10-1-2022
Monday 
2:00pm
#96

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Procrastination is a volitional delay of an intended action despite expecting potential benefits from that action. The term is often used with a negative connotation to refer to an attitude which is manifested in a pattern of delaying or avoiding tasks or assignments.

Procrastinators are often phenomenally well-informed, capable and hard-working individuals who are frequently distracted by their own emotional needs and the need for instant gratification.

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According to the Atlantic, "People often procrastinate because they fear that they simply won't be good enough, or they won't enjoy the work as much as they anticipate, or they'll get caught up in distractions, or they'll be criticized for their efforts. Overcoming all of that is a tall order, and you need a good reason to start. "

I believe, if you are a millennial who is running a startup, procrastination is definitely one of the hardest things to overcome.

Take for example when writing post. When it came to writing an introduction/summary of articles, I sometimes feel totally stumped. There is an article I've been putting it off for over two weeks, but I haven't completed it due to procrastination.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed when you have a long list of things that need to get done. Before you know it, you're putting things off and not getting anything done.

If you're wondering why you are procrastinating on the things that matter most, it's because it's easier to do the things you enjoy. It's harder to do the things that aren't enjoyable, but they often benefit your life in a much bigger way.

If you want to stop procrastinating on your goals, then try one of these methods.

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Forgive yourself for mistakes. Most people tend to beat themselves up when they make a mistake and this can make them less likely to want to do something again. Instead of beating yourself up, forgive yourself for making a mistake and remember that it happens to everyone.

Procrastination is a killer. It results in missed deadlines, bad decisions and even missed opportunities.

I’m sure you’ve seen it a million times in friends, family, co-workers and people on the street. It can be little things that don’t seem like a big deal like telling someone you will call them back but never do or bigger things like putting off your taxes and finding out they are due tomorrow while you were preoccupied with other things.

When we procrastinate there are two types of procrastinators we fall into - active and passive. We all have active tendencies but if you find yourself falling into the passive procrastination category more often than not you need to work on some new habits.

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The next time you want to put something off, remind yourself of how good you will feel once you accomplish your goal.

You will need these 5 steps to beat procrastination.

Step 1: Assess the reason you are putting something off. Is it a fear of the outcome or a fear of the task itself?

Step 2: Determine if you have been procrastinating for a long time or is this just a case of the blues?

Step 3: If you've been procrastinating for awhile, try and figure out a pattern that occurs before you give in to putting things off. What's going on in your life at that time? Where are you in your life's journey?

Step 4: Analyze if your resolve to get things done is waning. Maybe you don't have the energy to complete a task because it's too big or hard. Break the task down into smaller ones that are less daunting and easier to swallow.

Step 5: The best way to achieve your goals is to have short-term deadlines. Why? Because short-term deadlines force you to take action.

Stick to the plan.

Procrastinating?

Ever suffered from the fear of failure? The fear of failure is one of the primary reasons for procrastination and lack of motivation. The fear of failing can cause you to delay starting your next project or hobby in order to avoid the possibility disappointment. However, by putting off your work, you have already have failed (in your eyes) at starting it. This can cause your motivation to drop and leave you feeling unmotivated.

It’s important to understand that when you put off a task, project or hobby, you’re not really delaying it at all. What you’re really doing is giving up on that activity. Therefore, if you put off a certain activity and never get started, then yes, you have given up on it.

Not only do fears of failure and procrastination keep people from achieving what they want in life, but it can also cause people to experience self abuse.

Tell procrastination "enough is enough"

Reaching the pinnacle of success is only possible when you recognize procrastination for what it is: A villain disguised as an ally.

It all starts with you. The battle against procrastination begins when you say, "Enough is enough."

The hardest part is to recognize your own behavior and realize that you are the one that holds the key.

Thanks for reading 🙏❤️