By Karla Sullivan
And there is a condition for those, too, that put off effort and responsibility. According to studies published in Psychology Today, 20% of those that do not self-regulate are chronic procrastinators. They are the ones that pay bills the last minute, miss opportunities because they waited too long, delay that necessary phone call or avoid important issues especially health concerns that become larger than life. Similarly, procrastination involves not applying for health, home, auto and life insurance until the fall out occurs which can become a costly consequence and lesson.
Studies have also shown that a procrastinator can be a compulsive shopper, buying on credit, since we do live in a society that encourages nothing less; that sense of entitlement for buy now and pay later that gets us into serious trouble down the road.
Procrastination can not only affect your health waiting too long for treatment; ending up with complications but those that procrastinate will tend to put off financial decisions now such as planning for retirement later.
We all procrastinate to some degree because our brain does become tired with racing thoughts and problem solving so on the positive side, we do need to rest our minds, meditate to rejuvenate our thinking. However, when we take procrastination to the extreme and problems develop, we also tend to feel guilt, frustration and overwhelming stress.
There are reasons we procrastinate that include being fearful of making a mistake, being bored or discouraged by the task, or not really knowing how to tackle the issue.
Ultimately, how can we improve our focus to get things done? We can, in fact, learn to focus, improve our memory, manage our time and change our thinking.
Even though chronic procrastinators don’t like event planners, they should be using one; notating on their computer or cell phone the phone calls they need to return or bills to be paid days prior to the due date. Once they get into the habit of performing those necessities, procrastinators gain more confidence and realize it is not as bad as it seems. Writing down the task helps bring this to the forefront of thought
Select visual reminders throughout your day whether it be at work, school or home about doing it now and when first trying to change the habit, reward yourself, not with shopping, but procrastination time that is worth it.
Talk yourself out of fear; realize that as long as you think fear and pain in your life, you will get exactly what you are thinking and feeling. Many have commented why everything happens in three’s. This could be due to the idea that the first dramatic event causes the feelings of trepidation that creates the next form of chaos and so on. Then drama just becomes a vicious cycle.
Set short and long term goals, a budget for the next month, money saved in six months, a degree earned in four years. Don’t be afraid if the goal has to be re-designed for whatever reason, life does happen, but re-adjust and change the habit of procrastination.
Once you see that you can really accomplish what you thought impossible, those feelings of successful belief in yourself can be overpowering in a joyous return of investment.
Congratulations! You will never go back to the festering days of indecision.
