Procrastination can be a bummer majority of the time, when you try to get certain tasks done, it’s hard because of a lack of motivation, discipline or having trouble finding the time to do it.
You always feel bad later, but fortunately, there are lots of ways, like improving time management or taking small steps to get over this hump.
Procrastination is a huge problem amongst people to the point that one’s physical and mental health are affected by it, hindering a person’s well-being.
According to Deconstructing Stigma, a global mental health awareness initiative, procrastination can create a chronic cycle of anxiety, stress and depression, along with low self-esteem that can limit a student’s personal growth.
Physically, the enduring stress can cause poor sleeping habits and recurring headaches.
All of these factors can heavily impact the way a person lives on a daily basis, making it impossible to function while having responsibilities such as school or a job.
Procrastination can go as far as ruining the relationships between friends, family and significant others, as it can lead to broken trust and strained relationships.
If you’ve ever promised to get something done for someone, even something as simple as taking out the trash, then didn’t deliver purely because of procrastination, that person isn’t likely to trust you again.
Many underlying causes can also be attributed to procrastination, such as the fear of failure, perfectionism and ADHD.
There, however, are ways to break this chronic cycle by taking small steps and getting into the habit of doing.
Many of us may have tried to do huge tasks that might’ve been discouraging to finish, so breaking them up into small steps is always important.
Poor time management is another factor that can easily lead people to procrastinate, such as when someone loses track of time relaxing or ignoring the work they’re supposed to do, that work never gets done at all. Additionally, when someone realizes how much time they’ve wasted, they may be discouraged from starting at all.
Therefore, it’s important to try to find ways to combat the problem by writing in a planner or setting reminders for yourself to get assignments or tasks done in a timely manner.
Struggling to fix one’s procrastination problem can be very overwhelming and anxiety-inducing, so ask for help in ways like therapy or coaching.
Procrastination isn’t an impossible issue to overcome, as it is an emotional management issue that can be addressed by taking small steps and making sure you are asking for help.
At LBCC there are resources that can help students such as Mental Health Services, counseling appointments and the Multidisciplinary Success Center which can help students develop study skills.
