Procrastination: Reasons & Remedy

Procrastination Vectors by Vecteezya

Deadlines are the cutoffs when jobs meet their culminating point. But when a delay occurs due to any reason, it is procrastination. Reasons could be intentional, habitual, carelessness, or laziness. Sometimes, it may be over-confidence or disliking.

In medical terms, people call it “Ergophobia” which means “fear of work”. It is a combination of fears like failing a task or public speaking. Fears create anxiety which leads to procrastination.

At times, the impact of procrastination is negative and severe. Which may extend to a psychological disorder. Doctors diagnose procrastinators with mental illness.  The illness of depression, anxiety, neurological disorders, and low self-esteem.

“Do first what you don’t want to do most.” ― Clifford Cohen

Google Survey

A question put to 1,000 adults in the UK between 6^th  and 8^th  January 2020 using Google Surveys, “How often do you procrastinate?” the result shows: -

ü   15.6% of people claim never go procrastinate

ü   14.4% admit to procrastinating rarely

ü   27.4% do so sometimes

ü   22.1% do so often

ü   20.5% procrastinate daily

So, 84.4% of individuals procrastinate in some way.

Reasons & Remedy

          There could be several reasons which lead to procrastination. The next paras hold fewer causes and possible remedies to ponder upon.

Time Management:          

People see the project, its deadline, and the available time. They miscalculate that plenty of time is available therefore let’s do another task. They focus on the tasks according to the timeline but fail due to the wrong estimation. When deadlines are on their head then they panic and unable to manage. Even at times few projects do not have any completion date. The time miscalculation enforces procrastination.

Remedial Measure

People can complete their projects by making a breakdown of the timeline. Gantt Chart is the best tool which helps in making a schedule of a project into stages. Even for the projects with no deadlines. There are alternatives to the Gantt Chart that also serve the purpose.

Perfectionism

Perfectionism leads to an infinite loop. People do critical self-evaluations and never satisfied, so keep striving for better results. The room for improvement myth keeps them rejecting their outcomes. The pushing factor of perfection leads to a shortage of time. It also produces a lower standard output. Resultantly, perfectionists’ prey to procrastination. 

Remedial Measure

There is a workable way to get rid of perfectionism. Analyze and check your few completed projects. Try to find out some improving spaces. You will get some areas that need enhancement. Convince yourself to avoid the perfection complex.

Self Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps perfectionists to reduce perfectionism. They recognize their irrational thinking and seek alternative ways to handle situations. Carrying out an effective self CBT without a therapist at home which will be helpful.  

Confidence

The most common factor is confidence. Procrastination occurs due to over-confidence or lack of confidence.

People afraid of criticism and worry about other’s opinions. They lose confidence in themselves and tend to procrastinate.

Another stress factor is the level of overwhelming confidence. People think that they know how and when to start the project. They claim to complete the task as per the timeline and tend to procrastinate.

Remedial Measure

People can overcome the habit of overconfidence by: -

ü   Be truthful to own self

ü   Think the consequences while taking a decision

ü   Look into the past examples of their failures

ü   Be open to constructive criticism

ü   Stop compare themselves with others

 People can overcome the habit of lack of self-confidence by: -

ü   Acknowledge and accept the mistakes

ü   Convince yourself that you can do it

ü   Don’t be afraid of failures

ü   Celebrate success more often

ü   Stop compare themselves with others

Afraid to Commit Mistakes

In medical terms, people call it “Erratophobia” which means fear of making mistakes. Some people think that it is better to do nothing than committing mistakes. Fear of committing mistakes improves performance to some extent. But undue fear leads to procrastination.

Remedial Measure

People can overcome Erratophobia by: -

ü   Be ready to accept the greater adversity

ü   See around and observe, other people also commit mistakes

ü   Do commit a mistake and learn from it

ü   Mistakes enhance the competency

ü   Leave the comfort zone and you will see sky don’t fall

Overloaded with Tasks

People tend to take on projects in the lust of earning more. Or even over-estimate their capabilities. They are unable to complete the projects. Such people end up with procrastination.

Remedial Measure

People can overcome this aspect by: -

ü   Gauging their capabilities by self-judgment

ü   Managing workload according to their skillset

ü   Learn to say no to the extra projects

ü   Enhancing their skills, get the help of others

ü   Making use of technology (Tools)

Under-Pressure Syndrome

 Few people think that they perform well under a pressurized environment. They wait for the right time to start a project and fail to complete within a given time frame. The pressure tactics lead to procrastination as it affects focus and judgment. It also creates unwanted tension.

Remedial Measure

  Follow the schedule of the project. Think about performing the task without any pressures. If you can perform well under pressure then you can do your best under no pressure.

Conclusion

  Procrastination can be intentional, unintentional, or habitual. But it is not a disease that is incurable. If we understand the causes and misconceptions, we can handle it appropriately.

“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.” ― Charles Dickens

Besides minors, time management is the main cause of procrastination. By effective timeline management of any project, people can handle procrastination. 

The Reality of a Generation Gap

Own Creation 

It is a general perception that a family tree has three generations at a time. Grandparents, parents, and young ones. We may say 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation. All have beliefs, attitudes, goals, tastes, politics, and moral values towards life. These attributes always differ.

“Every generation needs a new revolution.” Thomas Jefferson

The thought process, dealings, or handling things by these generations can’t be the same. The older generation applies experience first whereas the youngers react to that. There always be a communication gap between the two or three. This is what we call; a generation gap.

“There was no respect for youth when I was young, and now that I am old, there is no respect for age – I missed it coming and going.” J.B. Priestly

Is Generation Gap Important?

          Yes, it is; as it provides a breathing space to the culture and society.  The environment needs changes around us and this gap provides the perfect opportunity.

Reasons & Effects of Differences

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·               Brought Up.  The upbringing of all three generations is in a different time-frame. It affects their mental, psychological, and behavioral framework. So, conflict and differences of opinion are the expected byproduct.

·               Communication Gap. Since both have their likes and dislikes, thus, unable to find peace among each other. To avoid confrontation, each generation doesn’t express true feelings. So, they missed out on the channel of expression. 

Workable solution

“Parenthood…It’s about guiding the next generation, and forgiving the last.” Peter Krause

Bridging Gap Vectors by Vecteezya

As there is a reaction to every action same wise every problem has the solution. The generation gap is a complex issue and a joint effort from both ends can resolve it.  Elder and younger generations may resort to the following: -

·  More listening and less talking from both sides may bridge the gap.

·  The hard task is to do the compromise from both ends. 

·  Open the doors of communication all the time.

·  Senior generation possesses more knowledge and experience. But if they act as they know a little less than youngers may solve the issue of confrontation.

·   Fewer expectations lead to fewer chances of a conflict.

·  The senior generation should not only teach but be ready to learn as well.  

Conclusion

Indeed, the younger generation can’t match the experience of the older generation. But it doesn’t mean that old ones know everything. The young generation, being aggressive, opposes the seniors. The old generation, being elders, expects respect, and positive response.

Both sides need a reciprocatory attitude. We should not expect some revolutionary results from a continuing issue at once.

      
    “A generation which ignores history has no past – and no future.” Robert A. Heinlein

How to Quit Smoking in 7 Steps?

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When I say to my smoker friends and colleagues, elders and young ones, smoking is injurious to health, the reply is obvious, “Say Something New”.

But when I say it’s easy to quit, they all either laugh or smile. And when I say I have done it; it’s really easy, then I always hear “What you just said; easy, you must be kidding.”

I even hear from my best friend, “Yes, I agree that quit smoking is very easy as I did it many times in the past couple of years. But the issue is, I start again and again and again……”

Smoking is not good for health and even it is fatal. Look at the shocking statistics issued by the World Health Organization (WHO):-

·              Half of the tobacco users are killed by it.

·              Each year, more than 8 million people are killed by tobacco

o More than 7 million active smokers

o Around 1.2 million passive smokers

“The true face of smoking is disease, death, and horror — not the glamour and sophistication the pushers in the tobacco industry try to portray.” David Byrne

The following steps helped me and hopefully support the other as well. It is a must-read for chain smokers and a worth-read for potential smokers.

Step — I: Decision

If you have decided to quit smoking; believe me, you have won half of the battle. Taking the decision, making up the mind, is the hardest step ever for me.

Suggestion

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Seriousness is the key to success. Be determined if you are serious about quitting smoking.

Take a decision;
·     If you feel your mouth as an ashtray.
·      If you want to enjoy the real taste of eatables and revive your taste buds.
·   If you feel the guilt that you are making passive smokers around you.

·            After visiting smoker patients in a hospital.

·   After witnessing the death rate statistics at the WHO website.

·              If you want to enjoy a good quality of life.

Step — II: Meals & Smoking Connection

Smokers always make a cigarette ready after every meal or snack, they simply can’t live without it. You have to break the connection between a meal and a smoke. This was the most difficult step for me, but above-mentioned Step — I helped me.

Suggestion

·              Increase the time-space between a meal and smoke, you may start from 5 minutes.

·              A gradual increase in time, up to 30 minutes, would be better.

·              The time jump may take weeks or months.

·              Be determined and keep increasing the time-lapse until the connection will break.

Step — III: Avoid Smokers

When I left smoking for the second-last time, one of my colleagues pushed me by motivating, “Let’s do gang smoking” and I decided not to inhale but puff out the smoke.

Alas! I started again.

Suggestion

·              You can politely refuse the smoking offer with a smile.

·              Request your friends not to offer rather not to smoke in front of you.

·              Find a friend who quit smoking successfully and spend time with him to get tips and inspiration.

 ·              Leave the company of smokers.

·              Make non-smokers friends.

Step — IV: Change of Diet Plan

Normally the urge for a cigarette increases after eating meat stuff. But we can’t quit food of high nutrition value therefore a change of diet plan is needed. I changed my eating habits, it was beneficial.

Suggestion

·              Increase the vegetable items in the meal.

·              Add fruits to lunch and dinner.

·              Reduce meat items.

·              Increase water intake with every meal.

Step — V: Reduce Scale of Smoking

The sudden removal of any addiction has consequences; maybe severe health issues. Gradual removal is always recommended.

Photo by Mathew MacQuarrie on Unsplash

       Suggestion
·  Smoke 90% of a cigarette. Decrease the percentage bit by bit. Do it with every pack.
·  Reduce cigarette per week. If you smoke 20/day, it makes 140/week. So, 139/week wouldn’t make much of a difference. Then 138, 137, 136……, and so on.

·  The need for nicotine will decrease gradually by adopting any or combination of the above methods.

Step — VI: Study Diseases Caused by Tobacco

I did an excessive and extensive study of diseases caused by smoking. Also, studied the effects on other diseases when augmented with tobacco. It was the best motivating factor that worked for me.

Suggestion

·              Go through the material available on the internet in the shape of articles and research papers etc.

·              Visit the local library for the purpose.

·              Consult a doctor and make yourself educated.

Step — VII: Take a Walk

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The best and final step is exercise. New research has confirmed that exercise can help smokers finally kick the habit.

It can easily distract you from smoking and keeps you busy until the urge for smoking passes away.

A walk or stretch reduces the cravings and pushes the brain to produce anti-craving chemicals.

Suggestion

·              Do 30 minutes exercise at once or 10 minutes exercise 3 times a day. The results would be the same. It reduces the urge for smoking.

·              Take a walk on a track and use the mobile step counter app to keep the record.

A drawback of Quitting Smoking

Yes, it is correct, there is a drawback as well. After quitting, appetite increases to the extent that smokers put on weight. Gaining weight causes other health issues.

Solution: Do more exercise and burn the extra calories regularly.

Conclusion

Smokers do smoke when they feel happiness or sadness, celebrating or grieving, having fun or getting bored, glad or depressed, etc. In short, it’s all mood solution. But the fact remains, tobacco is dangerous to the body organs.

Quitting is tough, but possible. It’s a matter of self-control and determination. It’s a matter of conviction and will power.

Good luck with the decision, if taken to quit smoking.