Stop Procrastination—Now!

Prof. AVR Rao explains the common phenomenon of procrastination and suggests ways to overcome this undesirable behaviour trait

- Prof. AVR Rao

Simply put, procrastination is the intentional postponing of a task without any specific reason. It is just a lethargic drifting along without any intention to even start doing a task (either important or unimportant), let alone completing it. The task never gets struck out from a to-do list. Some common examples are plans to reorganise the cupboard, iron the clothes, call an old friend or send a mail, visit a shop or temple, and so on. Everyone, regardless of race, gender, or age, is a victim of procrastination at one time or another. But what bothers us most is the chronic habit of deferring important things.

Surprisingly, we all claim to have the knowledge of procrastination and its ill effects but regrettably continue to indulge in it. However, knowledge is not enough unless it is applied in real life. Mere planning is not enough; concrete action must follow.

Understanding procrastination The habit of procrastination is age-old and universal. It is so ancient that the early Greek philosophers even coined a new word for it— akrasia. It is the behavioural trait of doing something when something else is long-pending and important, a kind of lack of control over oneself. This attitude cuts across all domains of life though it is more pronounced amongst senior citizens. Scientific studies and findings are replete with evidence that the higher you are in the ladder of life, greater are the chances that you tend to procrastinate more often.

Procrastination should be avoided at any cost because of its dangers. If not overcome substantively, it leads to loss of opportunities, self-confidence, and respect; lack of fulfilment; depression; and may also lead to many other mental and physical disorders.

Why do we procrastinate?