The Real Reasons Why We Procrastinate!
Many describe procrastination as number one enemy against productivity. But why exactly do we postpone something repeatedly knowing the consequences that it will take? Is it because all the distractions surrounding us? Does that mean that in the past without tv and cell phone people were more proactive?
I don’t believe so; distractions will be here regardless of the digital or non-digital world we live.
But it’s much easier to blame all the distraction surrounding us than ourselves. The number one enemy against productivity is trying to do something that we don’t want to. But somehow, people keep insisting on doing things that they don’t want or like. When you are doing something that you love, procrastination is the least of your problems. It’s probably the other way around, you’d wish to delay things but you can’t because you want to finish that idea and postpone is not even an option, everything surrounding disappears.
I could say the best way to fight procrastination is to change your mindset, be faithful with your routine and daily goals. But does it matter if at the end of the day you are not doing what you love? Every day will seem like a fight you put upon yourself, I will do this and this and that. You are doing so many things at the same time, but nothing that matters to you. You do not fight procrastination anymore, but you are fighting a more significant battle, a battle against who you are.
But what’s your passion?
The other day while having a freelancer job in logistics, I was talking with this guy, and I asked him if he had any passion or was that a part-time conciliating with something he loved to do. Because surely, working in a warehouse and throwing boxes to a treadmill cannot be anyone passion, so he replied that he wants to do stuff but also suffer from procrastination. I usually don’t tend to think about things that already happened, but that word did stick on my mind.
What’s more important than doing what you love, I thought.
A movie? A video game?
So, I asked him, “What is your passion?”
“I love photography, but I suck at it!” he said with zero confidence in his voice.
The rest of the shift he kept on showing amazing pictures that he took throughout the years. I am not any master’s in photography, but I can recognize good photography when I see one. How does a guy that loves photography ends up in a warehouse and not even willing to chase what he loves to do? Does he suffer from procrastination? I don’t think so; he suffers from a lack of confidence. As soon as I said his pictures look fantastic, he insisted on showing his all portfolio. So, it means that if I said the pictures look horrible was a reason to quit?
Where it starts;
Delaying of tasks starts in schools because students need to learn a variant of subjects that are not interested so they can pass; unfortunately, we have an education system that will teach us to include procrastination in our lives. Sadly, these bad habits will be included in our routines when we become adults, and everything will be a reason to distract us from what’s essential for us, till we stop trying.
Is society the giant responsible for procrastination?
Yes.
Can we fight it?
Absolutely.
How?
Find people that do what they genuinely love and be inspired by them, use them as your mentor. Keep trying and fail till you get there. Keep on fighting till you find that thing. Yes, that thing, that when you talk about it, people will see a sparkling in your eyes and that energy will not move unnoticed. And they even want to help you grow that idea because they want to feel that passion as well even if it’s not their love.
Daily I am trying new things seeking that thing. Till I find it, I will keep on trying, and never give up. And if I dye trying will be the best feeling that is dying not do anything about it. Enough of making other people’s dream reality; Work on yours as well. Opportunities are everywhere if we decide not to procrastinate.
So are you going to procrastinate today?
