What is Procrastination? It’s NO Laughing Matter

Procrastination is a problem that is real and serious, although there are many jokes about procrastination. Procrastination has caused people to lose jobs, personal possessions and people in their lives whom they love and cherish.

Although we may want to classify procrastination as simply a bad habit, it manifests itself in real consequences: low self-esteem, shame and underachievement. Indeed, life can become unmanageable due to procrastination.

The symptoms of procrastination

So how do you recognize the symptoms?

• Procrastinators are constantly disappointed in everything.
• Procrastinators expect all things to go wrong and may even be inwardly happy when they do.
• Procrastinators’ lives are surrounded by clutter within every area they work, play and learn.
• Procrastinators are not aware of what is really needed in their life and seek frivolous things for fulfillment and instant gratification.
• Procrastinators find it hard to say no.
• Procrastinators suffer from low self-esteem and are glad someone needs their help, but rebel by never completing the requested favor.
• Procrastinators are late for appointments and have difficulty estimating the amount of time it takes to arrive at a destination or completing a task.
• Procrastinators even resort to tricking their mind by setting their clock or watch a few minutes ahead.

How to overcome your procrastination

If you think you are a procrastinator, make a decision to overcome it. Seek support and guidance to learn new attitudes and overcome fears.

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Make some lists…

1. Ask yourself why you are avoiding the things you dread.
2. Make a list of dreaded activities and what is the worse that could happen if you avoid them. You will quickly see this could result in dismal consequences.
3. Also make a list of happy activities and why you would want to do them.

Time management can help

1. Stop giving in to activities that waste time.
2. Develop a routine and break down your daily activities into small steps and tasks.
3. Set a lesser deadline and meet it.
4. Replace your “have to” with “want to”.
5. Realize you do have choices, just weigh the consequences of that choice.

On your way…

You are on your way to recovery when you do what you say you will do when you say you will do it.

Success attracts success. Work on things you enjoy even if insignificant. At least the small things are getting done.

Never feel guilty. Never submit to self-defeating mentality. Choose to improve the quality of your life and a life of quality will choose you!

If you want to get more from your life, and are looking for concrete action steps to get you there, check out our Request a Coach page. It’s a “cut the fence-sitting and take action” way to tackle your issues and actually find success. You’ll be matched with the coaches most suited to you to get you from where you are to where you want to be. To get off the fence and start to take action, click or tap here.