I would consider myself an OG (original gangsta MF) when it comes to the art of procrastination, as a matter of fact, my mom started calling me the chairman off the "Fire Brigade" (to understand this joke you would have to visit my country Nigeria where the fire service would put of coming to quench a flame until it has burnt whatever it was consuming to smithereens and then they would appear with siren blaring). As I grew older I had thought that I would outgrow this character flaw that has eaten its way into my very core and by God, I have tried but it seems it would require that I dig really deep to cure this ailment of mine that is procrastination before it becomes the end of me.
The question I ask myself at this point is "why do I procrastinate so much even when I know it's detrimental to my growth as a person?". I can't think of a thing that I do not temporarily put off to do later and then when it's deadline day the Nigerian firefighter in me will awaken to try and perform wonders in salvaging a situation that being better prepared would have solved. I really want to make a change that's why I'm owning up to my inadequacy to the whole world hoping someone would be able to proffer a lasting solution.
In a bid to get to the bottom of my Procrastination, I did some research on what I could do to get better and my findings were so profound that I thought it wise to share.
What does procrastination really mean?
Procrastination is the act of unnecessarily postponing decisions or actions. For instance, I created this draft a week ago and even opened up numerous tabs from which I planned to gather information for this post, but found myself surfing the internet and watching shows on Netflix when I should be working on my post on procrastination, that in my opinion is the height of procrastination.
It might seem harmless at first glance but study has shown that procrastination is associated with poor grades at school and reduced income at work. It is also associated with the deterioration of mental and physical health as procrastination leads to increased stress.
"While we waste our time hesitating and postponing, life is slipping away."
-- Seneca
Why do I still procrastinate?
Having agreed that procrastination is terrible, why then do I still find myself constantly procrastinating? According to best selling author James Clear, If we imagine that we have two selves: our Present self and Future self. Whenever we set goals- like losing weight or writing a thesis, we are actually making plans for our Future self because that is a goal we would like to achieve in the future. Imagining the future is always very dreamy and fascinating because our brains like the idea of being better than we are now in the future. Hence, our Future self values long term results.
However, while the future self can set goals, it would require our Present self to take action. The problem with the Present self is it is a bit selfish and lives off instant gratification, that's why we tend to do things now that makes us feel good like surfing endlessly through the internet and taking extra naps because it makes our Present self feel good.
These conflicting ideas put the Present and future self at loggerheads.
The Future Self wants to be trim and fit, but the Present Self wants a doughnut. Sure, everyone knows you should eat healthy today to avoid being overweight in 10 years. But consequences like an increased risk for diabetes or heart failure are years away
----James Clear.
This is one reason why one minute we get motivated to make a change in our lives but moments later we find ourselves falling back to old ways of doing things. This is because the brain favours long term benefits when we are in future mode but values instant gratification when it comes to the present moment.
How to Stop Procrastinating Right Now
It would seem like a white elephant endeavour for people like me, but I intend to make an effort to stop living my life for instant gratification and start intentionally making efforts that my Future self would be proud of. Below are some pointers by James Clear to stop procrastinating today.
1. Make the Reward of Taking Action More Immediate
I remember studying for my GRE (Graduate Record Exam) with my friend Laura. she would say we get ourselves snacks before we start studying but we don't get to eat them until we have met certain milestones in our work. It worked wonders.
2. Make the Consequences of Procrastination More Immediate
Studying with Laura was sometimes intense as we did our best to always be present for appointments set so you don't look like a jerk in front of the other party. Another strategy prescribed by James Clear is placing a bet on yourself. If you have something to lose immediately you'll probably do the work to avoid the loss.
3. Design Your Future Actions
Set up what psychologists call a commitment device. For instance, during exam months, I put my blanket on the hard floor and sleep there whenever I need to as it helps me wake up easier, I keep the lights on in my room for the whole period and put my phone on aeroplane mode. I pray it affects my grades as I await the results of an exam I wrote weeks ago.
4. Make the Task More Achievable
Procrastinators like myself know that the most difficult part of any activity is starting. The moment you begin the task, it is often less painful to keep going. That is why we need to take on the right size of task/habit per time to reduce the tendency of procrastinating. The " minute rule helps as a guide for building habits.
The 2-minute rule states that
“When you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do.”
5. Be Consistent
whenever you have found the urge to build a habit albeit how little it may seem, ensure to remain consistent in order not to lose progress already made. For example, I began learning Deutsch a few years ago and I believe I got good at it due to the effort I put in at the time. Fast forward into the future where my procrastinating prowess has taken centre stage, I doubt if I can string perfectly a four-word sentence in Deutsch.
Conclusion
Starting today I would shun all instant gratification and look towards future achievements. Please I'm also open to counsel on ways I can stop procrastinating.