“I’ll start tomorrow!”
“I just need a few hours before I focus.”
“I can wait until the last minute, it’s fine!”
Many of us have been there before. Maybe you’re there right now, and it’s why you’re reading this article (‘fess up!). Let’s try and dissect what procrastination really means, and why we continue to fall into this cycle of putting things off until the last minute. Procrastination is that phenomenon where we put off duties that should be top-priority, to spend our time doing miscellaneous activities. But, could it be more than a habit? Are we born with this trait? A recent study reveals some interesting information about procrastination:
“It found that the amygdala – an almond-shaped structure in the temporal (side) lobe which processes our emotions and controls our motivation – was larger in procrastinators… Individuals with a larger amygdala may be more anxious about the negative consequences of an action – they tend to hesitate and put off things,” says Erhan Genç, one of the study authors, based at Ruhr University Bochum.
So, how can we rewire our brains and change ourselves? Here are some ways to complete tasks in a reasonable manner and enjoy our free time without worry:
Create small goals – by breaking your work out into smaller steps, the idea of diving in won’t be as overwhelming. If you focus on one part at a time, you’ll see that you’re breezing on through, and you’ll continue to power through the list.
Change your workspace – different environments will have a different impact on your ability to focus and complete tasks. You should observe yourself and see if you enjoy a quieter workspace or if you prefer noise and commotion. Whatever environment brings the best results, you should try and create that on a daily basis.
Eliminate your procrastination stations – don’t make it easy to fall into these traps. Put your phone on airplane mode, silence all notifications, don’t leave browsers open to social media, and simply get rid of the distractions around you. Addressing these distractions is about being conscious of them, and then learning how to be okay with them taking the backseat.
Surround yourself with driven people – identify the people who have similar goals to you and inspire you to work hard. If you spend more time with these people, you will feed off of their spirit and discover how to discipline yourself successfully.
Share your goals – once you’ve put your goals into words and shared them with others, you’re more likely to want to accomplish them. Now, whenever you meet up with these friends or family, they’ll want to talk about how you’re doing as you move towards completing these goals. This will hold you accountable for your actions and increase your drive.
Stop over-complicating things – there’s no perfect time for anything. Stop waiting for the perfect moment or the right time. It may never come. You need to be proactive and make it the perfect time; you’ll see how that mindset changes what you think is “the right moment” once things start falling into place.
Take action – just do it! You can plan, you can hypothesize, you can wonder, but circumstances will only change once you’ve done something.
Whatever it is you’re procrastinating about, think of how elated you’ll feel once it’s complete and off your plate. There’s no time like the present. You’re aware of the steps that need to be taken, and you may be surprised at how seamless the process can be. Remember, it’s all in the mind, and the mind is an amazingly strong instrument.