Defeating Procrastination

Contrary to popular belief, stalling and holding off assignments is not exclusively a consequence of carelessness and sluggishness. Today, defective educational systems, in schools and universities much the same, overload students with obligations and responsibilities, with much disregard to the fact that academia is not the focal point of every person’s life. However, procrastination is still an issue that must be addressed within the learners’ community; it is a modern day plague, a reason for us to put our dreams on hold, and a gap between intention and action that is keeping us from making the world a better place.

The first step on the road of defeating procrastination is recognizing the problem, only when you do that will you be able to make a plan, implement it, and review your work, all before the deadline is due. Whether you tend to linger on the grounds that you work better under pressure, or simply because you are just too lazy, it is essential to understand whatever it is that is keeping you from submitting your work on time. For example, by delaying a task, such as homework, students avoid the natural fear of being under evaluation, and so they develop a self-defense mechanism against the high pressure for good grades.

Another crucial key point, that is often overlooked, is that for one to overcome procrastination, one must be persistent, and enduring. You must prioritize your work, manage your time, concentrate, and be more engaged. Break big tasks down, avoid perfectionism, and remember that it’s better to do something than do nothing at all. Find motivation, turn distractions into rewards, and do things that you enjoy. Ask for help whenever you’re stuck, and never give up. Be realistic, set reasonable goals, take it easy, and do not make a huge list of “things to do”, nor schedule every minute of your day. Put the anxiety, stress, fatigue, disappointment, and ennui of the past in the past - no ifs, ands, or buts.

Next year, you may wish you had begun today. Recognize, reorganize, and remember who you were, who you are, and who you want to one day become. Stay on top of everything and believe in your abilities.