TIPS TO HELP YOU OVERCOME PROCRASTINATION

Let’s cut to the chase shall we? The truth is that most persons struggle with procrastination. Hence, we seek for how to overcome procrastination especially as a Christian girl. We are always caught in a web between having more time added to 24 hours and getting more work done. All that stems from the fact that the day’s work was procrastinated and pushed forwards to a later time and year when we have more convenience.

Is there a convenient time for any project at all? What is convenience about? Or is it just a word you made up to sponsor your procrastination habit and help you find rest for your soul while doing so. There is no perfect time to start anytime. Except, occasions when you have to put real time strategies in place.

Most times the time is now! All you need is inside of you, quit slouching and procrastinating activities and get down to business. You still don’t get it? Let me draw a real time illustration for you to guide you on how to overcome procrastination

Have you ever sat down to finish an important task- All of a sudden, you discovered that you were watching a funny YouTube video or scrolling through your favorite Instagram page or engrossed in a documentary which has nothing to do with the project you started out with.

In a split of second, you discovered your windows need washing, the plates in the kitchen are dirty or you should just go take a nap and worry about the rest later on. Before you know it, its 11pm and your important task remains untouched

Many of us struggle with procrastination for different reasons. From laziness to busy schedule, carelessness, feeling overwhelmed with a situation, given up hope that a situation can be changed or affected, Afraid of failing, can’t make a decision, overworked, tired, want to avoid work you don’t like.

Whatever your reasons are, God isn’t the least gladdened by the fact that we put off what should be done today for the morrow. The truth is that several of us have tried and yet still can’t control it. Even more, we find ourselves entangled in a web of guilt because we didn’t finish what ought to be done.

For many people, procrastination is a strong and overwhelming force that keeps them from completing the most urgent and important tasks in their lives. I have fought this devil called procrastination myself and still do especially as concerns my projects and several other things in my life which remains untouched. Luckily, you will find how to overcome procrastination if you continue to read down.

The truth is that if I push off the day’s work, nobody will beat me or scold me. Besides, they don’t even know that I didn’t do what I was supposed to do. Right? Especially when it has to do with my personal affairs. Who cares if I tidy up my room? Or read my bible or even keep up with my 3-hour prayer covenant with God’.

Once we are confronted with our issues, we declare a petition and defense of “I’m an adult”. I know you are, dear but why do you feel guilty the next day? Why does it hunt you that you dint do what you were meant to do? I wouldn’t want to push your ‘village people’ into this matter or involve the devil. Notwithstanding, the sad truth is that each time we procrastinate what needs to be done, the enemy feeds on our conscience to push blame and guilt on us. Soon enough, we are far from God and completing those tasks.

Let me get this straight. Procrastination may not readily be laziness, which is a considerable factor. It is that we do not know how to structure our day’s event so as to accomplish all that needs to be covered. Several persons especially close friends always assert me to be that multi-tasking girl.

What they do not know is that I struggle with procrastination a lot. I wanted to know how to overcome procrastination myself. There are several written books on how to overcome procrastination and yet we have not been saved from it. Perhaps, you don’t understand the dangers of procrastination

What is Procrastination

Are you still with me? Let me give you a run down. Starting with the simple definition of procrastination then we can move on to how to overcome procrastination. You know I usually write from personal experience and the experiences of others. Whatever tip I give you is from a well of research, questions and experience on what works for me.

Let me put a quick disclaimer here to affirm you that this blog post is not meant to judge you. Rather, to propel you to action and into taking responsibility for your day to day projects. Certainly, we all struggle with how to overcome procrastination: even this article on procrastination had its fair share of procrastination because I choose a movie over the article. Are movies bad? No! However, when it is chosen over the most important thing, it becomes a distraction and agent of procrastination.

Meanwhile. This is not some set of rules that will keep you working on the clock just to meet up with the day’s activities. Rather to make sure that you complete the important tasks before the days ends. Bonus point for you here is to make sure that you don’t allow guilt overwhelm you even if you fail to meet your daily quota. Are you ready now? Let’s go

What procrastination is?

Procrastination is a state of having trouble persuading yourself to do the things you should do or would like to do. When you procrastinate, instead of working on important, meaningful tasks, you find yourself performing trivial activities.

I started this blog post by establishing that some cases of procrastination is caused by laziness and some other factors. In the succeeding paragraph, I tried to also make you understand that not all instances of procrastination is caused by laziness and the likes. To that end, let’s get down to what procrastination is not

What procrastination is not?

Procrastination does not mean laziness

Procrastinators often put off doing things, leave them to the very last moment or sometimes even spend their time staring at the wall. However be careful, procrastination is not a substitute meaning for lazy.

Lazy people, simply don’t do anything and are just fine with it. Procrastinators, on the other hand, have the desire to actually do something but can’t force themselves to start. The fact that someone procrastinates doesn’t make them lazy.

I know hard working individuals who procrastinate a whole lot but once they set their foot on the treadmill, they run more than the one who started earlier than them. On the down side, they turn to workaholics or overnight bench workers feeding on several junks and additives.

Rather than say you are lazy, it’s best to use the word ‘procrastination’ or putting things off. It provides a much more accurate description of your situation. Only by giving the right name to your problem can you begin working on it. Except, you are actually a lazy person who doesn’t care what gets spoilt or done.

Relaxation is not procrastination

Don’t confuse procrastination with relaxation either. Relaxing recharges you with energy. In stark contrast, procrastination drain it from you. The more stressed you are, even more unproductive or depressed you might become and the higher the chances of you putting off your responsibilities are.

One Myth around procrastination is this: We Work Better under Pressure

I am actually on this table I’m shaking, I might end up with a broken arm or leg or both. A lot of the times we hear the excuse that people often love leaving things to the last minute. We justify our actions by claiming that we are most productive under pressure.

Often times, it’s not true. I am a true witness that putting things off until the very last moment creates fertile ground for stress, guilt, and ineffectiveness.

“Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today”

Why should you overcome procrastination?

“While we waste our time hesitating and postponing, life is slipping away.”
— Seneca

I had to chip this in real quick before anything else to make you see reasons you should overcome procrastination. We all do not write for nothing, there is a message in each line for you or someone out there. Do well to share when you are done reading or pin it.

Procrastination is one of the main barriers blocking you from getting up, making the right decisions and living the life you’ve dreamt of. Often times, people regret more the things they haven’t done than the things they have done. In addition, feelings of regret and guilt resulting from missed opportunities tend to stay with people much longer.

Sometimes. all our opportunities seem to be on our fingertips, but we can’t seem to reach them. When you procrastinate, you waste time that you could be investing in something meaningful. If you know how to overcome procrastination-this fierce enemy, you will be able to accomplish more and in doing so better utilize the potential that life has to offer.

Even with the ongoing pandemic and societal transformation, you might find yourself procrastinating more. What’s your excuse and defense? I have time. Excuse me, do you really have that time you claim to?

Why do people procrastinate?

You don’t procrastinate without reason that I know for sure. When I procrastinated on this article, it was because I thought I had more time on my hands and a favorite movie to binge watch. Besides, I have more blog posts for consumption. The more I thought that way, the more my pen called me out to write to you because you need to read this to know how to overcome procrastination.

1. Setting priorities and making strong decisions

The world offers quite a staggering and seductive opportunities to enhance your habit of procrastination. We’ve endorsed individual liberty that the freer people are, the happier they will be. So then why aren’t people today significantly happier than in the past?

Truthfully, with more freedom to make our own decisions and to perform our actions, we have become easily confused about what is a priority, what is essential and what is not, and with what is right and wrong, and therefore we have become demotivated to do anything at all.

We need to set our records straight on personal visions and goals to be reached, that is how to overcome procrastination.

2. Lack of the value of time

The bible speaks of a season to live and die. The time we spend on Earth is both limited and finite. In light of these facts, time is the most valuable commodity you have. It’s not money; unlike time, you can borrow money, save, or earn more. You can’t do that with time. Every single second you waste is gone forever.

In light of that, you must learn to value your time while you still have it.

3. Lack of self-discipline

You can imagine self-discipline or self-control as a moment when you give yourself orders, but you are having a hard time following them. It is not the primary cause of procrastination, but an important compound.  Building discipline takes nothing more than positive habits, goals and motivation. Keep your eyes on the prize.

Dangers of procrastination

Every action bears its consequences. What a man sows he reaps; if you sow plenty, you shall reap plenty too. Likewise procrastination has its own repercussions and dangers. It may not be grave danger as you see it. However, it could be a distortion to your personal visons and life journey

1. Procrastination makes you appear irresponsible

One of the perks of being an adult is that you are able to take responsibility for yourself , your visions, goals and stand up to achieve them. Being a procrastinator contradict all that being an adult represents. It puts you in a tight corner of irresponsibility.

How do you think people will perceive you when they find out that you don’t set priorities for projects and hardly complete a day’s task? The only answer is irresponsibility. Meanwhile you are more than you are given credit and you know it

2. Procrastination is a thief of time: Times fleets by more than any element put in place for man. Time is the only element you could never have more of. This is why most persons who procrastinate a lot end up asking for more than 24 hours and even if it was granted to them, they’ll still waste it away on frivolities

3. Procrastination puts you under pressure and undue stress: in the university, I was one of those who would never complete an assignment till the night before. That’s the bet time for me to surf the internet and try to write down a three page assignment. I end up doing them excellently most times but at the cost of my sleep and undue stress to my body

Practical steps for how to overcome Procrastination

1.  Acknowledge That You’re Procrastinating

“I have considered my ways and have turned my steps to your statutes” (Psalm 119:59).

There are several reasons we procrastinate on things. Quite number of them already made the list above. You might be putting off a task because you’ve had to re-prioritize your workload. If you’re briefly delaying an important task for a genuine reason, then you aren’t necessarily procrastinating. However, if you start to put things off indefinitely, or switch focus because you want to avoid doing something, then you probably are procrastinating.

Several reasons you are procrastinating:

• You fill your day with less-important tasks.
• Leave an item on your To-Do list for a long time, even though it’s important.
• Delay on making a decision.
• Start a high-priority task and then go off to watch a movie.
• Fill your time with unimportant tasks that other people ask you to do, instead of getting on with the important tasks already on your list.
• Wait to be in “right mood,” or wait for the “right time” to tackle a task.
•  Analyze Your reason for Procrastinating

“Test me, Lord, and try me, examine my heart and my mind”

(Psalm 26:2).

2. Find out WHY you procrastinate

Don’t sugar coat words for yourself, just sit down, take a pen and paper and write down the following analysis and truths. You need to understand reasons you are procrastinating before you can begin to tackle it. For instance, are you avoiding a particular task because you find it boring or unpleasant? Does my mind wander away easily while on an important task? E.g. reading a book then moving away to go watch a movie. Do you find that you are likely to take decisions late?

3. Discover how to overcome procrastination

Procrastination is a habit. This means that you probably can’t break it now. Habits only stop being habits when you avoid practicing them, so try as many of the strategies, below, as possible to give yourself the best possible chance of succeeding.

How to Overcome procrastination-10 Tips

• A little organization goes a long way

Learn to understand and set priorities for the most important work. What works needs to be done first and what follows after that in that manner. That way you can keep yourself on a good track to maintain clean organization and actualization without unnecessary juggling of activities and work. Yu can invest in a planner or use calendar apps and alarm clocks for each activity. Doing this helps you build time management skills

•  Set simple, realistic goals

Just because you have a lot to do doesn’t translate to putting too many on your plate at once or setting high unachievable standards. The core reason we procrastinate sometimes is because the task at hand seems too difficult and impossible.

Once you are overwhelmed by a task, chances are that you are going to forget and run away. Instead of telling yourself, “I’ll study the whole bible tonight,” say, “I’ll study chapter six of genesis tonight.” This makes your goals less overwhelming and more achievable. 

• Create a time table/schedule

I do this all the time, my phone has a couple of alarm set for each time especially when school was still in session. I had an unusual habit of setting alarm for each activity. Alarm for when to pray, when to study. I do this because I know that if I’m not on alert, I could veer off the day’s goals and end up doing a lot without accomplishing the little things that ought to be done in a day. 24 hours may seem like it’s not enough but setting a time schedule goes a long way

When I started my New Testament bible plan is 7 days, I had a time plan to guide and put me through. For e.g. (“On Tuesday, I’ll study chapter five to nine, and on Wednesday, I’ll study chapter ten to 20) Breaking a task into small chunks over time makes it much more manageable and fun

• Set a deadline

I got into a writing program with my book writing coach because I wanted to be put on a time stamp. So many persons get caught in the deceptive web of procrastination. I’ll organize my room tomorrow, I’ll wrote the blog post next day. I’ll clean my room someday. We forget that ‘someday or anytime’ I get chance never comes. What are you doing with the time you have now! What counts is the hours you have now and your ability to manage it well enough. Don’t depend on a ‘tomorrow’ you have not seen to procrastinate upon. The day’s trouble is enough for the day

• Get rid of distractions

Life is full of unplanned distractions, however you chose to see it. There will always be a number of things to distract you and keep you away from completing a day’s task. The main factor is that our mind is always processing things and ideas but you must learn to gain mastery over it.

That way you can put your foot down to compete a task. Instead of thinking of cooking a quick plate of noodle while writing a blog post like I’m thinking of possible way to drink a cold cup of tea. I’ll probably drink it later but right now, I’m on a time stamp to publish this blog post.

Most of you are addicted to social media, there I said it! If you tend to spend too much time on Snapchat or Instagram when you should be studying, or praying then shut your phone (all the way off). Don’t read bible on your phone when you obviously know you’ve opened notification buttons for possible distractions.

• Take an intentional break

It’s important to take mental breathers work every now and then. When your timer goes off, take a 10–30-minute break. Listen to music, take a walk, do some laundry or cook a quick meal. Anything that takes your mind off of work and allows you to relax. I call it intentional shut down

• Use incentives on yourself

Everyone loves being rewarded. It’s important to give yourself incentives, no matter how small. It could be something as simple as, “If I finish this article for an hour, I’ll watch an episode of my favorite movie tonight.” Or it could be a bigger goal like, “If I finish designing this website or going through with this course, I’ll go to my favorite restaurant.” I do it all the time

• Complete the hard tasks first

It is hard to do something that you don’t want to do. But guess what? Once you do it, it’s over! It is best to complete your most challenging tasks first. That way everything after it seems easier and takes a shorter amount of time. If you keep pushing that task back, you’re never going to get it done. It’s best to buckle down and just do it. 

• Have an accountability partner

The reason I love working with a team or telling some of my disturbing friends about my goals is because I know they won’t let me be and I can’t lie to them till I get the day’s work done. I know friends who are very good at keeping you on your toes. I am that kind of friend to others, sadly I am not that tough on myself sometimes.

It’s easy to forget about projects or put them off if you’re the only person holding yourself accountable. If you really want to get something done, tell a friend or coach. Now there is someone holding you responsible for your goals. You can’t back out or slough it off. As an added bonus, you also have someone to celebrate your victories with, no matter how small. This is how to overcome procrastination

• Pray to God for wisdom on a plan

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you”.

(James 5:16)

Dealing with procrastination brings us to the place of prayer. We need to seek the face of God for wisdom on how to overcome this weakness. Once we pray, we can begin to listen to the gentle prodding of the Holy Spirit who will show us how to overcome procrastination

How To Overcome Procrastination with Free Bible lessons

1. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? And poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man. (Proverbs 6:9-11)
2. As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so are sluggards to those who send them. (Proverbs 10:26)
3. A sluggard’s appetite is never filled (Proverbs 13:4)
4. Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing. (Proverbs 20:4)
5. A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!” A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly. (Proverbs 26:13-16)

Conclusion

In all things and steps put in place on how to overcome procrastination. Seek the Holy Spirit to help you put your thoughts to actions. Prayer works each time you feel like putting things off or just bolting away on a difficult task. Help comes to you from Zion.

Do well to leave a comment from your experience on how to overcome procrastination and any story to inspire others. Please subscribe to join the family and receive my weekly emails and free resources straight to your inbox