I procrastinate, and I do it well
A few months after the pandemic started, and once I came to terms that this was the new normal, I realized that I had a lot of free time to kill. Somewhere I decided that I was going dedicate more time to write. And I did for a while. I was ecstatic about how well I was keeping up with my goals. But work became a little hectic, and other things came up. I didn’t prioritize writing as much. Eventually, things settled down, and I finally got time to get back to writing. But I never got around to actually doing it. The thought was always at the back of my head, be it when I am watching one of my Netflix shows or sharing memes on Instagram. However, I never acted on it. I procrastinated, and I did it well.
Today, when the guilt felt all too consuming, I am sitting in front of my laptop, wondering what I will finally write about. And I have to write something — anything to break away from continuous procrastination. I finally decided I will write about this very topic. :P
The different ways I tend to procrastinate:
Falling into the social media rabbit hole
The internet is full of great content. One post or video will lead you to another. Before you know it, you are knee-deep in conspiracy theories, funny memes, and cute cat videos. I get sucked into the rabbit hole when I go on Instagram for a few minutes of distraction. (I’m lying to myself if I still believe it will only be for a few minutes).
Justifying with, “What’re another few minutes?”
I love reading books and watching my favorite shows to pass the time. But sometimes, it really eats way my time. It’s always easy to give into reading one more chapter or watching one more episode. I say to myself, “I will wind it up after 30 minutes.” But when I overshoot even by 5, I tend to push the deadline by another 30 minutes.
Getting sidetracked by new hobbies and interests
I wonder if there is a reason why they said, “Curiosity killed the cat.” I am a curious person who loves exploring new things. I wanted to learn a new language, learn about different tea flavors, try my hand at painting, and pursue other fickle desires my mind conjures up. And it is ok to do all of it but not when you have more pressing things to attend to.
Some ways I have learned to keep a check on it:
Minimize distractions
I sometimes find the need to uninstall a few apps so I can use my time and energy better. I also try to keep my phone on silent and sit in a dedicated workspace when I am working.
Create a schedule
To prioritize my work better, I try to create a rough schedule, and I make sure to include the hours I can sit and dawdle. Sticking it where I can see it often serves as a good reminder. I don’t always end up finishing what’s on my to-do list. But on the good days, I do manage it, and I am jubilant.
Incentivize
I also reward myself when I get something done (the inner child in me loves these tricks).
Get people to do tasks with you
When I get the company to do something, it gets a whole lot easier. Even otherwise, sharing your goals with a friend or colleague will encourage you to achieve it. I sometimes explicitly ask a friend to check on me from time to time and ask about my progress.
I am still developing the discipline of respecting my time and adhering to my schedule. But I am going to pat myself on the back for finishing this article.
