Procrastination is a Thief of Time

Procrastination is the thief of time.”​—Edward Young, c. 1742.

Have you ever thought to yourself? Oh! I will do it next time. or in the next 30 minutes. Then that time comes and you feel lazy.
We have all been there. In fact, don't drop this article and postpone it for later. That later will never come.

Set a time for yourself. This blog will only last for two minutes or less (depending on how fast you read), so sit back, read and find a solution to your problem the old fashioned way.

This blog will help you to stop procrastinating even if:

1. A task feels hard to do
2. You feel weak
3. You are too busy.

Let’s get started.

Ask yourself this question. Why do I procrastinate? This short question can be soul-searching.
Well, there are a number of reasons why many procrastinate today. Let’s look at three of them and some ways to avoid or overcome them:

The task is hard to do

Not all tasks are easy. Homeworks is meant to test your brain. You shouldn't expect it to be A B C simple, however, you can make your daunting task ABC simple. How?
By breaking it into bits. Don't rush into everything at a time.
Start as soon as possible and work through it little by little. You can set a schedule for your assignment and stick to it.
If you find it hard to stick to this routine, ask for help. Your roommate, your friends, and family who love you will be ready to help you. They can remind you to stick to your schedule.

Key point to self: Have a schedule, be organized, ask others for help.

You feel weak

Laziness is so common today. Some youths talk about living in a simulation. Everything seems so unreal. Most times, homeworks or assignments are so boring to tackle. It might seem like a burden to an already debilitating mental health.
If that is your problem, remember, you are not alone.
So, how can you find joy in doing task on time and not procrastinating even though it is sucking joy out of you?
Have a good reason to finish the task early. For instance, how would you feel if you do the task on time? Happy, right?.
Also, think of how you will feel when doing it at the last minute or not doing it at all.
Stress and anxiety levels rise at a high level as you scramble to get your work done before the deadline.
How much better would it be if you did it on time?

Key point to self: Your mindset determines how you feel. If you think your assignment is boring, you might push it to the last minute. Try to find joy and motivation in doing it.

You are too busy

No one is as busy as a bee, yet the bee always has time to make honey. A secret to not procrastinating even when you are too busy is to have priorities.
Do the simple task first. Have a journal or a record of all your tasks and set them in order of priority. Is that hard to do? Not if you want control over your time.
Remember to limit your distractions and not allow them to make you too busy.

Key point to self: Get things done. Don’t keep it in a mental note in your head. Try to prioritize important things first and avoid distractions.

Other Things You can do to Stop Procrastinating

So, how can you catch the thief?
Here are some things that you should do:

Have a Plan

Have a checklist of what you want to accomplish a day the night before you sleep. This will help you not to forget them. You can check off items you do and see what is still needed to be done.
Make sure your check list is in order of priority and relevance.

Always Check Time

Have an accurate assessment of time. Set alarm reminders based on what task you need to accomplish. Give yourself breaks and don't misuse it.

Ask for Help

You are not a superhero living the Marvel or DC story. Always ask others for help if you are overwhelmed with a lot to do. Also, don't take up so much work to do so you don't get turned off by the enormous amount of tasks.

Break Project into Bits

The smaller you slice up bigger task, the easier you do them. When you see the progress of the small task, you are motivated to move over to the next task.

Keep in Mind Distractions

You will always be distracted. Tiktok, Instagram reels, phone calls, life problems, just name it. If you want to focus on your task and not procrastinate, you need to expect distractions and get ready for them. Shut them completely till you are done with your task.

Give Yourself Rewards

Schedule time to rest. After working for three hours, rest for 30 minutes. Be self-disciplined. Don't misuse your reward. Enjoy your rest and resume your task.

Just think of it, you read this article to the end. How do you feel now?