I was just getting back from my cousin’s party. We had an amazing dinner with frozen chicken, frozen chicken nuggets, and some Ice Tea. It was cheap, quick, and easy to prepare and frankly, we couldn’t spot any difference compared to food at restaurants.
It was around midnight when I arrived home. After taking a shower and getting to the computer, the first thing I saw was 2 big-ass notifications. I had to write my blog and do some lessons on Duolingo.
FYI, Duolingo is an app designed for learning every language in the world. Every day you get a Streak for completing a lesson, and my streak got to 398 days. Basically, I have a long-term relationship with this sucker.
Anyway, the first thing I did was finish my Italian lesson. 399 days. Yee-haw. One more day and we can have an anniversary together, we can go out for dinner date.
But now comes the hard part: The Blog. I just started it, and I forced myself every day that I will write a new article. But today I came home so late. I am full, and tired after dinner and the only thing that is in my mind is jumping directly in bed.
I decided to do something else for inspiration: Netflix. I watched 3 episodes of Big Bang Theory and a small part of The Hangover. I sat at my computer at 11 pm, and when I was done, it was 12 pm—a new day. I wasted a whole hour for some fun and none of inspiration.
If anyone needs the definition of Procrastination, this might be the perfect example for it:
- “Procrastination is an active process – you choose to do something else instead of the task that you know you should be doing.”
Many friends of mine, even those who are the most active, hard-working type, procrastinate every time they can. Well, the reasons behind it are simple: We are not motivated enough to finish the job. We think we have enough time to finish it, and we wait. Time flies by. The unfinished work is still there, while we are still finding our inspiration.
I never have to find any inspiration. In fact, I have the most work done when I was not motivated to do anything. I wrote 3 draft articles in an afternoon, right after my class. I have no desire to do anything after a 2-hours lecture, rather than spending another 2 hours writing.
But I did it. And I used this ONLY principle every time:
- “I do the work not because I need to, but because I had to “.
This fantastic principle can be applied in so many different circumstances, and it’s effective every time.
After writing this article, I need to have a good rest. I have a full day of events tomorrow. I will go training at around 10 am with a couple of friends, then we will gather to study in the library. In the afternoon, I will go shopping and head direct to work. I will be home at 21pm and start my nightly routine: writing another article.
I am busy tomorrow, and I know it. I won’t have time to finish anything else. My plan is fixed, and any spare time will be allocated to entertainment only. My version of tomorrow is already telling me: “Either you finish your job now, or tomorrow we won’t get anything done”. I won’t write two articles that night. But I can write one tonight.
So, that’s always my trick: Keep yourself in a situation, where you have no other choice but to finish your part of the work.
- Have a nice tight plan, so you can’t put anything else into it.
- Leave the things you want to do last and finish all your undesired work first.
- The sooner you finish your work, the more time you will have for other entertainment.
- Put yourself in a hypothetical deadline, where you will need to pay a penalty. Let someone close to you be the judge.
- Have your friends motivate you. It’s never a bad idea to receive a little “Push-push” when we need it most. They will set the deadline and help you finish it.
- Most Important: Have solid discipline. You need to have that mindset, that whatever happens, if you don’t finish what you plan for, your day is not done. You will get success from a full checklist.
Procrastination, which will hide in the shadows of our lives, affects us all to some degree or another. It’s a challenge that transcends time and generations, but it’s one we can overcome.
Let’s commit ourselves to replace “I’ll do it later” with “I’ll do it now”. Stop giving out excuses or reasons, you need to pay for the work.
Take one step at a time consistently, and before you know it, you’ll be amazed at how far you’ve come.
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