A Closer Look at Procrastination
Procrastination means delaying or putting off tasks you need to do. It's okay to procrastinate once in a while; everyone does it. But when you do it repeatedly, it can become a problem.
The era that spawned the saying "Never put off until tomorrow what can be done today" was a time before electricity. The workday involved lots of manual tasks. Procrastination wasn't an option then. If you didn't get your chores done at home, you had no clean clothes and little to eat. Same thing at work. Progress stopped.
Even with all our modern conveniences, the situation hasn't changed much these days. It's true that technology has decreased the amount of hard labor we have to do. But it has also opened up vast new areas that require heavy mental lifting. Companies are now leaner and expect everyone to contribute more. Globalization has upped the ante on competition. Today, workers are more challenged to keep up than they were a hundred years ago.
The Downside of Procrastination
Chronic procrastination is unhealthy because it robs you of peace of mind. Undone tasks rumble around in the back of your consciousness. You feel guilty. When you spend time doing unimportant things, you're no closer to accomplishing necessary tasks. In fact, you feel even more pressure, especially if a deadline looms - or has already passed.
Chronic procrastination has other downsides as well. Not only can it ruin your self-esteem. It can also jeopardize your relationships with family, friends, and co-workers. In some cases, it can even lead to debt, divorce, and job loss.
How to Overcome Procrastination
What can you do if you procrastinate too much? Overcoming procrastination is hard but not impossible. It requires a two-step plan and the willingness to carry it out.
- Look at the things that cause you to procrastinate. What makes them distasteful or uncomfortable? Could you can handle them a different way? Perhaps you could give them to someone else to do. Or do them in smaller, more manageable chunks. Does your procrastination stem from a general lack of enthusiasm for life? If so, explore what that means, either by yourself or with the help of a counselor or therapist.
- Develop your time management skills. Identifying your values, prioritizing, scheduling tasks, and then doing what you say you'll do all help you to overcome procrastination and manage the demands of life better. A good plan brings calmness and the confidence that you'll reach your goals.
Everyone gets exactly 24 hours a day. And people's needs differ. If your life is structured properly for you, you'll have time for a healthy mix of work, family, leisure, and rest. Then you won't have room for procrastination any more.
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