In this post, we are going to talk about procrastination, its effects on us and how to overcome it. Read on!
Procrastination is a common concept known by all either by experience or by definition. There is a feeling that everyone must have procrastinated at least once in a lifetime. Even as you read this, I am sure you would have remembered the times you procrastinated. Let’s take a look at what procrastination entails and its effects.
What is Procrastination?
Procrastination is the act of postponing or delaying an activity or event to a later time. It means an intentional decision to avoid carrying out a task at the originally scheduled time to another time. Sometimes, the time chosen for the activity is known at the point of the procrastination while at other times, it is unknown. It is just to avoid doing what is expected to be done at that time.
It is worthy of note to know procrastination only reschedules an activity, event, or work to another time in the future, it doesn’t outrightly cancel the activity, event, or work. At least that is the intent at the time of procrastination. However, it is possible that the rescheduled time may never come which means the activity, event, or work may not be done. If the decision was to cancel the activity, event, or work, that is not procrastination.
Reasons for Procrastination
There are reasons behind the motive of procrastination. Though not a recommended thing to do at any point, but it does come with at least a reason each time someone procrastinates. Perhaps when we discuss these reasons, you will have a clearer picture of how procrastination gradually takes course. Here are five of those reasons;
Momentarily pleasure: This is one of the commonest reasons why people procrastinate. They just want to enjoy the moment without doing anything in particular. I know this would sound familiar. We all have those moments or days we don’t want to do anything, if you put all scheduled things aside for this feeling, you have procrastinated.
Tiredness: Even if you are the best person on earth at organizing, you would one day procrastinate things because you are tired. That is if you have not already done this before which I doubt. When you are tired and there is no strength to do anything, you will need to procrastinate whatever you planned to do at that point.
Laziness: Interestingly, laziness has always been synonymous with procrastination. This is because most people who procrastinate do so because they are lazy. They procrastinate not because there is another urgent thing to do but because they don’t want to do anything. They just want to stay idle like there is no work or activities scheduled for that time.
Inadequate resources: It is true that procrastination is also embraced because all the resources needed for the event, activity, or work is not yet available as at the time it was scheduled to be done. These resources may include materials, finance, and human resources.
Technical Know-how: Sometimes people procrastinate because they lack the knowledge required to carry out a task. While this may look justifiable, it is still their fault because they ought to have learned it before that time. It is most likely that they have procrastinated the knowledge acquisition until it eventually affects the main task.
Types of Procrastinators
Though the act of procrastination is generally pushing things expected to be done to date in the future, even in this short definition are hidden the different types of procrastinators. The major thing that distinguishes the different types of procrastinators is why they procrastinate. Here are four major types;
Plenty Time Procrastinator: These are people who procrastinate because they feel there is plenty of time. They keep saying there is still time, I will do it later. This is self-deceit of the highest order.
Perfectionist Procrastinator: These set of people are looking for the best time to do things. Sometimes they are looking for all resources to be complete before they start work or activity. As long as things don’t look perfect, they will not do what is expected.
Anxious Procrastinator: These people procrastinate because there is too much scheduled to be done per time. They schedule too much work out of anxiety to get all things done but as time goes on, they have to procrastinate things. Anxiety is the issue and root cause of this type of procrastination.
Fun Procrastinator: The people that fall under this category will procrastinate all forms of work or activity that may be draining. They just want to have fun. So any work without fun in it will be procrastinated.
Effects of Procrastination
Procrastination comes with some effects. Unfortunately, these effects are all negative which is why everyone is against you procrastinating. Understanding these effects will give you a better understanding of why you need to avoid procrastination at all costs. Below are some well-known effects of procrastination;
Loss of Time: The saying that procrastination is the thief of time is true because you will lose precious time each time you procrastinate. Here is what it means, when you push activity to a later date, the time you will eventually use to do it should have been used for something else which means the time is lost.
Loss of opportunity: When you keep procrastinating, it means you are not ready for opportunities. This is because the opportunity is only for the prepared mind. Procrastinating all that is supposed to make you prepared leaves you unprepared for the opportunities.
Bad results: People who procrastinate often have bad results. This is either because they do things in a hurry or out rightly leave them undone. Only things done within due time can guarantee success because timing and quality are key to achieving success in life.
Incomplete Tasks: Another bad effect that emerges from a life of procrastination is incomplete tasks. Most times they do things in part and procrastination prevents them from doing the rest. There is no way success can be guaranteed with this lifestyle.
Relationship Disruption: People who procrastinate have their relationships negatively impacted because they either procrastinate reaching out or getting concerned with others when they have issues. That is the path to destroying the relationship. Relationships are managed intentionally.
Process Disruption: You know one person that will not do his/her part in a project because of procrastination. They are the people that normally delay the team causing process disruption. Even as an individual, you disrupt processes when you keep procrastinating parts of the process.
Solutions to Overcome Procrastination
Procrastination is a serious issue that must be dealt with. In dealing with it, you must be intentional about what to do to stop the act. Please note that it is not something that you will outgrow. You must be intentional about cutting procrastination from your life. Here are some things to do to achieve this;
- First, you need to resolve to live a purpose-driven life. You can not just be living without bearing. There has to be a goal or vision that you are hoping to achieve per time. Majority of people who procrastinate do not have a vision that is clearly stated per time. They just live each day as it comes. That is not the path of those that make exploit.
- Next, you must have well-stated input per time. You cannot do anything just by having goals, there have to be stated action plans per time. The action plan must consist of activity flow until the goal is achieved. Chronic procrastinators are known to be without action plans. If you have a goal at heart, it will be difficult for you to procrastinate.
- Take away all forms of distraction from anywhere. Personally, you should know your distractions, and make conscious efforts to avoid them at all costs. Known distractions are social media, Television, unplanned meetings, gossip, etc. These and many more must either be reduced or avoided totally as the case may be. Many procrastinate because of distractions.
- Make and stick with a to-do list on a daily basis. Don’t sleep each night without making a to-do list for the next day. That is a way to be responsible for your day and avoid procrastination. Make sure you stick to the to-do list per the time stated to avoid procrastinating.
- You need to learn and adopt time management skills to be able to get ahead of procrastination. Effective time management will prevent you from wasting time on things that could negatively impact the time available for others.
- Furthermore, cultivate the habit of doing difficult or bulky tasks first before you go for the simpler ones. This will help you to get large work done before you get tired so that you don’t have to procrastinate.
Also Read: Special Prayers Against Procrastination
- Another solution is to establish a routine around your day to help you get things done. It is easier to get things done when inserting them into your daily routine. Check successful people, they are people with routines around what made them great.
- Lastly, surround yourself with people that can help you stay focused to the work and inspire you to do what is needed at the appropriate time. All this takes is to spot vision-oriented people around you and work with them more. You can also choose accountability partners to help you get out of procrastination.