formidable foe.

We already know that today's world encourages procrastination, thus learning how to fight it is one of the most valuable skills you can acquire (3).

We don’t just delay action in our professional lives but in all other aspects of our lives – romantic relationships, familial connections, health, and so on.

We may procrastinate leaving an abusive relationship, or talking to our parents about what upsets us, or going to the doctor for a noticeable ailment. All these aspects of our lives are significant, and delaying action can be emotionally and physically fatal.

While the initial stages of procrastination are stress-free and pleasant, the latter stages are not. These are the stages when you realize the magnitude of your task compared to the limitations of your time and energy resources.

You feel a sense of fear and panic. Your stress sparks instantaneously. Your dread of the future is counterproductive.

You are unable to concentrate on your task.

You may be trying to focus with all you have, but all your mind keeps saying is, “What if you don’t make it? There’s no time! WHAT IF YOU DON’T MAKE IT? THERE’S NO TIME!”

Breathe. Relax. I’ve got you covered.

In summary, procrastination is highly existential in that it raises questions about individual agency and how we wish to spend our time versus how we really do. You can always conquer procrastination by recognising or acknowledging it, or even better, by using EFT Tapping. You can clear the root problem and achieve focus via EFT. In the future, do what is best for you.

References:

1. https://www.verywellmind.com/the-psychology-of-procrastination-2795944 

2. https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/procrastination 

3. https://jamesclear.com/procrastination#What%20is%20Procrastination?