Most of us are paradoxical. On one hand, we realise that time is limited and once lost cannot come back, and we constantly complain about having too many things to do and yet, most of us fall into the trap of procrastinating. It is not that we don’t know the importance of doing things well in time, we just haven’t understood the way the mind tricks us. Once we understand this, we develop the ability to break the dangerous habit of procrastination.

We procrastinate when we have to do something we don’t enjoy. Our mind gravitates to what it likes and tries to indefinitely postpone what it does not like. When we overcome the sway of the mind, we break the habit of procrastinating.

When something is difficult or unpleasant, we try and put it on hold, hoping it will either go away or sort itself out. But life has taught us that we may delay, but we cannot avoid facing up to our responsibilities. When we resolve to live up to our responsibilities and challenges in life, we break the habit of procrastinating.

‘Not now, I’ll do it later’ can sometimes be the most damaging phrase. We don’t know what the ‘later’ in life has in store for us and sometimes when we are willing to act, the timing and circumstances may not be conducive. When we change our thinking and start using the phrase ‘Not later, I’ll do it now’, we break the habit of procrastinating.

Distractions can come in many forms and an unfocused mind quickly falls prey to leaving the important and doing something else. When we develop the clarity and conviction of respecting what is important and disregard distractions, no matter how attractive, we break the habit of procrastinating.

When we take on too much to do by ourselves, we can get overawed. But if we reach out and include others, a chore can become actually become enjoyable. When we make tasks into an opportunity to build relationships, we break the habit of procrastinating.

Often we are so caught up with ‘what’ we have to do that we forget ‘why’ it is important. When we remind ourselves of the consequences of not doing something in time and inspire ourselves by what we can achieve with our dedicated discipline, we break the habit of procrastinating.

I am reminded of the simple proverb we learned in school – ‘a stitch in time saves nine’. We can either make it a habit or else life will teach us the hard way. The choice is ours, to pander to the dictates of the mind, or change our life by breaking the habit of procrastinating.

(Picture-Ski slopes in British Columbia, Canada)