Procrastination

A solution to procrastination

 By Muhsin Ibrahim

Procrastination affects not only writers but also people from almost all walks of life. We all have tasks to do. However, due to procrastination, we keep saying that we will do them later again and again until the time is gone.

When I was writing my dissertation, I struggled with procrastination. I often put off writing, thinking I could do it later. This led to a lot of stress and anxiety as deadlines approached. However, I was determined to find a solution. I tried different techniques, such as setting strict deadlines for myself and breaking up my work into smaller, more manageable tasks. Eventually, I found a solution that worked for me.

I was reading a book with a ‘funny’ title: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, when I found the following:

‘When I was in high school, my math teacher, Mr. Packwood, used to say, “If you’re stuck on a problem, don’t sit there and think about it; just start working on it. Even if you don’t know what you’re doing, the simple act of working on it will eventually cause the right ideas to show up in your head.’ (Manson 2016, p. 109).

I printed out the page and hung it in my room. I highlighted the above and another line. So much like the author, whenever I open my computer, a voice from within tells me to write something, not just to sit there.

Don’t hesitate to jot down your thoughts; the longer you wait, the more likely they will evaporate. Instead, take action and write! Remember, you can always revise, edit, and refine your ideas later. So go ahead and let your creativity flow without hesitation.

So, in Manson’s words, “Don’t just sit there. Do something. The answers will follow.” Do it in no haste, but don’t keep delaying it. Writing is unlike a speech; there’s almost always a time to revisit what you have written.

Dr Muhsin Ibrahim writes from Cologne, Germany and can be reached via muhsin2008@gmail.com

Procrastination or poor time management?

By Mai-Nasara Muawiya Uzairu

An unnecessarily and voluntarily delaying, or postponing of action despite knowing there might be an avalanche of negative consequences at the end of the tunnel, is referred to as procrastination. It has been a stumbling block for us all; it’s unto us. We live in it. It can only be reduced, not discarded in toto.

From cultural and social perspectives, people of both western and non-western extractions exhibit procrastination. Still, for different reasons, Westerners procrastinate mostly to avoid repeating the mundane activities they already performed and to avoid falling prey for the second time. And, the non-Westerners often procrastinate for fear of scarifying us with incompetency and demonstrating an inability to our peers.

It’s found everywhere, in all facets of life, not only in the academic milieu. Sex, age and background usually don’t matter—we all procrastinate; it only depends on what one does. However, the emergence of social media platforms contributes a lot to multiplying the problem.

Often, people say, ‘I want to do this and that, but seriously, there is no time’. ‘Or things like ‘I have an idea about this and that stuff, but I still don’t have time to own it up’. Well, part of this is called procrastination, while the huge part is called lack of time management. However, one cannot have good time management without having Self Discipline, which means the ability to do what is right at the right time without allowing anything to take away your mind from it.

The absence of self-disciple leads to nothing. Provided it’s null and void to be found, there will be no means to manage time. Naturally, some people force themselves to engage in trivialities, but they can’t force themselves to do the work that will benefit them now or in future. This is repulsively sickening and killing oneself against building a better tomorrow.

We are humans, and our body system is designed in a way that it always wants pleasure. It never wants to stand up and work. We all want to relax and enjoy, right? It’s not bad, but you that want to do something for yourself must be pretty different. Lack of self-discipline is not just dangerous but also a threat to attaining one’s goals. It makes us hold our phones and chat for 4 hours when we need just 10 minutes to work on fruitful ventures.

The reason behind the invention of smartphones is to get smarter—look at your circle. Do you get smartness in your smartphone? If yes, be consistent; otherwise, I challenge you to make adjustments. It makes one draw a blanket and sleep when one should give 10 minutes to something meaningful. Basically, it is the enemy of progress which makes it an enemy to time management.

Guess what? Let’s stop deceiving ourselves. There will never be free time for one to do what s/he wants to do. There will never be free time for us to read, work and think. All these are life aspirations that we must do while doing other things and continue running; otherwise, one will continue to live stagnantly and end desperately. A million people out there do what you are doing every day, or even better than you do; thus, one doesn’t have the luxury to wait for something called ‘TIME.’

Create Time

That is the shortest definition of time management. But if you don’t create time, nobody will be irked with you, and nobody will mock nor allege you but be rest assured, you are just likely to see some certain amazing things like:

1. Watching your mates achieve what they want to achieve alternately in a very short period. Hence, you will learn that the miniature period you didn’t do anything to show has been spoilt. That is when you hear people saying, ‘So you are done! So soon? And they start to wow you.

2. The regret comes when the little thing(s) taking your attention disappears.

3. It’s an injury that no one will heal for you. So you waste your time; it concerns no one.

4. You delay your journey. There is no shortcut in life; you either do it or stay in the queue.

By creating time for everything you want, preferably on a scale of preference, one gets rid of procrastination and poor time management.

Mai-Nasara Muawiya Uzairu can be reached via newmainasara016@gmail.com.