I have been staring at the wall for about 1 hour 37 minutes and 55 seconds. 5…4…3…2…1…38 minutes now. Oh… a crack. I think it's shaped like a tree or is it a bird? Yep, it’s a bird; time flies, doesn’t it….What was I supposed to do again? Study? Yep, that’s the one, study, but what for; never mind. It does remind me of a flower, narcissus I believe…or crocus, I honestly can’t tell.
Procrastination is a funny yet miraculously harmful phenomenon. At first, just a simple withdrawal from the task at hand does not seem like a big deal and it can prove to be rather helpful. However, if one overdoes it or simply prefers to procrastinate rather than start an important task, it can get a little or not so much out of hand. When you procrastinate you don’t just take a break, you simply avoid the task at hand as much as possible.
Procrastination often comes in the form of the inability to begin something that you are either not knowledgeable or not interested in, and it can be pretty hard to resist it. Let’s be honest, most of us would rather do something more entertaining than do homework or chores or any sort of practice, and it is completely normal. However, we have to remember that the boring task we have, won’t disappear into thin air if we just ignore it. It will just keep accumulating like an avalanche, gathering all the other pending work you have left untouched until it finally hits you. This is not a pleasant experience. “I procrastinated, and I just finished my tasks in the last few hours before the deadline. It’s not a big deal.”
Yes, it may be a working strategy when you are doing tasks that have a deadline but what about your personal goals that have no strict deadline? What should you do with the tasks the deadline of which you can easily alter depending on your judgment? Would you just postpone it until there is no time left? I feel like that choice would be the reason for many long-term regrets, so let’s look at a few steps that can hopefully reduce the times you procrastinate.
Goals and how to achieve them!
Write down at least 7 goals. It can be anything. Now think, what are the skills you should have and what are the things you should do to achieve these goals. If you already do some of them, great! Continue doing them, and practice the already acquired skills from time to time. As for the ones that you still have to gain, start small. The more you do and try the easier it will get. Take your time with them and don’t be discouraged.
Sub-goals!
Divide your goals into sub-goals. It is much easier and less scary to start a small task than it is to begin a large project.
DEADlines.
Some people, like myself, tend to do things last minute since their best inspiration comes at the last possible moment. It is not the best strategy for any long-term goal. My personal best solution is to set an immovable deadline on a date that is way earlier than the one you were given. Divide the time you have from that new deadline by the number of subgoals that you have. Set a deadline for each subgoal on every time frame.
You might want to move the deadlines, so make a commitment with your friend. Making bets is even better. This way you will keep yourself committed to the schedule. Later on, you will be able to set those deadlines and complete things on time with no bets needed.
Start with it at least!
The hardest part of any task is to start doing it. Put on a 10-minute timer, and commit yourself to honestly attempting the task throughout those 10 minutes. In most cases, you will be able to enter a flow status and continue with your work even if the timer is over. If not that’s alright, take a 5-minute break and try again on a 20-minute timer this time. If you work better with music, do just that.
Take a walk.
Sometimes best ideas come to us after/during a walk, or in solitude. If you can, go outside or walk around your room/house for a little, or you can just sit down for about 20 minutes with a favorite beverage. This relaxes you and gives you the room to think before a new task.
Don’t forget about breaks and rewards!
Studying and working is great but you also need to take regular breaks and have a small reward for your efforts and achievements.
Big tasks can be scary, but don’t be discouraged! Divide the tasks, take breaks, and set deadlines.
Happy studying,
Nadiia
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