Procrastination is a rather complicated word, but in fact for every fifth person it means his lifestyle. As many as 20% are wondering how to stop putting things off for later and not delay their implementation. This is a very insidious problem, which can be difficult to deal with. According to psychologists, every person at least once in a life delayed the solution of a problem or took off from obligations. But all this does not make him a procrastinator. Another thing is if all this is permanent. This article will tell you how to deal with this problem and why people put things off for later.
“Tomorrow, tomorrow, not today!” - so lazy people say
Such a famous proverb fits very well with the concept of procrastination. It was during the period when it was most common that this term appeared (approximately the 19th century). In fact, procrastination is the English word (procrastination), which translates as “delay”. And since tracing paper is not entirely clear and easy to pronounce, modern psychologists use more local concepts:
- procrastination
- Carriage
- delay,
- "Breakfast",
- "Companionship"
- tightening.
This concept should not be confused with laziness. Procrastination is an awareness of the importance and urgency of the case, but inaction for fictitious reasons. But a lazy person, doing nothing, does not care much about it.
Main types
It turns out that not all procrastinators are the same. Everyone has their own motives to put things off for later. Psychologists distinguish three main types:
- Irresponsible. Such procrastinators delay the completion of tasks in order to avoid unpleasant consequences. They are afraid to take responsibility. For them, this is a great way to not answer for anything in this life and always leave clean out of the water.
- Boyaguses. The second type is simply afraid of everything. Such a person in every possible way avoids the fear of failure. It’s easier for him to stay in the shade than to be a loser.
- Extreme lovers. For some, being a procrastinator is kind of fun. A person puts things off until the last moment in order to feel euphoria. Subconsciously, he likes to understand that he may not have time to complete the task, while a portion of adrenaline enters the bloodstream.
If you are thinking about how to stop putting things off for later, first decide why you are doing this and what type you are.
What's bad about it
Procrastinators, who have not yet realized that they are, do not see anything unnatural in their behavior. Moreover, at first they even like it. There is a peculiar feeling of freedom of action (I want to do it, I want to - no). But in fact, there are a lot of flaws in procrastination. This prevents a person from living and negatively affects his nervous system. The consequences may be:
- constant stress
- loss of productivity
- guilt.
Procrastination affects all spheres of human life. How so?
Life troubles
Problems with self-discipline in a person have a huge impact on his whole life. Firstly, he cannot fully realize himself. For example, putting off work until later at work leads to the fact that the authorities are dissatisfied with their subordinates. Attitude towards such a person is changing. He is entrusted with fewer important matters and, of course, there can be no question of an increase. Such people are considered lazy, irresponsible, as a result, a person spends his whole life in a low position with a low salary.
Procrastination also interferes with relationships with friends, relatives, and loved ones. Postponing cases for later that a loved one asked for is perceived as disrespectful and accompanied by resentment. For example, a woman asked her husband to buy washing powder. The husband postponed this matter until later, at the very last moment I arrived at the store, but everything was already closed. He did not buy what he was asked for, and his wife could not wash her work outfit. Of course, she would take offense at him for that. If he continues to postpone important matters for later, most likely, the woman will decide that for him she is not at all important, and will leave him.
Procrastination is often manifested in relation to parents and children. Even close people do not always understand this behavior and are offended. Relations deteriorate, and then restore them will be much more difficult.
Painful psychological effects
A person who puts things off until later experiences many unpleasant feelings. In cases of failure, he is often ashamed and offended by himself. Each time he promises himself that he will do everything on time, but everything is repeated again. It is interesting that a person who cannot force himself to do something, sometimes, on the contrary, cannot stop.
Such situations, for example, are with alcohol. A man knows that he should get up early to work tomorrow. But in the evening, friends are invited to a bar for a glass of beer. He agrees and promises himself that he will drink quite a bit. But with each glass he allows himself one more and more. He knows for sure and remembers that it is too early to get up tomorrow, but he cannot stop. A lot of time has passed, but he is still sure that he will have time to sleep. As a result - a hard morning, a hangover, but, in addition, self-flagellation because he still went to this bar and could not stop in time.
The tendency to constantly postpone cases leads to failure and loss. A person constantly criticizes himself and exacerbates the situation even more. The result of this behavior can be a nervous breakdown, depression, getting into the network of negative habits.
Fighting techniques
We have already figured out the name of the person who puts things off for later, and now it remains to find out how to stop being a procrastinator. If you hope to find a magic recipe that will change your whole life in a matter of days, your efforts are in vain. Work on yourself is hard work, on the other hand, it is the path to success. The study of time management deals with such a discipline as time management. Within the framework of this science, there are many different methods that teach how not to put things off for later.
Turning into a Superhero
Procrastinators are always admired by people who do everything on time and efficiently. They manage to do it everywhere, while they still have enough time to visit various sections, relax with friends, build a family life and succeed in their careers. How do they do it all?
There is good news. Procrastinators are not born, they become. And this means that getting rid of this addiction is quite real. You need to start turning into a superhero right now, at this very moment. This will be your first task with which you will successfully cope. Further it will be easier. The main thing is to start.
Time management
The first thing to learn is planning. And for this, it is important to prioritize correctly. Write all the important tasks you need to complete this week. Now decide which ones are the most important. They will need to be done first. Do not write too many tasks for yourself. It’s better to write less and do everything, than more, and then again reproach yourself for not being able to do everything.
Order of affairs and time for rest
It is very important for a person to take breaks between work. But with procrastinators, they are usually very delayed. Therefore, breaks also try to plan. The order of affairs is also important. For example, on Sunday you have planned spring cleaning, utility bills and grocery shopping. Between all these matters there must be a rest. But if you start the day with a general cleaning, and then lie down on the sofa to watch a movie, then you are unlikely to go pay the bills and shop. It would be more correct to start with the latter. In the morning you can go shopping, pay the bills, and between this you will meet in the park with a girlfriend for 20 minutes. Having done these things and having a rest, it will be possible to return home and start cleaning.
Motivation
How to learn not to put things off for later? You need to know exactly why you need them and why you must comply with them. Every time there is a desire to transfer an important task, ask yourself: “For what should I (should) do it?” Clear mind must be expressed in the head:
- I go to the doctor because my health is important to me;
- I carry out the assignment of the chief because I want to occupy a high position;
- I fulfill the request of my mother, because for me she is the closest person, and I do not want to hurt her;
- I clean the house because I want to live clean.
Real goals
Sometimes, having felt a surge of strength and energy, a person begins to set enormous overwhelming tasks. If you choose the easy way to stop putting things off for later, then the tasks themselves should not be difficult. If you are just learning to get rid of the phenomena of procrastination in your life, then you should not plan anything new. First you need to figure out what has already accumulated and spoils your life.
You can set one single goal - that for which you really live. For example, if you live for the sake of your child and think that the most important thing is to learn and educate him, then write down in your daily routine several hours that you will spend with him. You should not write for the purpose of buying expensive things that you can only miraculously purchase. Remember that all unfulfilled plans will hang over you like a cloud and spoil your self-esteem.
On the other hand, you should not be too sorry for yourself. There must be at least one important goal, and then every day you will perform many simple tasks associated with it.
Distractions
Without them, procrastination would certainly not have existed. A person is not just constantly putting things off, at this time he is engaged in all kinds of nonsense. For example, instead of performing an important task:
- chatting on the phone
- communicates on social networks
- reading the news
- checks mail
- watching films and programs.
Resisting these factors is quite simple. There is an easy way to stop putting things off for later and not get distracted by trifles. This will require self-hypnosis. Try to have a dialogue with you. Tell yourself that if you successfully and efficiently complete the task, you will have time to do what you love. Or, for example, after you finish writing a report, you will delight yourself with something tasty. There can be any motivation, the main thing is not being distracted to finish the job.
It’s very important not to say “I have to” myself; rather, use “I want”. For example, I want to fulfill this assignment and free myself from it. In fact, almost similar phrases, but the brain perceives them in completely different ways. Even a student, when they say that he must do something, there is a contradiction inside. Try to tell him not “you have to do your homework”, but “I think you want to do homework and then go for a walk”. And you will see that the effect will be amazing. In an adult, the brain functions in a similar way.
To completely get rid of distractions, set the phone to silent mode, remove bookmarks from social networks in a prominent place, and hide the remote control from the TV.
How to relax
It turns out that not every vacation is effective. If before an important matter you decide to look at the social network for 5 minutes, it is likely that you will be stuck in it for several hours. In addition, after the mass of information that you read there and see, you may not be able to do your job further (especially if it requires mental workload). It is important to choose the type of rest for which you can take only a certain (clear) time. For example, make yourself a cup of tea or coffee and just drink it in a relaxed atmosphere. It is unlikely that this lesson will take more than 20 minutes. Moreover, at this time, you can think about the upcoming business, focus on it. Good reboot methods include:
- a walk in the fresh air
- short sleep
- taking a bath
- meditation.
Unsuitable rest is watching TV. Very often a person includes a “box” to take a break. And here, as luck would have it, an interesting program or film that he had long wanted to revise. And 20 minutes of relaxation turn into a few hours. While resting, you can also perform the following exercise.
Imagine your life in retrospect. Here you lie on the couch, then eat, routine work, dissatisfaction with yourself and your life, and the years go by. Time flies at an incredible speed, but what have you already achieved in your life? And what could you achieve? Imagine two parallel realities. In this you are a procrastinator, and in another you are a successful and strong person. Which one do you like more? Think about your meaning of life, about goals and quickly write down all your feelings in a notebook. Performing this exercise from time to time and rereading your thoughts, you will clearly see the dynamics of changes in your life.
Summing up, we can say that the very thing that you are thinking about how to stop putting things off for later is already a good sign. This means that you realize that you are wasting a lot of time. You just have to make a little effort and change your life. And you need to start here and now.