Procrastination: Know its meaning, how to stop the habit of procrastinating your work

Procrastination means putting off or delaying the completion of a task. It is a behavior that promotes internal self-deprecation and external fear of potential consequences. Everyone procrastinates at some point. But to others it seems like a chronic repetitive pattern of behavior. More than 20% of people suffer from this type of procrastination. Laziness and procrastination are not the same thing. When people are lazy it simply means that they are reluctant to expend energy regardless of the task or activity. People who procrastinate often have a lot of energy they would rather spend on other tasks and activities.

How to stop procrastinating

Break down the work into smaller parts

It may seem like a huge task to tackle all at once or to devote an entire week to the same task. Thinking about doing all the tasks you have at once can feel like a huge problem to tackle, so break them down into smaller pieces. You can start with the smallest piece and work your way up from there.

To set goals

Keep a record of all the work you need to do. This list should include short-term tasks that you can complete daily and weekly, as well as long-term tasks that may take months or even years to complete. Seeing this written down will help you plan the actions needed to accomplish your goals.

Start your day with hard work

Plan your morning and do the tough tasks first. You have more energy when you have breakfast in the morning. Put the toughest thing on your docket often. Once you have done it, you will feel better and can do some easier tasks in the rest of the day.

Adopt time management techniques

Create a daily routine that works for you, based on time management techniques like the Eisenhower Box. If you have trouble staying focused on a task, timebox your work by setting an alarm for a short period of time and then taking a break. This method can help you organize your time better, get into a state of flow, and make tasks less daunting.

Practice meditation and relaxation techniques

Incorporate mindfulness practices, such as mindful breathing and meditation, to manage stress and anxiety, which often fuel procrastination.

Have a friend help you stay honest

When you are alone, it is difficult to keep yourself away from distractions and complete your work on time. Everyone struggles with the habit of procrastination. Ask a friend or family member if he is willing to work with you and keep track of each other’s work habits and accomplishments.

Minimize Distractions

Identify your common distractions and find ways to reduce or eliminate them. This might mean turning off notifications. You can also use music to drown out distracting sounds.

Pat yourself on the back 

When you complete a task on your to-do list on time, congratulate yourself and reward yourself by doing something you enjoy. This can reduce procrastination.

why do you procrastinate

Early education

For some people the reason they procrastinate is due to poor role models. Their parents may have had a different reason for procrastinating, but your procrastinating tendencies may simply be a reflection of what you observed in your parents’ view of the world. If so, awareness of this fact and consciously choosing and emulating other more productive role models may motivate you to change your ways.

Lack of confidence

One reason you procrastinate is that you lack confidence in your abilities. Believing that you can do a task is essential to functioning. If your sense of self-efficacy is low, you are less likely to start or complete a task.

Anxiety and fear

People sometimes procrastinate because they are worried or afraid about something—for example, a person may delay checking his bills because he is worried about seeing what he has to pay. Many people can be anxious or afraid about things.

Inertia

Inertia is the tendency for people to do things they are already doing. It can cause them to put off doing something once they have started. For example, if a person goes out to study, inertia can cause them to put off doing it because they will now have to return home to study, which will require extra effort.

Cognitive bias

Various cognitive biases can cause procrastination: Pessimism bias may cause a person to incorrectly assume that his or her project is likely to fail, which may discourage him or her from even trying.

Low Energy

Low mental and physical energy levels can lead to procrastination—for example, a person may delay washing dishes when he or she gets home because he or she is tired from working hard. Low energy can also lead to burnout and depression—for example, lack of sleep.

Trouble with time management

Some time-management issues can lead to procrastination—for example, a person may put off an important task if he fails to properly prioritize his tasks, and as a result fails to realize how important it is to complete that task on time.

Prioritizing short-term mood

People sometimes procrastinate because they prioritise their short-term mood over their long-term achievement and well-being – e.g.

Also read : Depression: what is it, what are its symptoms

A student may delay completing an important assignment that he or she finds stressful because it helps him or her feel better in the short term.

Procrastination Quotes

• It’s the job that’s never started as it takes longest to finish
• Someday is not a day of the week
• A year from now you may wish you had started today
• You may delay, but time will not
• In delay there lies no plenty
• Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone
• You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today
• Whatever you want to do, do it now. There are only so many tomorrows
• You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good
• How soon not now becomes never
• People in life do not regret what they did, but what they did not do
• If you want to succeed, double the number of failures

Questions asked regarding procrastination

What is the synonym of procrastination?

to delay, to procrastinate, to stay behind, to loiter, To procrastinate means to go so slowly or to fall behind in doing a task.

Do procrastinators get angry?

Yes, we can react with anger, especially when we feel they are trying to control us—even when that is not their real intention.

Is procrastinating bad?

Many people rely on avoidance as a coping mechanism. Avoidance can be harmful in the long run, leading to more fear, anxiety, and unhealthy habits.

How does procrastination work?

A deferment is a temporary pause on your student loan payments for specific circumstances such as active military service and re-enrollment in school. You can apply for a deferment with your loan servicer.