The complete guide to overcoming procrastination in simple ways 28^th February 2021

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the number of things on your task list? Do you distract yourself by doing everything else? Do you end up hastily finishing your work minutes before the deadline? This postponing tasks until the last minute or past the deadline is called procrastination.

To put it simply, procrastination is the voluntary delay of essential tasks despite being aware of the negative consequences it may have in the future. But don’t worry; you’re not alone in this. Research shows that about 20 percent of adults tend to delay or avoid completing tasks by allowing themselves to get distracted.

The reasons for procrastination may differ from person to person. Psychology states that procrastination is not a time-management issue but is about avoiding negative feelings or triggers. A person may feel overwhelmed by the number of responsibilities and the pressure of completing them, causing intense anxiety, fear, or other negative emotions. Procrastinating then becomes an avoidance strategy to evade those negative feelings. It also revolves around the person’s inability to focus or deal with personal fears and emotional triggers.

Being a procrastinator can affect your productivity and harm your behavioural pattern. Never procrastinate on health issues, and always keep your health a priority. While health insurance plans in India can help recoup the costs of your treatments, they cannot guarantee a backup plan for missed opportunities. It is never too late to change and make better choices.

Here are a few tips to overcome procrastination.

1. Remove distractions:
While working, remove distractions to create a more conducive work environment, even if you’re not ready to get started on your work.

2. Take baby steps:
When we think of a task, the burden of completing it to the finish line can often become overwhelming. Think of the small, immediate steps to begin the task to dodge any such anxiety. For example, if you have to prepare a meal, simply start by gathering all ingredients required. Breaking down a task into more manageable steps can reduce the pressure of an overwhelming responsibility.

3. Reward yourself:
Treat yourself for the steps that you take towards completing a task. If you manage to get started, assign a relatively small reward to create a positive and content feeling. This will self-motivate you to complete the work with enthusiasm.

4. Recognise your triggers:
Recognising and accepting the triggers and fears causing you to procrastinate is a crucial step to resolve your habit. Think through your patterns and try to examine the cause of your procrastination. Ask yourself about what is making you to procrastinate. For example, if you’re afraid that you will make a mistake while doing the task, you can start resolving this fear by assuring yourself that it’s not the end of the world and that you can always correct the fault.

5. Create a plan of action:
Formulate a plan to smoothly complete your work based on two factors - your goals and the nature of your procrastination. For example, if your goal is to study 15 pages of a chapter and you fear that you won’t do it all in one sitting. Break down your study hours by splitting the work equally with timed breaks and small rewards. Doing this will allow you to systematically complete your task while relieving yourself from any negative feelings.

The habit of procrastination can quickly become a detrimental habit in the long run. Investing in health insurance plans in India can certainly secure your health in the future, but forming better habits is all in your hands. Give yourself permission to make mistakes and focus on visualising yourself having completed the goals.

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Disclaimer: The information provided above is for illustrative purposes only. To get more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before purchasing a policy.