We live in a fast-paced world where there is limited time to prioritize everything that needs to be done. We go day-to-day saying we will get to it when we have time. Before you know it, days turn into weeks and eventually into months and tasks are still not completed. Procrastination is truly the thief of time.
What makes a person not complete tasks that are obviously important? Is it laziness or poor time management? Or maybe the person has no self-discipline. All relevant questions to one of life’s biggest mysteries.
A major misconception about procrastinators is often the accusation of laziness. Procrastination should not be confused with laziness as the two are not the same. Procrastination is when a person chooses to do something else instead of the task they should be doing. These tasks are usually effortless and probably more gratifying. Laziness is the opposite because the person is unwilling to take action.
We can all speculate about the reasons people procrastinate, but for some, it could be the anxiety of the task. Feeling overwhelmed about a difficult task and avoiding what seems like a mountain of decisions hinders us from moving forward. We are sabotaging our efforts by allowing time to continue to slip away.
People who procrastinate are sometimes easily distracted. You may start a task, but the phone rings and you answer it only to find that time has slipped away. There are so many distractions that can cause you to get off track, but you must remain focused on the task at hand until completed. There is nothing like a checkmark indicating a task is completed.
Recognizing and identifying what triggers you to lose focus may help you to avoid procrastination. We all need help from time to time prioritizing life. Writing down a list of tasks you want to accomplish and setting a goal can very well keep you focused. It will also help prioritize what is important based on urgency.
Well said as always.