The internet has made many big words popular, and one such word is procrastination. Although we assume that procrastination is the contribution of the digital era, the term dates back to the 16th century and before. The Green poet Hesiod cautioned his men around 800 B.C to not put their work off till tomorrow and the day after. People usually seek solace in procrastination due to a variety of reasons. They may delay tasks due to fear of criticism, lack of interest, failure, boredom, and perfectionism.
However, procrastination can be positive as well. Sometimes when people procrastinate, they just find other things to do and tend to be more content in the work that they like. But, over time when procrastination is left unchecked, excess of it might lead to delayed and underachieved goals, poor reputation, missed deadlines, and immense stress. So, is procrastination good or bad? Let’s find out!
What is procrastination?
Irrespective of how committed or well organized you are, chances are that you have found yourself frittering away hours on trivial pursuits when you should have been spending that time on something productive. If you are having trouble persuading yourself to do things you should do or would have done, then you are procrastinating. In a nutshell, procrastination is defined as putting off things habitually or intentionally.
As per recent studies, people regret more things they haven’t done than the things they have done. Procrastination is one of the most gigantic barriers that is blocking you from stepping up, making the right decisions, and living the dream life that you wish or deserve.
Why is procrastination harmful?
Procrastination is the stepping stone to poor performance. When people put things off instead of focusing on doing their best, it leads to stress and anxiety. As the work piles up, a rotting sense of overwhelming distress starts consuming procrastinators. Remember the times when you are under pressure, and you start panicking about the things that you could have done, but you ignored. Well, that’s the evil of procrastination.
Your obligations pile up, and the longer you avoid work, the more it will be difficult to handle everything. People procrastinate because they fear the results, but often procrastination leads to increasing the fear. Furthermore, procrastination is self-defeating behavior as it is a by-product of impulsiveness. The presence of procrastination invariably and implicitly points towards the absence of progress.
Self-coach to get out of procrastination
As you already know, when you procrastinate, you waste time that you could have invested in something meaningful. If you strongly wish to accomplish more and overcome this fierce enemy, the key is to self-coach. But before you do anything, recognize that you are procrastinating. Enroll in life coaching program to adopt anti-procrastination strategies, and always keep a check on yourself. Commit to your tasks and forgive yourself for procrastinating in the past. Minimize distraction, act as you go, and refrain from things that instill the feeling of self-sabotage or disempowerment.
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