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them. They plan more but do little because they get

lost in their thoughts.

A few others have the fear of the unknown, so the
easiest way to deal with this fear is to delay doing a

task as much as they can.
Some think doing things at the last minute makes

the task more exciting. Working under such pressure
eventually lowers the quality of their performance,

thus making them lose their self-esteem.

Then there are people who take on a lot more work than they can handle and end up being
confused about their priorities. They feel overwhelmed when there are so many things to do,
so they don’t know where to start.

There are some others who are simply lethargic. They cannot get themselves to even begin

a task!

Then there are those that have time-management issues, low motivation, and cognitive
biases. People who do not have clearly defined goals also tend to procrastinate.

You might have umpteen reasons to procrastinate but you will surely agree it’s not a good

thing to do. Because you can damage your reputation, cause yourself undue stress and anxiety
and make you feel guilty.

So, how do we overcome this tendency to procrastinate?

First, accept the fact that you procrastinate. Awareness of the problem makes it easier
for you to understand where it starts, what the triggers are and how you can work on a

solution.

Think of the times you procrastinated and the consequences thereafter. Think of ways you
can stop doing it so that you don’t place yourself in embarrassing situations.

Next, set specific goals for yourself. Take up one task at a time. You can do this by breaking
down larger tasks into smaller, manageable tasks. Finishing the smaller tasks successfully

helps you stay motivated.
Create a schedule and stick to it. Having a clear plan for the day can help you prioritise tasks

and stay on track. Write down a to-do list and check it at the end of the day. It can help you
feel satisfied at your progress.

To stay focussed remove distractions such as mobile phones. Try to listen to some good

music while doing tasks. Find a quiet place to work in order to minimize noise or diversion.

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