Invicta Vlogs
How to beat procrastination
It is natural for everyone to put off work at some point but for some of us, we have mastered this art of procrastination. I have to admit, by this point, procrastination comes to me as easily as eating and drinking. I am pretty sure that I am not the only one!
I recently watched a Ted talk by Tim Urban on the mind of procrastinators. I realised that in this day and age, while we are all in lock down, procrastination is becoming more and more prominent. Without the face-to-face requirements of online school, the lack of consequences for not doing work and the merging of workdays into weekends, it has been a struggle these past few months to stay motivated and alert.
Procrastination is not just laziness. There are many causes: fatigue, fear of failure or a lack of confidence in doing the task. Disorganization can become a big excuse for a procrastinator, using this self-defeating label as a rationalization for inaction, but remember that it can prompt a call for change. Procrastinators can also be perfectionists; they will put off doing the task until they can make sure it can be done perfectly. Some people even consciously procrastinate, in order to feel the euphoria at over-coming the odds when completing something last minute.
Of course, it is important to remember for all the procrastinators out there (you might be doing it right now) that though it temporarily gives instant gratification, procrastination can lead to a lot of negative consequences. Shame, regret, guilt are, I am sure, all the emotions habitual procrastinators are familiar with. Added to that, procrastination can lead to insomnia, a decline in health and decreasing quality of work.
The solution is to stop procrastinating. Here are some tricks to help you beat it. Forget the guilt of yesterday and focus on getting started today. Do not wait around for sudden inspiration to strike you but just get something down and establish a work routine. One method is to order all of your tasks from easiest/most enjoyable to hardest/least enjoyable. Then start from the top and ease your way into your list. This way, you create a steady pace to work at by giving your brain some gratification to begin with. Making a timetable is also one of the most tried and tested methods as it facilitates a plan of action into being pro-active and organised. Alternatively, make a personal challenge out of mundane tasks, break big projects into achievable chunks so you can celebrate completing it bit by bit and limit your access to online news and social media. If you catch yourself drifting away, bring your attention back, perhaps with the aid of some classical music. Most of all, accept and congratulate the ‘good enough standard’ because nothing is perfect and you can be proud of what you’ve achieved.
As the musical Annie says, ‘tomorrow is always a day away and change can only come from the present you, not a thousand tomorrows’. Ending procrastination can be as simple as picking up a pen and writing a word. So, get started today, right now. Trust me, your future self will thank you!
Wantang Yang
Senior Prefect
