"I'll do it later...."

If there’s one thing we’re all good at, it’s procrastinating. Some people are better at it than others, but we’ve all done it at least once. There’s just something... comforting about leaving things unfinished until the last minute. Maybe it’s the feeling of relief that you don’t have to worry about it just yet, or maybe it’s the confidence that you’ll figure it out one way or another. Either way, it’s just natural. But why’s it such a big deal? What happens if we get too used to this nature? 

Welcome back! It's time we tackle the plague of our time: procrastination. Let's be honest with ourselves for a second; we love to wait. Procrastination is what every teacher warns their students not to make a habit of, and what do we do? We deliberately disobey what they say. I’m not entirely against the idea, considering I’m also a kid who wants a life. However, since our brains automatically decide not to work on something the moment we get it, it ensures that we won’t develop any time management skills in the future. It doesn’t seem like a big deal at first, but when we get a huge project (like a science fair entry... hint hint) to work on, we end up freaking out and trying to scrap something together to turn it in at the very last minute and trust me, it doesn’t end very well. 

Projects and assignments aren’t meant to be completed the day they’re due. The lengthier the assignment, the more time the teacher gives us. Because they give us so much time, we convince ourselves that we have what it takes to complete everything in a day, so we can use the rest of the time to relax.

What do we gain out of it, though? NOTHING. Just spare time to binge-watch a show or respond to a few extra Snaps. When the time comes when we need time management skills the most, we won’t have any. So, what can we do to change that? 

Firstly, no habit can be developed if you go all out on the first day. For example, if you want to lose weight, it isn’t realistic that you'll show up at the gym and do a thirty-minute workout instantly, without fail. I’m sure the motivation to keep going would leave pretty quickly (you know it's true)!

So, the best way to build any habit is by showing up. Consistency is key. Even if it means you’ll drive to the gym, walk inside, and leave without doing anything. It doesn’t matter. You’re building the habit of showing up.  

The same thing can be applied to procrastination. Once you get an assignment, sit down with it every day and do something to contribute to it. Even if you just write a sentence or sign your name, you’re still training your brain to create expectations for yourself to work towards finishing. Soon enough, you’ll go from writing just a sentence to paragraphs; then paragraphs to essays, and so on. 

It’s not an easy process at all. It can be frustrating and infuriating. It might feel like a burden at one point, but pushing through is worth it. Once the habit is built, it’s hard to get rid of (not to mention it makes life so much easier).

Never having to pull an all-nighter to get something done does have a nice ring. To be honest, I think I’ll be better off without binge-watching a TV show in a day if it means that I can have a full eight hours of sleep!  

Want to learn more about building habits? Check out the writer, James Clear! 

Click here to go to his website!

Now It’s Your Turn! 

All this talk about anti-procrastination and habit-building needs one more thing for it to become a reality: YOU! It isn’t enough to just read about something. You need to test it out! So, here’s my challenge to you:  

Set a goal for yourself and do something every day for a week to reach it. Set notifications on your phone, write them down on your calendar, get someone to remind you, or do all of the above! Do whatever you can to work towards your goal for five consecutive days. Let’s see if you can make it until my next post! 

What are you waiting for? OFF YOU GO!