Procrastination, the bad habit of procrastinating

Postponement or procrastination It is the fact of delaying activities or situations that must be addressed, replacing them with others that are more pleasant or irrelevant. It occurs when a person had planned to start an activity on a certain day or time, but does not do so, so that the activity remains pending Postponement or procrastination is the fact of delaying activities or situations that must be addressed, replacing them with other more pleasant or irrelevant. It occurs when a person had planned to start an activity on a certain day or time, but does not do so, so the activity remains pending.

• The initial relief by not performing the task and thus avoiding the effort or discomfort that it may entail would be one of the frequent causes that leads to postponement.
• But if it becomes habitual, it will prevent progress and achieve objectives, producing blockage, anguish, frustration, guilt ...
• Breaking down a task into small goals, and visualizing the consequences that will be obtained once it is done are good strategies to face it and not postpone it.

Consequences of the postponement?

When procrastination becomes a common act in a person's life, it will prevent him from moving forward and achieving certain goals. Some consequences in the medium or long term are:

• Feeling of lock
• Insecurity or doubts about one's abilities
• Appearance of emotions such as anguish
• Frustration or guilt
• Relationship problems: personal, family or professional among others.

Reasons that lead to the habit of procrastination

Among the main reasons that lead a person to enter this type of operation we can find the search for initial relief, by not performing the task and avoiding the effort, discomfort or pain that the performance of the activity may entail. At the same time, the person may associate the act they are putting off with something overwhelming, challenging, annoying, dangerous, difficult, boring, stressful, etc. and for this reason he self-justifies the fact of postponing it to an indefinite future or easily finds excuses not to start it. Another possible cause is the pattern experienced, for example, in the parents themselves or the lack of real motivation.

To do?

A person who recognizes that he is procrastinating and wants to overcome this habit can consider the following indications:

• Be aware that procrastination is a strategy to avoid things according to which the person will not find states of full development, self-fulfillment or satisfaction in their own life.
• Identify which are the specific activities or areas in which a certain person is more likely to postpone and assess whether it really is a goal that the person wants or needs to achieve.
• Find the possible personal reasons that have led the person to this operation. For example, fear of frustration or failure, avoiding certain decisions or responsibilities, low or, on the contrary, excess confidence, high perfectionism or feelings of insecurity and indecision etc.
• Assume a commitment to change, a fact that will allow the person's collaboration and involvement in their process.
• The procedure to work on it will include techniques to set goals, avoid distractions and prioritize tasks, in addition to working on one's own organizational skills, time management and self-motivation.
• Breaking down a certain task into small daily goals that are more feasible and unlocking the start of execution, as well as allowing yourself a small reward after each accomplishment.
• Visualize the consequences that will be obtained once the act that was postponed has been carried out and how the person will feel.
• Involve those closest to you in the tasks that you intend to carry out and in the plan drawn up for it.
• Once achieved, try to make this new functioning a habit and reflect frequently to detect possible relapses.

IN CONCLUSION

To enjoy full development and vital self-satisfaction, it is important that the person learns to be decisive and to face tasks and decisions when appropriate.