My brother asked me, what does procrastination mean? I said, “I’ll tell you tomorrow.”

Ok that was a joke, but here you have a real-life discussion between Moses and Pharaoh in Exodus 8:9-10:

Moses: When do you want the frogs to be removed?

Pharaoh: Tomorrow!

Why would anyone in his right mind willingly postpone an action that would turn out results that he knows would make him worse-off on account of that postponement? Pharaoh knew that he and his people would go through distress and reduced well-being for another twenty-four hours of sharing their space with a swarm of frogs. Why?

Procrastination is a behavioural issue that causes problems in practically every area of our lives through the way we manage our daily commitments. Even though we know the dangers and problems it might be causing, we often find ourselves procrastinating again and again.

I have written about this subject in my blog article, Thieves of Personal Life Development. I have had challenges with it, so I have had to study the subject. If you are conversant with my writing, you would know about my issues with, “I’ll do it in two weeks.”

Everyone has issues. One of the ways I try (I try, I try!) to deal with issues is to study. Procrastination has been terrible for me. I even found myself postponing studying procrastination! Talk about a problem! I pray also. Solomon, do you put off praying about procrastination? Why are you asking?

Procrastination is regarded as “dysfunctional delay.” It is a stronghold in the minds of many, but it must be wrestled to the ground if one is to make meaningful and consistent progress in life.

What is procrastination? Simply put, it is postponing something that ought to be done immediately to some other time in the future.

You want to start or finish something that will generate value for you in the long run, but instead of following it through you find yourself pursuing other activities that are readily more enjoyable because they tend to produce an immediate reward compared to the task you ought to be pursuing.

When you procrastinate, vital responsibilities or tasks take second place to non-related and often trivial tasks that usually offer immediate gratification, but are detrimental in the long-run. There are times you never even get to do or complete vital tasks.

If you often complete tasks late or you ignore them; if you usually find yourself dealing with issues and tasks with a fire-brigade approach, you might be having a challenge with procrastination.

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At some point, everyone will procrastinate in one way or the other. Nevertheless, about twenty per cent of adults and about fifty per cent of student populations have issues with procrastination that are major, some studies tell us.

Why do we procrastinate? There could be as many reasons as we have people. Here, however, are a few common reasons we could look at which could help us understand ourselves.

• Immediate gratification: We live in a culture that elevates immediate gratification. The matter is made worse by the gadgets we have that bring entertainment and instant gratification to our fingertips.

Social media, chats, music and movies on your mobile devices easily distract you from important tasks that you initially set out to accomplish, but as you type and click away you are burning time while your main task is left undone and if it is a task having a deadline, you end up rushing and producing a poor job or none at all.

• High impulsiveness and lack of self-control: when a person is impulsive, he acts suddenly without reflection. Lack of self-control, the inability to rein in yourself, can lead you to veer off into unnecessary distractions.
• Fear: you put off going to see your doctor or dentist because of fear. You postpone discussing money issues with your spouse because you are afraid of what might come out of it. But the longer the delay, the worse-off things become.
• Indecision: not deciding on a course of action about something you need to accomplish is a factor that makes people postpone vital action. No matter how important it is, you may never get anything done about it until you decide.

Here are some questions that can help you determine if you are sitting with procrastination on the same couch, watching a movie and munching pop-corn while an issue or cause of action is on hold:

Are you hesitating on a decision indefinitely? Are you delaying or stopping an important activity or always lagging behind deadlines? Are you suspending, postponing or vacillating on how to deal with what you have to do? Are you unwilling or reluctant to take the bull by the horn? Do you have doubts, qualms or misgivings about what your guts tell you need to be done?

Unlike Pharaoh, you may not find yourself having extended time with a swarm of frogs, but one thing is clear, you will be losing one of your most precious assets that can never be replaced: Time. I have said, the greatest loss a person may incur is the loss of a resource that can never be replaced or replenished.

If procrastination is not going to destroy your future, you must take action to stop it on its tracks. What can you do?

• Decide: What exactly is it that you want? Decide what it is you want to do or achieve and make sure you are very clear about it. No fuzziness! You cannot continue to use your time doing things that do not need to be done at the expense of doing important things. That is a poor use of time.
• Visualize: you can motivate yourself by envisioning yourself achieve the goals you have. See yourself taking the necessary steps to achieve those goals.
• Write: Writing down your goals, tasks and course of action you need to accomplish your goals is a method of thinking. Think on paper. It will help you crystallize your thoughts.
• Set Deadlines: Procrastination is a lie that tells you that you have all the time in the world. No, you do not! Set deadlines to accomplish your tasks. This will create a sense of urgency in your mind and reduce the inclination to be distracted.
• Act: Take the first step no matter how small it is, and stay the course. Do not flinch!
• Pray: If you are a Christian, prayer is vital. Prayer helps you to take advantage of divine capacity that helps you to pull through tough times.

Trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. With all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make. Become intimate with him in whatever you do, and he will lead you wherever you go.

Give God the right to direct your life, as you trust him along the way you’ll find he pulled it off perfectly!

Procrastination has become a stronghold in the minds of many people, but the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but they are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. 

Pray, take action and let God give you victory.

Thank you. Do not forget to keep Living, Loving and Learning.

References: Exodus 8:9-10; Proverbs 3:5-6, TPT; Psalm 37:5, TPT; 2 Corinthians 10:4.

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