How to Stop Procrastinating

I used to be the type of person who never procrastinated and could handle everything efficiently. However, lately, I can't shake the feeling that I've become quite the procrastinator. Why is that? To finally put an end to my solitary contemplation, I started searching for books on procrastination and stumbled upon "Adulting Emotions."

[Psychological Benefits of Procrastination]

1- Instant Reassurance
When faced with a task, people experience tension. Choosing to procrastinate provides a sense of relief from the immediate pressure of having to do it.

2- Sense of Efficacy
It can lead to feelings of accomplishment, like 'I finished all of this in such a short time, I'm amazing!'

3- Feeling Special
The overwhelming sense of pressure can act as a driving force for increased motivation. While it's effective for short-term achievements, it's not as beneficial for long-term goals.

-From Adulting Emotions

While reading the examples in the book, I didn't resonate much with the sense of efficacy or feeling special, but I found myself nodding in agreement with the concept of instant reassurance. When the task at hand isn't immediately visible, a sense of comfort sets in. However, ultimately, that comfort is false, and it doesn't last more than a day or two.

There's no grave without an excuse.

Looking back, I've been under a lot of stress recently, and it's negatively impacted my ability to engage in activities I enjoy. While 'there's no grave without an excuse' and it could all be excuses, excessive stress from others can make it difficult to engage in the things you love. It's almost like it's too much of a chore to do something you love when you're in a bad mood.

Regardless of the reason, I can't keep procrastinating and staying stagnant. I have genuine aspirations, and I need to stop procrastinating and move forward. Procrastinating on my own work only hurts me. I can't let others dictate my actions and hold me back.

▶ Procrastination is a common characteristic often found in individuals with a strong perfectionist tendency. For them, simply doing well isn't praiseworthy; they need to excel.

▶ Consistently putting off tasks that are important to you is like pushing yourself out of your life. Can you genuinely consider something that's constantly relegated to the back burner as truly important? Whatever the reason for engaging in this seemingly irrational behavior, if it becomes a frequent occurrence, it transforms into a 'habit.'

-Inhyun Jin, Adulting Emotions, Anne's Library