Waking up from the vicious cycle of Procrastination | Devotional
It’s never been easier to get distracted, especially with so many people working at home or doing online school at home during the coronavirus pandemic. Because of the very many distractions around us, procrastination levels have gone through the roof as our ability to focus rapidly declines. With procrastination comes the worry and anxiety about not being able to complete your tasks or assignments on time, leading to anxiety, worry and regret. In a TED talk by blogger, Tim Urban, we discover the psychology behind the procrastinator and why we procrastinate.
Firstly, we need to delve into the mind of a procrastinator. There are 2 main characters that take control of a procrastinator.
While there is also another character, he mainly lays dormant till there’s a possible chance of humiliation or when a deadline comes too close. He’s also the only one who can control the monkey. He’s called the Panic Monster. Like what his name suggests, it’s that sudden burst of productivity at the very last minute where you actually feel like you’re completing your work at an inhumane speed. That’s all thanks to the panic monster.
But, what if there isn’t any panic monster?
There are actually two types of procrastination. One with datelines and one without. When there are deadlines, the effects of procrastination are actually controlled because the panic monster gets involved. But when there are no deadlines, the panic monster can’t wake up because there’s no deadline to panic for. Have you ever wanted to start your own business or project but never came to doing so? It’s similar to that.
When the panic monster doesn’t wake up, we’ll be stuck in this vicious cycle of procrastinating and the effects will only extend forever. This form of procrastination is actually suffered quietly and is less visible and not so much talked about. It’s because of that shame, embarrassment or regret that we feel for not having been able to kickstart our plans. This can cause people to feel like a spectator in their own lives, where they just take things as it goes and may result in long-term unhappiness and regret.
The frustration that many feel isn’t really that they couldn’t achieve their dreams. It’s because they couldn’t even start chasing their dreams. Procrastination is opportunity’s natural assassin. That’s why we need to always be aware of the instant gratification monkey. We don’t know when it’ll appear and how sneakily he’s trying to distract us. And like how they say, “The only difference between success and failure is the ability to take action.” We don’t know when it’s going to be over so it’s probably the best to start today!
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