PROCRASTINATION : An EPIDEMIC

 Why has he written it 'An epidemic'?

Isn't it, folks? 

Procrastination, for those hearing it for the first time, is the act of delaying or putting off tasks until the last minute, or past their deadline. Why have I designated it an epidemic? 

Procrastination is not a phenomenon that is seen exclusively in this era. This is evident and quite popular for a long time. In India itself, Sant Kabir had famously said, 

काल करे सो आज कर, आज करे सो अब। पल में परलय होएगी, बहुरि करेगा कब।

Egyptian hieroglyphs have been discovered, wherein recorded conversations between two people have been translated. "Friend, stop putting off work and allow us to go home in good time."

The same idea has been reiterated by many poets and motivational speakers in history.

But the sad reality is that we humans have gotten worse in the last five decades. There has been a 300-400% rise in chronic procrastination. Approximately 50% of people procrastinate in the world.

But why do humans procrastinate in the first place? What is it exactly that makes us procrastinate? Here, let's dig deeper into this topic. 

The basic relation one should know:

            Motivation ∝1/Procrastination

 

Procrastination can be due to the following reasons; Low Expectations, Different needs and Fear of Failure.

LOW EXPECTATIONS:

Imagine a school collaborating with a prestigious US university, which is offering a full-ride scholarship to study at their university to those students who secure a rank in the top 5 in their exams. 

A kid who already ranks consistently in the top 10, knows that this will be a huge opportunity. He knows that if he works hard, he can achieve it. The motivation of this student will be way higher than compared to a student, who flunks in most of his exams, and knows that he can't even make it to the top 10. The latter would think that he can't do it and subsequently won't put much effort as the brighter student would. This is where the 'Low Expectations' factor is seen.

DIFFERENT NEEDS:

There is an interview for a job, which has promised a package of 2 crores/ per annum. And two candidates have cleared other stages and made it this far. 

Candidate A is a son of a cobbler and knows that if he gets this job, he could lift himself and his family from the bonds of poverty. He would make sure that there is nothing left in his effort to crack the interview. Here the motivation is very high.

Candidate B, in contrast, is a well-off kid and the daughter of a famous Bollywood producer. Her life is pretty decent and has everything one would aspire to. Getting this job won't change much of her lifestyle. Therefore, her motivation would be not as much as Candidate A's.

This is where the 'Different Needs' factor is often evident.

FEAR OF FAILURE:

This is maybe the most pertinent reason why some people indulge in procrastination. The fear of failure is a huge force which prevents people from even trying. People assume that the goal they are aiming to achieve is highly unachievable for them and that they can't do it. Subsequently, they refrain from doing it. This, may not put up an effect shortly, but in the long term may put you in a deep state of regret.  

See people, there are no motivational videos in this world that can help you permanently to get rid of procrastination, nor you can strengthen your willpower to do so. 

So, isn't there a solution to this, Mayukh?

THE SOLUTION IS YOU, YOURSELF 

Ask yourself, "Why on earth am I procrastinating?" Take a writing pad, and note down all the reasons you think are the root causes. Only when you see it physically written in front of you, then is when you can find a solution. Identifying the problem is half the solution.

For a student like you and me, our results lie a bit far away in future. So what? Break down that timespan into shorter intervals and reward yourself in those intervals for small feats. If you are scared of failing, just remind yourself that 'not trying' is worse than failing. Let not that failing 'ego' belittle your effort.

That's all for the day y'all. I hope you find this blog useful. Make sure you subscribe to our mailing list so that you don't miss on any upcoming blog.

Yours

Mayukh