Procrastination is something many of us have seen in ourselves time and again in our day to day life. It is generally associated with lack of time management, but its more of a habit of putting off than a want of time management. Most often, its not because of the lack of time, but because of the unwillingness to do something that needs to be done. We keep pushing the timeline just to avoid the discomfort of doing something we don't like to do until it turns catastrophic. The discomfort generally stems from a variety of emotions such as anxiety, guilt or plain dread and this feeling is terminated (rather suppressed) by turning on to easier and more pleasurable distractions. We fail to realize that this discomfort builds over time and returns to haunt us over a missed deadline and we end up paying a much higher price for the consequences such as a car breakdown, late fees, ill health etc.
Goal setting is also seen as an antidote for procrastination, but there are examples where goals were set but the follow through actions did not happen as intended... its not about indecision, but a failure to execute actions to support the decision "within the planned time line". It is through the act of putting off for tomorrow that meaningful actions are delayed to avoid the soreness and discomfort of getting things done..its more of a chronic problem with many people. Putting off minor things once in a while is acceptable, but you need to keep a check to avoid the act turning habitual .
The self assessment questionnaire below should help you analyze your procrastination score.
1. Do you often find yourself performing tasks that were planned to be done days before ?
2. While planning an event, something important to you, do you fail to make arrangements well ahead of time ?
3. Do you take a lot of time for decision making ?
4. Are you off from bed the moment the alarm rings ? (This is a huge challenge for many of us)
5. Do you end up buying essential things at the 11th hour ?
6. Do you fail to complete all tasks planned before you settle down to relax for the evening ?
7. You continually say to yourself - I will do it tomorrow... naale maadadre aythu.. :) ?
8. Do you fail to return important phone calls promptly ?
If you find yourself answering YES to many of these, you are a procrastination hero and need to seriously consider disassociating yourself from this dreadful habit. Its all a case of mental conditioning and its easy to break off from this habit with a little effort.
Just make a personal choice to honor your decisions at all times and follow through with swift timely actions. Soon you will realize that its easier to get things done than keep them for tomorrow. The new formed habit of completing tasks ahead of time will boost your self confidence and there is nothing more gratifying than the satisfaction derived out of a task done on time.
What really stands in your way to your goals is procrastination. Make a personal resolve to rid yourself of it. Follow NIKE, Just do it !!
Goal setting is also seen as an antidote for procrastination, but there are examples where goals were set but the follow through actions did not happen as intended... its not about indecision, but a failure to execute actions to support the decision "within the planned time line". It is through the act of putting off for tomorrow that meaningful actions are delayed to avoid the soreness and discomfort of getting things done..its more of a chronic problem with many people. Putting off minor things once in a while is acceptable, but you need to keep a check to avoid the act turning habitual .
The self assessment questionnaire below should help you analyze your procrastination score.
1. Do you often find yourself performing tasks that were planned to be done days before ?
2. While planning an event, something important to you, do you fail to make arrangements well ahead of time ?
3. Do you take a lot of time for decision making ?
4. Are you off from bed the moment the alarm rings ? (This is a huge challenge for many of us)
5. Do you end up buying essential things at the 11th hour ?
6. Do you fail to complete all tasks planned before you settle down to relax for the evening ?
7. You continually say to yourself - I will do it tomorrow... naale maadadre aythu.. :) ?
8. Do you fail to return important phone calls promptly ?
If you find yourself answering YES to many of these, you are a procrastination hero and need to seriously consider disassociating yourself from this dreadful habit. Its all a case of mental conditioning and its easy to break off from this habit with a little effort.
Just make a personal choice to honor your decisions at all times and follow through with swift timely actions. Soon you will realize that its easier to get things done than keep them for tomorrow. The new formed habit of completing tasks ahead of time will boost your self confidence and there is nothing more gratifying than the satisfaction derived out of a task done on time.
What really stands in your way to your goals is procrastination. Make a personal resolve to rid yourself of it. Follow NIKE, Just do it !!
