Freedom from Procrastination by Dr. Rev. A. R. Bernard
extracted from Dr. Rev. A. R. Bernard's notes on FB
Procrastination is so common among college students that one university actually set up counseling services to help students overcome it. In an article on the school's website, psychologist William Knaust estimated that 90 percent of college students procrastinate-of these young procrastinators, 25 percent are chronic offenders who often end up dropping out of college.
What does procrastination mean to you? I define it as "The avoidance of a task that needs to be accomplished-this avoidance behavior usually leads to feelings of guilt, inadequacy, depression, and self-doubt."
Why do people procrastinate? Sometimes it's simple: Procrastinators have often acquired very poor time management habits. Chronic procrastinators usually have difficulty setting priorities, goals, and objectives. As a result they may become overwhelmed by relatively small tasks, so instead of tackling the job at hand, they give up before they get started.
Another reason that folks put things off is because of the fear and anxiety that comes from their own negative self-beliefs. They tell themselves, "I don't measure up to the task." Or "I feel totally inadequate." Or "I'll never be good enough to do the job right." The list of negative self-proclamations is almost endless. So instead of risking failure, these self-proclamations is almost endless. So instead of risking failure, these self-styled critics just keep putting things off, with predictably unhappy results.
If you've acquired the habit of procrastination, you know what a destructive habit it can be. And when you stop to think about it, you have to admit that procrastination interferes with your own happiness. After all, many of the things you keep putting off have the potential to improve your life.
Maybe you've avoided going back to finish school. Or perhaps you "just haven't gotten around to" searching for a better job. Or maybe you've been hindered by a hundred other emotional roadblocks too numerous to mention. If so, it's appropriate to ask yourself what you've been waiting for, and why.
If you're waiting for the conditions to be perfect (or, for that matter, if you're waiting for yourself to become perfect), it's time for a large, sobering dose of reality. When it comes to improving yourself or your situation, the timing is never "perfect." But it's always the right time to take positive steps to improve your own life or the lives of your loved ones.
Overcoming procrastination begins when you honestly examine your feelings toward the task at hand. So ask yourself, "Are my feelings valid? Or am I exaggerating my own fears of inadequacy while at the same time imagining that everything must be perfect before I can begin?" And while you're at it, ask yourself if you're afraid to fail.
Happiness is understanding that failure is the womb for success. Happiness is understanding that conditions are never "perfect" for doing anything in this life. (I remember one young man who told me he was waiting to save enough money to get married. I told him, "You'll never get married!")
Happiness is freedom from fear and from all of the negative children of fear-all those nonsensical, inappropriate, overblown fears that have heretofore caused you to put things off. Procrastination is the thief of time and the grave of opportunity.
Face facts: There will always be obstacles in the way of your success. But please don't focus too intently on those obstacles; focus, instead, on your goal. Decide what you want to do; get serious, get smart; and then do it. Now!
A Simple Step
Tips for Getting Things Done
1. Have a clear understanding of your short-and long-term goals, and set your priorities in accordance with those goals.
2. When faced with distasteful tasks, do them immediately, preferably first thing in the morning (even if the unpleasantness is a low-priority activity, go ahead and get it out of the way if it can be completed quickly). Dispatching distasteful tasks sooner rather than later will improve the quality of your day and prevent you from wasting untold amounts of energy in the process of fighting against yourself.
3. Avoid the trap of perfectionism. Be willing to do your best, and be satisfied with the results.
4. If you don't already own one, purchase a daily or weekly planning system that fits your needs. If used properly, a planning calendar is worth many times what you pay for it.
5. Start each work day with a written "to-do" list, ranked according to importance. At lunch time, take a moment to collect your thoughts, reexamine your list, and refocus your efforts on the most important things you wish to accomplish during the remainder of the day.
Procrastination is so common among college students that one university actually set up counseling services to help students overcome it. In an article on the school's website, psychologist William Knaust estimated that 90 percent of college students procrastinate-of these young procrastinators, 25 percent are chronic offenders who often end up dropping out of college.
What does procrastination mean to you? I define it as "The avoidance of a task that needs to be accomplished-this avoidance behavior usually leads to feelings of guilt, inadequacy, depression, and self-doubt."
Why do people procrastinate? Sometimes it's simple: Procrastinators have often acquired very poor time management habits. Chronic procrastinators usually have difficulty setting priorities, goals, and objectives. As a result they may become overwhelmed by relatively small tasks, so instead of tackling the job at hand, they give up before they get started.
Another reason that folks put things off is because of the fear and anxiety that comes from their own negative self-beliefs. They tell themselves, "I don't measure up to the task." Or "I feel totally inadequate." Or "I'll never be good enough to do the job right." The list of negative self-proclamations is almost endless. So instead of risking failure, these self-proclamations is almost endless. So instead of risking failure, these self-styled critics just keep putting things off, with predictably unhappy results.
If you've acquired the habit of procrastination, you know what a destructive habit it can be. And when you stop to think about it, you have to admit that procrastination interferes with your own happiness. After all, many of the things you keep putting off have the potential to improve your life.
Maybe you've avoided going back to finish school. Or perhaps you "just haven't gotten around to" searching for a better job. Or maybe you've been hindered by a hundred other emotional roadblocks too numerous to mention. If so, it's appropriate to ask yourself what you've been waiting for, and why.
If you're waiting for the conditions to be perfect (or, for that matter, if you're waiting for yourself to become perfect), it's time for a large, sobering dose of reality. When it comes to improving yourself or your situation, the timing is never "perfect." But it's always the right time to take positive steps to improve your own life or the lives of your loved ones.
Overcoming procrastination begins when you honestly examine your feelings toward the task at hand. So ask yourself, "Are my feelings valid? Or am I exaggerating my own fears of inadequacy while at the same time imagining that everything must be perfect before I can begin?" And while you're at it, ask yourself if you're afraid to fail.
Happiness is understanding that failure is the womb for success. Happiness is understanding that conditions are never "perfect" for doing anything in this life. (I remember one young man who told me he was waiting to save enough money to get married. I told him, "You'll never get married!")
Happiness is freedom from fear and from all of the negative children of fear-all those nonsensical, inappropriate, overblown fears that have heretofore caused you to put things off. Procrastination is the thief of time and the grave of opportunity.
Face facts: There will always be obstacles in the way of your success. But please don't focus too intently on those obstacles; focus, instead, on your goal. Decide what you want to do; get serious, get smart; and then do it. Now!
A Simple Step
Tips for Getting Things Done
1. Have a clear understanding of your short-and long-term goals, and set your priorities in accordance with those goals.
2. When faced with distasteful tasks, do them immediately, preferably first thing in the morning (even if the unpleasantness is a low-priority activity, go ahead and get it out of the way if it can be completed quickly). Dispatching distasteful tasks sooner rather than later will improve the quality of your day and prevent you from wasting untold amounts of energy in the process of fighting against yourself.
3. Avoid the trap of perfectionism. Be willing to do your best, and be satisfied with the results.
4. If you don't already own one, purchase a daily or weekly planning system that fits your needs. If used properly, a planning calendar is worth many times what you pay for it.
5. Start each work day with a written "to-do" list, ranked according to importance. At lunch time, take a moment to collect your thoughts, reexamine your list, and refocus your efforts on the most important things you wish to accomplish during the remainder of the day.
posted by Trudy at
3:34 AM
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