You have the assignment to submit, a paper to write, dishes are in your sink, there is some laundry left too, you need to go to the Super-mart to get some groceries, what you are doing…
Taking a chill pill, on your couch and relax by eating Doritos.
You have so much to do and still, you are relaxing and leaving everything for the future. This is procrastination.
Procrastination has become a major issue nowadays. You leave everything for the future and when it’s too late you panic. You rush to do the assignment you multitask to complete the work. Your attention is divided and you can’t do anything properly. This is what procrastination does to you.
Let us understand why you procrastinate.
We all have two minds- The monkey mind and the Monk mind:
There[Ma1] [Ma2] is the monkey mind and the monk mind. The monkey mind is very lazy and wants instant gratification and somehow convinces you to procrastinate and asks you to enjoy now. The monkey mind is the reason behind the procrastination
But the Monk mind is wise and urges you to be disciplined and asks you to do your duty.
The only way to stop procrastination is by listening to our Monk mind.
Here are some tips to fight procrastination:
- Reducing the number of decisions: When we reduce the number of decisions we take every day, we are likely to be less distracted and due to the less workload we tend to finish the work on time. So taking fewer decisions throughout the day will help you to fight procrastination.
- Finishing your day before it starts: Being proactive and planning your day ahead is a great way to fight procrastination. When you have planned your monthly, weekly and then daily goals and work you can have ample time to enjoy your life too without any regret.
- No alternative rule: When you have no alternative other than doing your present task. We tend to complete it as alternatives create confusion and confusion leads to procrastination. Having no alternative also reduces distraction which can hinder your productivity.
- What you should do next- Something doable: as mentioned, planning ahead is a good way to fight procrastination as is having the foresight of what you will do next. Planning your next task and having no alternative to your next task will increase your productivity.
- Rearranging your environment: Creating a favourable and well-arranged workplace is ideal for doing work. As a messy workplace makes you less likely to do your work. Well arranged and systematically arranged environment helps you to do your work and helps in completing the in-hand given task.
A useful technique:
5-second rule: Mel Robbin’s 5-second rule is the best way to fight procrastination. you just count 5,4,3,2,1… then boom!!! you move your body and start doing your work. Studies have shown that counting backwards and starting the work without thinking most likely leads to completing the task. hence, no procrastination.
