Do you prefer to work in deadline-induced panic? Do you set your goals without action set? Do you find it hard to finish things that you started? Have you been feeling guilty about not doing your work well on time?

If you relate to all these scenarios, then you are a procrastinator.

Most people confuse procrastination with laziness. However, a very important distinction between procrastination and laziness is that, in procrastination, the work is important and there’s a time frame within which it has to be completed. On failure of doing, it properly, there’s guilt too, whereas in laziness there’s apathy towards the task and no guilt later. You may not even care if you do the work properly or on time because the task isn’t considered important.

Procrastination is a two-step process. First, it involves an Impulse to delay (for example, I will do it on Monday, then comes Monday and you promise yourself that you will do it on Tuesday and so on).

Second and a very important one is Rationalization or excuse-making, where you tell yourself that the task is maybe too boring or difficult to start just yet. It’s because of rationalization that people are trapped in the cycle of procrastination.

Now, the question is that why do we make excuses in the first place when we understand that the task is important. Well, here comes an interesting twist- we make excuses because we want to protect our self-esteem from not doing the task well. Some perfectionists may also keep procrastinating the things because they are too scared to make mistakes, some people may find a task too difficult and procrastinate for the discomfort of doing it.

So, there can be a lot of reasons due to which people procrastinate!

Now comes the main question: How to deal with procrastination?

Here are some handy techniques to deal with it:

• • Divide the task into 5 or 7 steps so that it doesn’t seem too overwhelming.
• • If you procrastinate because the task seems too boring, try to bring about changes in the way you do the task. Make it as creative as you can.
• • ake a promise/resolution only when you have a plan, otherwise, it will result in procrastination. So, visualize all the steps you will take to fulfill the promise. There are better chances that you will act on it.

So, here’s your clue to counter procrastination, do not wait for the right mood and motivation because a lot of times we feel motivated to do something in the process of doing the activity. And let’s face it, life doesn’t give us all the things we like.

P.S. These techniques would work with people who do not have a clinical disorder. If the reason behind procrastination is anxiety/ depression or any other disorder, it’s better to consult a mental health professional.

If you find yourself trapped in the net of procrastination come to Kaleidoscope, we are there for you to help.