Understanding and Overcoming Procrastination

It has been observed that teenagers tend to become procrastinators due to the stress they are under. This issue can be traced back to the time when they were in lockdown. Staying at home for more than a year heightened the chances of people being procrastinators. But what is really procrastination? Let’s dive in, in knowing the meaning and causes of procrastination and ways on how to overcome it.

According to an article that I’ve read, procrastination is “Trouble persuading yourself to do the things you should do or would like to do.” Basically, procrastination is a behavior that occurs when we resist the urge to do the things that we should be doing. It is a reflection of a person’s struggle with self-control. Procrastination can have a negative effect when we let it take control over us, that instead of facing and doing our duties and responsibilities heads on, we’d rather put some time off. If it continues, it will become a habitual behavior which is difficult to stop and it will have a major impact in your life.

But what are the causes of procrastination? It is commonly perceived that procrastination is caused by our willpower. However, this is not the case. Our intrinsic motivation helps us overcome this tendency.

According to my research there are a lot of reasons why people procrastinate. Here are some examples:

First, is ignoring the value of time. We all have the tendency to take time for granted, which obviously we shouldn’t. I won’t pretend that I never disregard the importance of time, because honestly, I couldn’t count the times that I did. But my biggest fear is not being able to do the things I’ve always longed to do, that is why as much as possible, I try my best to cut off my habit of ignoring the value of time and give it more appreciation. Because, unfortunately, we all have the capacity to die at some point. Time is the most valuable commodity in the world. It is forever. And it should be treasured.

Second, is lack of self-discipline or self-control. There will always be a phase in our life where we lose control of ourselves and decide to do some things impulsively. Procrastination is a constant of struggle with self-control. It is an everyday battle we need to face. We need to force ourselves to do the things that we should be doing, be it in school or at work, and not just lay in our bed all-day and scroll through our phones. We need to remind ourselves that achieving our goals and dreams is much more important and that procrastination should never be a hindrance to all of our plans in life.

Mental health is also considered a factor in procrastination. When we are having a mental breakdown, we tend to not do anything not because we don’t want to but because both our mind and body are not in proper condition. This usually happens to me. When I have a mental breakdown, which usually lasts a week or even longer, I don’t have enough energy to deal with things that I’d rather just give myself some time to relax and relieve some stress before continuing my work.

Some researchers classify procrastination in two main types: passive and active procrastinators.

Passive procrastinators: Delay the task because they have trouble making decisions and acting on them.

Active procrastinators: Delay the task purposefully because working under pressure allows them to "feel challenged and motivated".

But also, be reminded that procrastination doesn’t always equate to laziness. Lazy people, simply don’t do anything and are just fine with it. Procrastinators, on the other hand, have the desire to actually do something but can’t force themselves to start.

Now, let me teach you some ways to overcome procrastination based on my personal experiences.

Like what I have said earlier, I am a constant slave of procrastination. From my teenage years to my young adulthood phase, I still have this habit of doing things hours before the deadline. Even writing this article took me a very long time because I had to finish all my backlogs in school. That is a result, well obviously, of procrastination. It has always been a challenge to me to not let the power of procrastination take control over me. So, what I always do to avoid that, is to set my goals each day. Writing in my planner the things that I have to do helps me see things clearly. And also, when doing all my school work, I always turn my phone off to avoid any kind of distraction and help me focus more. This may not work for everyone, that is why it is important that you know what’s the best way that works for you to avoid procrastination.

It is not wrong to take a break. Relaxation is not procrastination. It is simply recharging yourself because as humans, we all get tired. It is a must to take some time off and breathe. To relieve some stress and calm our mind. Take a break if needed, and then continue but never stop.

As you finish reading this article, take with you this advice from Charles Dicken, “My advice is to never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time.”

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