I became a world class procrastinator in my early teens. If I could put something off... I did.
I admit to never giving my tardy habits much thought until I went into the Army. Suddenly I had to be on time, all the time. It was gut wrenching. A slap of reality. Some lessons were learned.
No more delaying tasks that were boring or unattractive. Nope. Being a procrastinator had negative consequences that weren't worth it. I still put some things off these days because being retired provides more opportunity to be sloth-like without major consequences.
For the record, procrastination is a common part of human behavior, but it can also become a habit that affects your well-being.
Researchers tell us that procrastination can be linked to low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, ADHD, and poor study habits. It's also a way to avoid negative feelings like dread, incompetence, or insecurity.
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5 Ways to Stop Procrastination
(#1 Center for Clinical Interventions)
1. Reduce the number of decisions you need to make throughout the day. Every decision has an energy consequence.
2. Finish your day before it starts...
3. The nothing alternative...
4. The next action habit-focus on something doable...
5. Adjust your environment.
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After reading numerous articles on procrastination, I found that they all agree that the number one cause for procrastination is Task Aversiveness.
In layman's terms, if a task is frustrating, boring, or unpleasant, avoid it. People have anxieties and fear of being criticized. They also feel overwhelmed.
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7 Ways to Overcome Procrastination
(#2 Psychology Today)
1. Identify your daily goals. In order to stop delaying important tasks, you have to identify those tasks in the first place.
2. Set specific goals.
3. Set realistic goals - change your inner dialogue
4. Include easy tasks.
5. Find your productive flow.
6. Include accountability.
7. Factor in room for faults.
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Now that we've explored the negative effects of procrastination let's take a look at the other side of the coin.
Some experts at Harvard University claim that moderate procrastination can have positive aspects, like allowing for more creative thinking, better decision-making by giving time to mull over options, and potentially leading to more efficient work when you finally start a task due to the pressure of a deadline.
As it Stands, procrastination can be bad... and good. It depends on if it's chronic or moderate.
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