I welcome you to my blog. When we talk about procrastination, almost everyone is guilty because at some point in our lives we all did it; we postponed getting things done not because we were too busy to get them done at that moment but because we felt lazy to get the task done at the moment or we felt we had enough time to actually get it done, and sometimes we keep postponing until almost the deadline when the pressure is much and we start rushing to get it done. The truth about procrastination is that it will take opportunities away from you, it will definitely leave you in regrets, and there are no two ways about it.
Every human being procrastinates, and it is okay, but when it becomes bad and causes extra harm is when one decides to make it a habit, probably because it gives them enough time to relax and do other things. Once you make procrastination a habit, you should be ready to miss out on life-changing opportunities continuously and nonstop until you find a way to overcome it. Procrastination will always cost you; there are no two ways about it. There are no merits that come with procrastination, just demerits.
At some point in our lives we have procrastinated, and the end result was good, and at some point we did the same, and the end result left us wishing we could actually turn the hands of time. So many people have made procrastination a habit, and they procrastinate about everything and anything. It starts small, then it eats you deep to the point where you can differentiate between what needs to be attended to immediately and what can actually wait. Fighting and defeating procrastination is important if one wants to see the changes they hope for in their life.
I have procrastinated on several occasions too, but one that leaves me wishing I had done it immediately and not postponed was when I gained admission into college. I met a friend who believes in gaining scholarships online just by filling out his details, but I really did not believe it would actually work. He kept sending me links, some I filled out eventually after procrastinating for so long, and some I didn't even bother to click on the link, but he stopped sending me links, and he went as far as creating a WhatsApp group chat and added me and a few others and kept sending those links; he just believed that one day it would happen.
One time he called me, and the first question he asked me was, "The link I sent you about two weeks ago, I hope you clicked it and filled out the details." Then he sent me a screenshot that he had been offered a scholarship; they would pay his tuition fee and send him pocket money to the account he filled out. He was called to confirm his details, and he said every other person in the group filled out and was offered scholarships too. It was at that moment it dawned on me what procrastination has done because when he sent it, "I will do it later" was what I said to myself, and I never went back to do it because I forgot about it completely.
How we deal with procrastination varies from one individual to another; for me, the first step is to ensure you get any tasks done and not try to postpone them, especially in cases where you are not too busy to get them done.
Secondly, set a schedule and stick to it; don't try to alter your schedule unless you really cannot avoid altering it.
Thirdly, learn time management and be time conscious in everything you do.
This is my entry for the #inleomonthly #Aprilinleo day 4 prompt "What important thing has procrastination cost you?"
