This is the time of year when many individuals start making their resolutions for what they want to accomplish in the next year. Many are putting forth in thoughts and words to improve both their personal and professional lives. We hear declarations the size of a mountain: “I’m going to lose weight;” “We’re going to declutter the garage;” “Next year, I’m going start saving for the future;” or “Next year, we are going to get engaged.” These are great goals. We all have them. But all of them are various forms of procrastination. Why wait?
Procrastination can come in many forms. Some put off doing that one task at work until the final deadline hour or they receive that electronic reminder that a task still isn’t completed. Others put off decisions until the last minute, and then they are forced to make a decision, not necessarily the best decision. It’s so easy to say, “Well, I’ll get to that later,” and talk yourself out of doing something you know needs to be done now. While procrastination might relieve the pressure of the moment, over the long-term it can have negative consequences. Experts say that procrastination can result in lower grades for students, lower quality work for employees, challenge your personal and professional relationships, and even reduce your well-being, both mentally and physically. If putting those things off is generally bad for you, your family, or your company, why wait?
Overcoming procrastination is important to lead a positive, productive and satisfying life. Those nagging feelings of knowing that something needs doing have a way of weighing on our mind, and with that it can alter how we function. Not only is this a cycle of putting things off, it can become normal and behavior, creating an unproductive, unhealthy habit. We convince ourselves that we can do something later and we feel good about making that decision. Then as it gets closer to the deadline or the real need that it be done, anxiety starts to build. We start feeling the pressure and often our frame of mind toward the task becomes negative. The first step toward ending this cycle of putting things off is creating a positive motivation to not put off until tomorrow what you can do today. In short, why wait?
Creating this positive motivation begins with becoming self-aware that you are wanting to procrastinate and thinking about what you are about to delay. At that point, tell yourself that you know you can get it done and you are not going to give yourself an excuse. Set your target by focusing on what you want to do, not what you want to avoid. Think about all the good reasons for doing a task by setting positive, concrete, meaningful and realistic goals to get it done. Make a commitment to yourself and resist the urge to stop. Finish. Stay positive. Why wait?
The Bible tells us “Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth (Proverbs 27:1).” It means that we are not promised another day. When it’s easy to say, “I’ll do that tomorrow,” or make all sorts of resolutions for a new year, putting things off, waiting to make a fresh start, or even making a decision about your personal eternal salvation, it begs the question, “Why wait?”