"Procrastination is like a credit card; it's a lot fun until you get the bill". ~ Christopher Parker.
I remember back in high school I used to study right before my exam. The notes and learning materials would pile up before I study them. I was advised by lot of people; family, friends and even teachers to stop this act but I didn't listen. I would act as if I have stopped for a while, then get right back into it after a couple of days. Interestingly, I still would be able to cover a lot of things at the last minute before my exam. I would write the exam and pass with an excellent grade.
Perhaps that was the reason why I didn't see the dangers of me procrastinating.
I had coremaths exam in the morning the next day. As usual, my course materials had piled up and I was now about to study them. I was supposed to start studying right after school till the next morning before I write my paper. I wouldn't sleep until after the paper. But this day, I felt unusually tired, so I decided to take a nap. I set an alarm and also asked my dormmates to wake me up after some minutes so I could study. By the time I realized, I had just an hour left before the paper.
What could I do? Mind you, it wasn't even a reading subject that I could glance through and grasp something. It was a calculating subject. I had no choice but to go to the examination hall with a blank head. If I tell you I could answer more than 10 questions on the paper. I would be a liar.
I cried like never before. I was going to fail my paper.
Thankfully, it wasn't my school leaving certificate examination, but it was an end of semester exam, and my results were going to be on my transcript. It was also going to leave a bad reputation for me considering I was a leader in school.
Since then, I vowed to never ever procrastinate again.
Overcoming procrastination hasn't been all bread and butter. There are times I've wanted to procrastinate and idle around; but once I remember this incident, I immediately get up and get to work.
Overcoming procrastinating starts from your mindset. Once you tune your mind to stop procrastinating, it becomes easier to stop. I also realized that, writing down your daily goals helps you stay focused during the day. I always give myself a little treat at the end of the day if I'm able to achieve my daily goals to keep me motivated.
I wouldn't tell you it's all that easy to stop procrastinating, especially when you are deep-rooted in it; but I am sure of one thing, It is worth it.
Overcoming procrastination gives you a sense of satisfaction and purpose. It helps you to achieve a lot.