There’s a hero and villain inside us. At some point, everyone has converted a two-minute break into an extended one during a critical task, despite knowing it’s downside. Globally, Procrastination is an irresistible baddie among 80-95% of college students because of reasons like lack of motivation, poor time management, stress and more. Even professionals have fallen prey to it. But the hero -goal setting motivation-helps in overcoming procrastination and creating confidence building habits. Are you up for it?
The Nuts and Bolts of Procrastination
Procrastination is not laziness or a mood swing, but the habit of choosing short term happiness over long-term rewards. It’s the habit of delaying things or putting them off by doing enjoyable activities, despite being aware of their negative consequences.
It could be something as simple as scrolling reels for hours under the premise of a five-minute break, while creating a critical presentation. The lines between enjoyment and responsibility get blurred and this can even lead to poor performance at work, no promotions, bad relationships and much more, on a long-term basis.
Triggers
- Doing low-key tasks to create an illusion of being busy
- Instant gratification over hard work
- Misconception that you perform well under pressure
- Pretending that things are too hard to deal and lack of clarity
- Eroded self-confidence and low energy levels assuming you’re not that good
- Fear of failure, anxiety and guilt because you’re afraid of messing up
The Procrastination Bite: Food for Thought
- At least 40% people have reported financial loss due to procrastination.
- Procrastination is linked to depression and Problematic Tik Tok Use (PTTU) in the 18-24 years age group.
- An average wok spends a little over 2 hours on a non-job-related activity, says a Global Workplace Analytics report.
- According to the American Psychological Association, at least 68% people have reported chronic depression because of procrastination.
Impact
- Emotional and psychological impact like boredom, depression, anxiety, lack of focus, distraction.
- Missed career and growth opportunities.
- Nagging guilt of unfinished tasks.
- Self-reproach and mental stress.
- Low productivity and lack of motivation.
- Poor dietary and sleeping habits.
Goal Setting: How to trick your brain into winning
Did you’re rewiring your brain every time you set and achieve goals? Studies indicate that neural pathways are stronger in such individuals and they also develop strong neural pathways related to confidence and concentration.
Goals also build your motivation levels and create clarity. They are also a measure of success; steps taken to progress and build confidence. They also prepare you for challenges and teach resilience and creating a solutions-oriented mindset. Here are some ways for goal-setting:
- Take the bull by its horns: Literally. Tackle your toughest challenge or task first. Everything else will fall in place easily.
- Break it down: All big tasks need not be completed in a single time! Break your tasks into mini capsules with breathing space and deadlines.
- Prioritise: Start with the most important tasks and then proceed to smaller ones. It’s less stressful.
- The Pomodoro Technique: For a quick reboot, take a 5-minute break after working for 25 minutes .
- Reminders: Every time the procrastination bug attacks, remind yourself why you need to complete that task
- Create a time-table: Stick to a routine. The familiarity of a schedule keeps stress at bay.
- Treat yourself: Every task done is a positive thing! Pamper yourself with a movie or your favourite dish.
BOX: FUN FACTS
- People are likely to begin new tasks after landmarks like birthday, New Year etc,
- Procrastination habits may be genetic, suggest some studies
- Your brain remembers your incomplete tasks more than completed ones
The Amity Edge
- Creating Corporate Jedis: We forge trailblazers and leaders by equipping students with best technological, social, life skills and futuristic skills from curricular and immersive learning to ace the corporate arena.
- Master-of-Everything: From spotting opportunities, turning challenges into success, community leadership, raising one’s own business to learning-on-the-go our students are nurtured to be empathetic humans and impactful professionals.
- Innovation Playground: Amity’s labs are equipped with globally competitive machines and technology. You will also learn in-demand skills like leadership, teamwork, risk taking, risk management, agility and flexibility.
- Placements: Amity University Noida's placements create benchmarks every year from garnering Rs 2 crore annual job package to placement in 500 corporates in campus recruitment including top Fortune 500 employers.
Conclusion
Success is not defined by perfectionism. It’s about the journey of a thousand steps, one day at a time.
