Procrastination

At some point in our lives, most of us have procrastinated. Those who haven't can just read this article for information. I have had always delayed going for that much needed jog. My jog is always for the non existing tomorrow. There are always 'reasons' for me not to jog. Today it could be the rain. Today it could be the time. Today it could be fatigue, and the list goes on...... One of the definition for procrastination is to "put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness." However the issue of procrastination is much more complex.

According to Joseph Ferrari, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at De Paul University in Chicago, and Timothy Pychyl, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, people who procrastinate are not born but made. This would suggest that procrastination is a learned response and therefore it can be unlearned. There are a hosts of suggested reasons on why people procrastinate. Some people procrastinated because they fear success, some because fear of failure whilst there are others who procrastinated because they want everything done perfectly.

Whatever the reason one has for procrastinating, there is no denying that it hinders success. Procrastination could also bring on other emotional issues such as stress, frustration, depression and so on. Most of us who procrastinated know that we are putting things off, and usually to soothe our conscience, we give 'valid' excuses such as time factor. If time is a factor, then we could re assess our schedule and time management. It is possible that we have taken on more tasks than we should. However, if time is not the real factor, then we should do a reality check. Find out what is the real reason for putting off doing the task. Where personal success is concerned, we are accountable to ourselves, and honesty to self could bring countless success. I can go into a lengthy discussion on ways to overcome procrastination, but it could be too technical and boring. Instead, I decided to use a phrase used in NIKE that I personally love, "Just Do It". Learn to just do it, and you'll go a long way.