Procrastination

By Gavelier Suhana Kapoor.

Ping! And that’s another assignment on your to-do list but your brain responds, “later, maybe tomorrow” and procrastinates yet again! Do you find yourself constantly procrastinating? Does that ‘tomorrow’ never come?

There is an old saying that if the first thing you do each morning is eating the ugliest frog first, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you’re done with the worst thing, you’ll have to do that day. 

Most successful people focus on the most important things and don’t try to do everything. 

But how do we stop procrastination? Well, here are 9 helpful tips. 

1. Clarity - A major reason for procrastination is the confusion about what you’re trying to do in what order. Thinking on paper is a great way of improving clarity and reducing procrastination. 

2. Plan every day in advance - Plan the next day or the night before, stick to your timetables, and even try to beat it! “You may delay, but time will not.” - Benjamin Franklin

3. Practice creative procrastinating - There’s no time for everything, so everyone has to procrastinate on something or the other, but what we procrastinate on determines whether we are high or low performers. Putting off the least important tasks and doing the most important first is creative procrastination.

4. The Tricky Threes - Identify the 3 most important tasks that have major consequences whether negative or positive and do those 3 assignments first. 

. The ABCDE method - The ABCDE method is a technique that helps you sort your assignments. 

• An ‘A’ activity is something you must do which is very important (it has serious consequences).

• A ‘B’ task is something you should do that is like the tadpole in your life (it has         mild consequences). E.g., Returning an unimportant browser message.

• A ‘C’ task is defined as something nice to do. E.g., Calling a friend.

• A ‘D’ job is something you can delegate to someone else so you can free more time for 'A’ tasks that can be done only by you. 

• An ‘E’ activity is something you can remove and it won’t make a difference. 

6. Break it down - Break up large and complex tasks into small parts. Remember to take it one step at a time!

7. Prepare, Remove and Move - Prepare before you begin like having an ‘ingredients sheet’ handy before you start with the method. From my past experience, having all the tools or information in front of you makes you feel the urge to start with the task. As soon as you have everything set up, begin, and don’t stop until you have finished. Creating large chunks of time and developing a sense of urgency will get it done quicker and easier.  

8. Motivate to Focus - Motivate yourself into action and look on the bright side of life. Try to stop complaining or running away from the task. See the positive impacts it might have to motivate yourself even further. Before you start, shut away all the distractions and technology. Did you know that more than ½ of the student population gets distracted by technology and devices? Use technology to your benefit but don’t let it rule over you!

9. Practice makes Permanent - Make it a decision to practice these principles for 21 days which will become your habit and eventually part of your personality. Self-discipline is the key to limiting and eventually eliminating procrastination from your day-to-day life. With these habits of personal management, you will be able to reach great heights. 

As the famous words swirl around, “A year from now you may wish you had started today,” by Karen Lamb. Well, you don’t have to worry anymore as you have 9 great and helpful tips right at your fingertips. So go on and finish that pending assignment. Start it now and EAT THAT FROG!