Self Discipline and Procrastination
By: Self First
Tags: Self Care, Discipline, Self Love

Procrastination, the word itself is so long to type. I myself procrastinated a lot to write this. While I was researching how to be more self-disciplined, I paused and thought about why do I need self-discipline? I contemplated a lot and got to the conclusion that it’s because I procrastinate a lot. So, to know about how can I be more self-disciplined, first I have to figure out, Why do I procrastinate so much?

Why Procrastinate?

What is the psychological mechanism behind procrastination? People always think that procrastination is merely a matter of being lazy, but the problem is much more complicated than that, in fact.

It is a matter of willpower. When we tend to do something or any kind of task, we expect a reward in any form and that drives our motivation to work. However, this motivation can also root towards anxiety, depression, exhaustion, or any other kind of negative emotion which leads one to procrastinate.

This leads us to struggle to self-regulate our actions, which means that even though we know we can do so, we unnecessarily defer things, which is why procrastination always results in a difference between how we expect to behave and how we behave in fact.

Psychologists have now recognized in more recent research that procrastination is closely linked to our cognitive brain, a method of coping driven by our own fear of disappointment.

We give our brain temporary relief by preventing tasks that are offputting and overwhelming and focusing on something less exhausting.

While sometimes people tend to procrastinate because they have lost their sense of oneself in the chaos between the present self and future self. For example, they tell their present self that whatever will happen we will see in the future and the future self will manage it.

Although, in reality, this future self lands into trouble because of this thought process. A personality trait of indecisiveness can also lead to procrastination.

Tips on how to be more self-disciplined and avoid procrastination

Start by drawing up your goals. Make sure to define your goals as clearly as possible. Try not to form or make goals abstract or vague, and make sure that these goals are important enough to enable you to make meaningful progress, while also being feasible for you to achieve them in reality.

Figure out, the reason why you procrastinate. Is it because of the anxiety rooted deep down or low on self-confidence or because of your incapability of making decisions? Once figured, you will eventually find the solution to it. The root cause should be known.

Remove temptations or desires from the outcomes. By trying to strengthen your self-discipline, eliminating both temptations and obstacles from life is a vital first step.

To be able to stop procrastinating, one has to self-disciplined in the way to not give up on coming out of your comfort zone. At times, it could be uncomfortable but then it is the only way to get going

Instituting a modern way of thought would not always go as expected. You’re going to have ups and downs for sure. There will be times when you’ll snap.

The way out of it is to just let it flow and move on. Forgive and learn from the mistakes. Recognize what triggered it anytime you have a loss, and carry on.