OVERCOMING PROCRASTINATION
- carrionmaria619
- Jan 12
- 5 min read
Procrastination affects us all, regardless of our backgrounds, professions, or goals. A topic that can be frustrating. We've all been there - sitting in front of a blank page, letting the bill pile up to the last minute, staring at a clock ticking away, or scrolling mindlessly through social media. We know we should be working on that project, studying for that exam, or tackling that task. But somehow, we can't seem to get started. I'll give you my personal experience and a few other stories with made-up names.
My Personal Story:
I was once writing a research paper, and I spent an entire hour researching the perfect font for my title page. Yes, that's right - a whole hour!
First Story:
Barbara, A college student was supposed to be studying for her exams, but instead, she found herself cleaning her entire apartment. She cleaned every inch of her floor, dusted every surface, and even organized her sock drawer. When her roommate asked why she was being so thorough, she replied, "I'm just trying to create a productive environment!" She didn't get much studying done that day.
Second Story:
Carmen A lab researcher had a deadline, but instead of researching, she found herself cooking an elaborate meal. She spent hours researching recipes, chopping vegetables, and seasoning meats. When her husband asked her why she was cooking so much food, she replied, "I'm just trying to fuel my creativity!" The meal was delicious, but the article was still unfinished.
Third Story:
Emma, is a college student who's been putting off studying for her biology exam. Instead of hitting the books, Emma decides to... reorganize her entire kitchen. She takes everything out of the cabinets and sorts the items into categories. She wipes down the counters, sweeps the floor, and even reorganizes her spice rack alphabetically. As she's scrubbing the sink, Emma's roommate walks in and asks, "Emma, shouldn't you be studying for your exam?" Emma replies, "Oh, I'm just taking a quick break to get my kitchen in order. It's essential for my mental clarity!" Her roommate raises an eyebrow and says, "Mental clarity? You're going to fail your exam." Emma responds, "Hey, a clean kitchen makes me happy, and besides, I'll just study quickly right before the exam. It should be enough time. Of course, Emma ends up pulling an all-nighter to cram for the exam, resulting in a poor grade. As Emma reflects on her procrastination habits, she realizes that reorganizing her kitchen was just a way to avoid the stress and anxiety of studying. She vows to find healthier ways to cope with her stress... and to keep her kitchen clean, but not at the expense of her grades!
Repercussions of procrastination:
The repercussions of procrastination can hurt the ability to accomplish your goals. These repercussions include: Increased stress levels and the reason it is that your anxiety level increases as you waste your time doing unimportant things that are not going to contribute to finalizing that project, updating that resume, applying for that loan to purchase your dream home, applying to college, writing your book, make that important phone call or whatever that is that you keep procrastinating over and over again. Procrastinating will affect the quality of your work, miss important deadlines, and harm your relationship; it can develop a negative impact on your mental health such as depression.
Procrastination is a complex issue with multiple factors. Sometimes, we procrastinate because we're overwhelmed by the task's complexity. We might feel like we don't know where to start, or that the task is too difficult to tackle. Other times, we procrastinate because we're afraid of failure. We might be perfectionists preventing any improvement and the fear of not doing something perfectly can be paralyzing. Or, we might be afraid of success, and the responsibilities that follow. We might also procrastinate because of distractions. With the constant ping of notifications, social media, and the comfort of our favorite TV shows, among other distractions; it's easy to get sidetracked.
HOW TO PREVENT PROCRASTINATION?
But here's the thing: procrastination isn't just about putting things off until the last minute. It's about the emotional toll it takes on us. The stress, the anxiety, the guilt, and the shame. Procrastination can make us feel like we're not good enough like we're not capable of achieving our goals. So, how can we prevent procrastination? How can we overcome our fears, our distractions, and our self-doubt?
First, let's break down big tasks into smaller, manageable chunks. This can make the task feel less overwhelming and more achievable.
Second, let's set clear goals and deadlines for ourselves. Write them down, plan a schedule, and stick to it.
Third, let's eliminate distractions. Turn off notifications, log out of social media, and find a quiet workspace.
Fourth, let's practice self-compassion. Remember that everyone procrastinates sometimes and that it's okay to make mistakes. Don't be too hard on yourself and take breaks when you need them.
Fifth, let's use the Pomodoro Technique. Work in focused, 25-minute increments, followed by a 5-minute break. This can help you stay focused and avoid burnout. Sixth, let's reward ourselves for our progress.
Celebrate small wins and remind ourselves why we're working towards our goals in the first place.
Book recommendations:
Dr. William J. Knaus (1998) - "Overcoming Procrastination" Knaus, a psychologist and expert on procrastination, provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and overcoming procrastination.
Alan Lakein (1973) - "How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life" Lakein's book focuses on time management and productivity but also addresses procrastination as a major obstacle to achieving goals.
Finally, let's remember that procrastination is not a permanent state. We can overcome it, one step at a time. We can develop new habits, new skills, and a new mindset. Procrastination is a common struggle that we all face. But by understanding its root causes, breaking down big tasks, setting clear goals, eliminating distractions, practicing self-compassion, using the Pomodoro Technique (25 minutes of uninterrupted focus on your task at hand with a 5-minute break, rewarding ourselves, and remembering that we can overcome it, we can achieve our goals and reach our full potential. So, let's make a pact to take control of our time, focus, and productivity. Let's stop procrastinating and start achieving. If anyone is interested in READING more information on procrastination or other topics related to how to accomplish your goals sooner, enter a FREE raffle to win the paperback copy of my book, "Fighting All Battles Into Success."
SEE BELOW:
Go to www.mariacarrion.com for more information on procrastination and to ENTER the raffle email me at carrionmaria619@gmail.com
There will be a first, second, and third winner. HURRY! DEADLINE: TO ENTER THE FREE RAFFLE February 01, 2025: Don't miss out on this opportunity to WIN the book and gift to a loved one on Valentine's Day! Enough time to ship it to you! That is why I chose the DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 1, 2025!
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