Procrastination: The art of putting things off

The art of procrastination:

Some psychologist says that procrastination isn't the "time problem." It is the "problem of emotions." Sometimes we delay tasks because we don't have time but because we want to avoide the negative feelings, such as self-doubt, and anxiety.

Procrastination is the act of delaying the tasks when you know that it will bring you negative consequences. Sometimes, it involves to do something enjoyable rather than doing the necessary task. Procrastination can also be putting off task until the last minutes, rather you know that it will bring you stress later.

How common is procrastination?

Some people do their best to done the task by motivating themselves. According to the research, College and university students admitted to procrastinating. No matter how well organised you are, chances that you have, you lost it by doing the things you like(watching TV, Scrolling, shopping online) when you know that you should have been spend that time to done your academic task.

What are the causes of procrastination?

We often assume that the project that is given to us won't take as long as to finish as they really will, which can lead us to believe that we have plenty of time to finish this task.One of the biggest factor of procrastination is that we need to motivate ourselves to do that task on time.

Academics:

According to the research, procrastination can be found among the students. More than 75% of students procrastinate everyday, and only few of the students feel that this type of behaviour is a problem.

According to the researchers:

>Students overestimate themselves by amount of time they have to perform task.

>They overestimate themselves by how motivated they will be in the future.

>Students underestimate themselves by how long certain activities will take time to be done.

>Some believe we need to be right frame of mind to fo a task.

Present bias:

 It is a phenomenon in a human behaviour that may result in procrastination. It means that we tend to be feel motivated by short term reward rather than long term reward. That's the reason, it feels good to procrastinate at that time.

For example: A short term reward is watching TV is more appealing than then the long term reward of writing a blog that may take some time to accomplish.

Depression:

Procrastination can also be the result of depression. The feeling of hopelessness, helplessness, and the lack of energy that can make it difficult for you finish the simplest task. It can also lead to self-doubt. When you can't figure out how to complete a task or you starting feel insecure of your abilities, so you find it easier to not do that task.

Obsessive- compulsive disorder (OCD):

Procrastination is also common in OCD people. The reason is that OCD is often linked with maldaptive perfectionism, which cause the fear of making mistakes, you doubts that the thing you are doing is correct or not, and worry about others expectations of you.

The reason of procrastination:

Sometimes we come with excuses or reasons to justify our behaviour. Some of the following are the reason why people procrastinate:

~You don't know what need to be done. 

~You don't know how to do it. 

~You don't want to do it. 

^You don't care about it. 

~You are not in the mood to do it.

~Habit of waiting until last minute. 

~You believe that you work better under pressure. 

~You believe that you can finish it in last moments. 

~Forgetting. 

~You are waiting for right moment. 

~Blaming your sickness or health. 

~You need time to think about the task.

How to overcome it?

Here are some of the exercise you can do to stop the procrastination:

#Make a to-do list: To keep yourself on task, start placing due date next to the each item.

#Break down: Divide your task into simple or small parts to do it by step to step.

#Recognise the warning signs: If you start thinking about procrastination, force yourself to spend some time on your task.

#Remove distraction: Ask yourself what are the things that makes you distract, whether it's Instagram, and TikTok, turn off all the distractions.

#Congratulate yourself: when you finish your task from the to- do list on the time, pat yourself on your back and indulge yourself in to doing something you find fun.

Procrastination isn't basically a personal failure. Once you recognise that why you delay the task, you can manage it instead of letting it manage you. So next time, instead of saying that I will do it later, say that I will do it now.