PROCRASTINATION; A TERRIBLE TEMPTATION

By: Oladejo Adewale James

Do you wonder why you don't just get on with things? Have you ever question yourself on what keeps you from putting your intentions into actions?

Procrastination is one of the main barriers blocking you from getting up, making the right decisions and living the dream life you've thought of in recent times. Therefore, procrastination is a "gap between intention, action and your desired destination."

Studies have shown that people regret more the things they haven't done than the things they have done. As a result, the feeling of regret and guilt resulting from missed opportunities tend to stay with people much longer. Sometimes, opportunities may be at our fingertips, but we can't seem to reach them due to procastination. When you procrastinate, obviously you waste time that could be used to invest in something meaningful. 

However, if you can overcome this fierce enemy, you will be able to accomplish more, and in doing so better utilize the potential that life has to offer. We were all born and unfortunately we will all die at some point in time. The time we spend on Earth is both limited and finite. In light of these facts, time is the most valuable commodity you have and not money; you can borrow money, save, or earn more, you cannot do the same with time. Meaning that every single second you waste is gone forever.

The mere realization that life is finite leads people to begin managing their time more carefully. It makes you think about how you would ideally like to spend your time on Earth. Reverse is the case for those who procrastinate, they often put off doing things, leave them to the very last moment or sometimes spend their time staring at the wall. 

However, one needs to be careful, procrastination is not a synonym for laziness. All of us procrastinate, some more than others, but college students often fall victim to procrastination more than any other group of people. We all have times when things need to get done, but we keep putting it off for the next day, making us chronic procrastinators. 

If you find yourself taking more time to come up with as many excuses as you can, each getting more inventive than the previous one, then you know you’re stuck by a procrastinating jam. The question now is, how do you free yourself from this lacuna? Well, it starts with the mindset and to eliminate it, one has to refine and redefine your mindset. Always give it a thought that procrastinating is a bad thing that you must stop. Whenever you want to do something and feel reluctant to take action again, tell yourself that no! I'm not giving this a chance again.  Here are tips to end that rotten act of indecision and to make you reach your full potential!

Another way you can put an end to this rotten act of indecision and to make you attain your objectives is when you're determined, regardless of the length of things you have before you. A long to-do list tends to pile up, and this enhances procrastination. Seeing the long list of tasks can frustrate one so much that one has the tendency to give up on them completely. The to-Do list method is there to help you get the most important and urgent tasks done every day, while also helping you prioritize the work on your schedule and limit new tasks. With its help, you will be able to manage to achieve more in a day, with less stress.

The personal vision is one of the core tools, it helps you understand your skills and priorities, and by creating one, you will never feel lost in what it is that you want to achieve with your life. The personal vision as well helps you to focus your effort on the right activities and set priorities to avoid continually switching between actions. Understand what motivates you, and you will be able to maintain your discipline and make the most out of each day.