You have a project due in a couple of weeks and decide to put it off for a bit; procrastinate. With just one week to go, you’re left scrambling for all the proper information, lacking sleep, and putting together something that could have been much better in the nick of time. But why do we cause this stress to ourselves?
Do we procrastinate because we’re lazy? Or do we think it’ll be easier later on? Let’s dive into how procrastination can kill you and the steps you can use to overcome it.
How Procrastination Can Kill
The word “kill” can mean many things: a killer of motivation, a killer of dreams, the death of a person, etc. When we procrastinate, we are giving into our current cravings and pushing off what’s truly important. It’s not that the task we’re putting off will be easier later on; it’s that we rather play a game or movie – or whatever our hobby is – because it’s more satisfying to us. So, how can procrastinating literally kill someone?
When you think of procrastination, you probably think of putting off homework or some other boring or monotonous task. However, as I prepare for Hurricane Milton – currently a category-five hurricane – the idea of dying from procrastination came to me. Waiting till the last minute in a situation such as a deadly storm is definitely how procrastination can kill you, but not the only way.
When I procrastinated in my twenties, it sent me down a path of negativity. I got depressed and felt as if I couldn’t achieve success. Even though I knew I was procrastinating, and that’s what was truly holding me back, I couldn’t get over the slump to start my task. However, I finally figured out a couple of ways to help me out.
Steps To Overcoming Procrastination
Fighting the urge to overcome procrastination instead of satisfying our cravings is no easy feat. Like many of you, I used to use video games – or some sort of entertainment media – to put off important tasks. It wasn’t until I started changing my mindset that I was able to overcome procrastination. These are the steps that worked for me.
Shift Your Mindset
Your first step should be to shift your mindset. Telling yourself, “I’ll do it later,” is one of the worst things you can do. If you have the time now to do it, why not start?
One technique that helped me out greatly was meditating. Now, I know it’s not a popular thing to do, especially if you already have a procrastination mindset, but this was a technique that helped me live in the current moment.
Adding to that, a mushroom complex powder that you can stick in your coffee will do you wonders. Mushroom complexes have several mushrooms – cordyceps, chaga, lion’s mane, turkey tail, etc – that help boost your memory, energy, and focus. I didn’t know the power of mushrooms until I started taking them. People constantly ask me how I’m doing so much – blog writing, taking seven classes, working a full-time job, and remaining happy during all of it – and that’s thanks to the mushroom complex.
This isn’t sponsored, but the mushroom complex I use is Organic Mushroom Powder.
Boost Motivation
Moving on from your mindset is your motivation. How can you elevate your mood and motivation? Through physical activity.
My worst procrastination was during my video game addiction. I never stepped away from my computer, which caused me to gain weight and become lazy. I like to say that running changed my life. When I began running, I started gaining the motivation to be and do something bigger and better. Running helped me combat procrastination because it helped me focus on what’s important and stay on track with my goals, which is the next section.
Break Your Task Into Smaller, Manageable Task
Having goals is important; write them down somewhere so you can see them daily and remain motivated. It’s not about just having them written down but executing them. The best way to achieve your goals is to first, make them SMART goals, I discuss this in an original posts for this blog which can be viewed here, once you have those SMART goals, break them down into smaller, achievable chunks.
Nothing will break your motivation more than setting an extremely hard goal. If your goal is to write a weekly blog post, lose weight, or whatever, start small. Try writing a section of that blog post a day, or set some time for that specific task you’re trying to achieve every day.
Wrapping It Up
It’s not easy. Procrastination is out there, and it will “kill,” whether that’s your dreams, motivation, or you. Tackle it today by shifting your mindset, boosting your motivation, and breaking the ultimate task into smaller chunks.
You can achieve anything you set your mind to by taking that first small step. Start today, and don’t delay. Let us know what you’ve been procrastinating in the comments below.
