Quit_Procrastinating

Quit Procrastinating Procrastination without a doubt is one of the greatest factors stopping us getting things done and especially the important things (Reg GARTERS, 2010). Most of us procrastinate doing something. We procrastinate because we do not want to do them, or because we have too many other things on our plates. Examining the consequences, we can tell whether or not there is a need to do something about our procrastination. The consequences of procrastination can be external or internal. External consequence is getting a zero on a paper because it was completed on time or internal consequence when guilt or anxiety overwhelms you. Not all things you postpone will have consequences. If you postpone painting your living room, but the current color doesn't bother you, who cares' When your procrastination leaves you feeling overwhelmed and/or hurting your performance at work or school, however, it is time to take action. There is information and processes out there to help us quit procrastinating the things we deem important. There is hope for us procrastinators. The fact that we procrastinate does not mean that we are worthless or unreliable. Procrastination is not uncontrollable. It is a habit that we can overcome. There are many books and articles that help us eliminate procrastination from hindering our success both academically and professionally. As procrastinators, we tend to be self-critical. So we need to be gentle with ourselves, as we develop different work habits, to correct our bad habit. Punishing ourselves every time we realize we have put something off won't help us change but rewarding ourselves for demonstrating progress will. Resources are all around, use of the school or public library; Internet sites with .gov and .edu are very informational also. You just have to stop procrastinating and go out and find the information to help you. Once the information is found, we must then take it and use it. Develop a plan or process to eliminate the bad habit and create new good habits. Many publications identify different steps or processes to figure out how to stop procrastinating. “Just do it. Do it now, even if you don’t feel like it” Anonymous. (2007). This kind of mindset works every time. If right now cannot be done, pick a time and stick to it. Study in a place reserved for study ONLY. Go to a place that allows for study will always be successful. Become a groupie: When possible study with a group of dedicated students. Others can be an inspiration to keep up and learn and support your efforts. Let them not allow you to procrastinate. When you feel tempted to procrastinate, use this temptation as a signal to become an objective self-observer, and use a procrastination log to gather information. Set clear and measurable goals. One of the consistently profitable approaches associated with accomplishment starts with setting clear, measurable, and attainable goals. Maybe you need to take a “bits and pieces approach.” The most complex challenges have a simple beginning. In this sense, most challenges can be broken down into bits and pieces. How do you eat an elephant' You eat it one piece at a time. If you look at it this way it will not seem as big of a task as you thought. Get your act together. Make a plan for how you will gear up for the change and start the change in motion. Pick a start date. Publicly announce your intentions. Make a deal with a "buddy" to periodically monitor your change program. Start at the anointed date and time. Expect and accept making adjustments to your plan. Chart your progress. Routinely remind yourself about the long-term benefits you gain and the long-term hassles you avoid. Press forward. Reinforce yourself for persisting. You can change procrastination habits by both examining and questioning your current process and its results. By changing the process, you change the results. You have many ways to change the process. You can decide to put yourself in seclusion to be able to study better. You can develop organizational habits that lead to greater personal efficiencies, effectiveness, and reduced stress. The best thing you can do is quit procrastinating and just do it. References Anonymous. (2007). 12. Light My Fire, Please! Overcoming Procrastination. In Cool Careers for Dummies (3rd ed., pp.311-327). Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Retrieved December 21, 2010, from Career and Technical Education. (Document ID: 1492700371). Reg GARTERS.  (2010, December 18). It's time to stop procrastinating. The Press,G.2.  Retrieved December 21, 2010, from ProQuest Newsstand. (Document ID: 2216816461).