You’ve heard this saying, “Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?” That’s the poster quote for procrastination. Procrastination is a widely prevalent phenomenon.
Research indicates that approximately 20% of the adult population and around 50% of the student population procrastinate in a consistent and problematic manner.
I admit procrastinating until I was under the gun used to be my way of getting things done. That method comes with a great price. If you find yourself putting things off and delaying tasks for the future. It’s time to make a change. Start by
- Accepting that you are a procrastinator. Otherwise, you’ll never be able to address the issue and work on overcoming it. Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.
- Think about what your procrastination is costing you. Is it putting your job at risk? Causing you to lose clients? Are there household chores that aren’t getting done? Considering the consequences, can give you the motivation to work on ways to fix it.
- Make a list and prioritize. Putting things in order will help you to stay on track and eliminate distractions. Start with small tasks and set bigger goals to gain momentum.
Keep in mind, these strategies are only helpful if you use them. Start today. Let go of procrastination and say hello to more success in managing your time, tasks and stress.