Procrastination is the action of delaying or postponing something. It can be one of the main barriers of our life goals or successes. Studies have shown that people regret more the things they haven’t done than the things they have done. And, feelings of regret and guilt resulting from missed opportunities tend to stay with us much longer.
When we procrastinate, we waste time that could be invested in something meaningful. When you overcome this fierce success enemy you will be able to accomplish more and in doing so better utilize the potential that life has to offer.
So, with that said, why do we procrastinate? Our willpower is often perceived as the leading factor. But, it is mainly our intrinsic motivation that is truly lacking.
Decision Paralysis – In this day and age, we have more freedom to make our own decisions and to perform our actions which has made us become easily confused about life’s priorities. We are constantly having to choose what is essential and what is not, what is right or wrong or what our time is best spent on. We become overwhelmed and thus de-motivated to do anything at all. By setting straight our values and personal visions, along with cultivating positive personal habits we can help overcome not only procrastination but all the other obstacles that life can bring our way.
Ignoring the Value of Time – Every minute counts in life and it is the most valuable commodity you have. Some say, even more valuable than money. You can borrow money, but you cannot borrow time. Every single second we waste, it is gone, forever. By taking notice of how and where we spend our time will help you realize how precious every moment matters in your life. Once it is gone, we cannot get it back.
With that said, procrastination is not laziness. Procrastinators often put off doing things or might leave them to the very last minute, but this doesn’t imply laziness. They on the other hand, have the desire to actually do something but just cannot force themselves to begin.
And, lets also not confuse procrastination with relaxation either. Relaxation recharges you with energy, while procrastination drains it from you. Thus, the less energy a procrastinator has, the more stressed or even depressed they might become and the higher the chances of putting off responsibilities.
Lack of Self-Discipline – Think of this as when you give yourself orders, but you are having a hard time following them. It is not the primary cause of procrastination, but an important component. Self-motivation is the ability to follow through with a goal. This can be done in a few ways:
- Extrinsic Motivation – refers to being rewarded to do something you wouldn’t consider doing on your own. Performing unchosen tasks for a reward releases very little dopamine within the brain-release as it lowers performance in activities that require little brainwork or creativity.
- Goal-based Motivation – refers to driving people forward, causing them to work hard for their goals. Sooner or later, these goals will be achieved. When this occurs, a one-time dopamine is released, resulting in an intense emotion of joy. The problem with this is that what follows next is a phenomenon known as “hedonic adaptation”. It occurs when people reach their goals and get accustomed to these goals and their positive feelings about the goals diminish and the joy disappears.
- Intrinsic Motivation – refers to when meaning and vision provide long-lasting and satisfying results. When people see the purpose in their actions and they actually enjoy and want to follow through, the strongest form of motivation arises. This is called the “intrinsic-journey-based motivation. It is based on the concept of having a personal vision. Unlike chasing goals, a personal vision is an expression of something lasting. It focuses on actions, not results. It more focuses on the journey, not the destination.
There is a myth that we work better under pressure. Some people leave things to the last minute claiming that they are more productive under pressure. However, scientific studies have shown that the very opposite is true. Putting things off till the very last moment creates fertile ground for stress, guilt and ineffectiveness. Like the popular quote states “Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today”.
Now, we can read all we can about procrastination, but until we make what we learn part of our daily routine, habits and thinking patterns, it will be just information stored in your memory with no place to go. Create personal vision, a to-do today list and a healthy habit list and check in with it regularly. Become self-motivated and more organized and watch your life success soar.
By starting off your days, without delays, you will not only utilize your valuable time and live your life wisely but will also live a life without regrets and a lot less stress. Your friend, self-motivation, will always be right there, ready and waiting for you!
