BREAKING THE JINX OF PROCRASTINATION
The act of delaying or postponing anything is known as procrastination.
The word ‘procrastination’ is the translation of the Latin word – ‘procrastinatus’, which comes from the Latin prefix pro-, which means “ahead,” and the word ‘crastinus’, which means “of ‘tomorrow’. Procrastination is the act of deferring work or important tasks in favour of more pleasurable activities. It states that the greater the value you derive from performing a task or from receiving a reward for performing that activity, the more likely you are to perform that task in the first place.
Everyone has times when they are too tired to do anything productive and procrastinate. The reasons for procrastination differ from person to person. Procrastination might be caused by personal concerns or factors that affect you physically and emotionally. This jinx of procrastination can be broken, although most people don’t necessarily see it as a terrible habit.
So, if we want to beat procrastination, we should first figure out why we procrastinate and then take preventative measures to improve our chances of succeeding. It’s common to put off duties and responsibilities, especially those you find unpleasant, from time to time. However, procrastination is regarded as dangerous and damaging when it occurs frequently enough to damage your productivity and business management.
HOW TO BREAK THE JINX OF PROCRASTINATION
- HYPE UP YOURSELF
You can motivate yourself to complete your assignment by pumping yourself up. Consider listening to music while at work, or consider installing a large board inside your office. Then, on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, jot down the chores you need to perform. Cross off each task as you complete it on the board. Make sure that other people, like employees and stakeholders, can have access to the board. The right peer pressure can also inspire you to perform more effectively and efficiently.
If you’ve tried everything you can to break the pattern of procrastination and still haven’t succeeded, it’s time to seek support from those around you. It’s likely that the task you’re working on is too huge for you, and you’ll need help from others.
- MAKE A GOAL OR A CHALLENGE FOR YOURSELF
It all begins with determining what you aim to achieve. Take stock of your existing situation and establish where you wish to go. In terms of health and fitness, the answer is simple: what do you weigh? What is the perfect weight for you? What is a legitimate goal that will get you closer to your desired destination?
- REWARD YOURSELF FOR COMPLETING A TASK
You will be far more likely to finish up an assignment if you obtain an immediate incentive upon completion. And it really does not have to be something luxurious. Sometimes just crossing something off your to-do list is enough of a reward. This incentive system serves to inspire you to keep at what you’ve determined to achieve.
- MAKE YOUR TASKS MORE ENJOYABLE
You may find it difficult to complete even minor tasks at times. It could be that you find it dull. As a result, it is strongly advised that you attempt to make the activity more visually appealing. You can accomplish it your way, for example, by writing down the task in a unique notebook with your own design. You can also achieve that by making your work environment more appealing to stay in. As a result, you’re more motivated to finish your task.
- SET A LOW STANDARD FOR DAILY HABITS
Most individuals will continue to work on something important if they can begin it. Creating regular routines, it could assist in setting the bar incredibly low as sometimes the hardest difficulty in accomplishing a project is simply beginning the task. If the goal is to work on it for one, two, or five minutes, it’s a lot easier to get started.
- Making a schedule with clear due dates for each part of the task is one of the simplest things you can do. Setting rules for ourselves is perhaps the most effective tool we have to combat procrastination. It is critical to choose rules that are clear, severe, and measurable and to ask family, friends, and coworkers to hold you accountable.
- BREAK DOWN YOUR TASKS
You’ve visualised the task, addressed the obstacles, and corrected your negative thinking. Now, divide the enormous work down into a sequence of little, manageable tasks so you can maintain focus on the next one. Plan out each phase of the project, including who you’ll talk to and what you’ll talk about, where and when you’ll work, and how long you think each step will take. (This will prevent you from becoming overwhelmed, as each step will be manageable.)
- DEFEAT THE OPPOSITION
It’s time to take the plunge and start working on that project you’ve been putting off. You’ll almost certainly encounter opposition in the shape of excuses, poor moods, and discouragement if you do. Constantly repeat the need to get your task done to yourself, repeat it over and over until the impulse to postpone is gone.
- COUNTERACT NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
What unpleasant thoughts come to mind when you consider this task? Find an antidote in the shape of a truth that contradicts that thought. If you believe to yourself, “I’ll never be capable of learning everything,” say to yourself, “If others can learn it, I definitely can.”
- EXPRESS YOUR EMOTION/FEELINGS
Procrastination is an emotional response, according to psychologists. What motivates you? Is it apprehension that you won’t complete the task well and on time? Is it rage because you need to do something you despise or abhor? Is it unhappiness, for example, because you feel unqualified or unfit for the job? Dig deep to uncover the emotions that are causing you to drag your feet.
CONCLUSION
We could discuss all day about smashing our goals and objectives. At the end of the day, it’s whether we’ve put in the action to get at it that really counts.
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