Time is ticking and you still have tons of school works left untouched and panic is boiling down your throat as you frantically do your best to finish everything on time. You start to regret the time you wasted idling doing nothing instead of being ahead of all the deadlines. This, my friend, is procrastination and let’s be honest, we’ve all been there.

But what is procrastination? More often than not procrastination is confused as being lazy, when in fact that is two different things. Procrastination is an active process where you choose to do something that you need to do. It is the act of putting off tasks until the last minute — or sometimes even past their deadline. While laziness is inactivity or unwillingness to do the task in front of you.

Procrastination can be caused by a lot of things and can happen to anybody. So, to help you our dear katambays to beat the demon that constantly haunts you, we listed down the steps you can do to overcome procrastination.

Step one: Admit that you have a problem!

Like any problem, the first step is always to recognize the issue. If you can’t accept the fact that something is wrong, then you will not be able to move past the obstacle that is in front of you. Take a moment and look back at the time you’ve wasted. If you put off a task for a genuinely good reason then maybe you’re not procrastinating. But if you choose to do something less important instead of finishing your work, then you have a problem.

Step two: Breath and think of the WHYs

Once you have admitted that you have a problem then it is time to think of the WHYs. Why are you procrastinating? Why are delaying this particular task? What is the cause of your procrastination?

As mentioned, procrastination can be caused by a number of factors. Maybe you’re unmotivated or you find a particular task boring. Maybe you’re distracted, you haven’t noticed that along the way you lost focus and forgot the reason you’re doing all this hard work. Or maybe you’re overwhelmed and tired which can also point to another root problem — burnout.

Step three: Face your demons and find a way out

Now that you’re done with steps one and two, it is time to think of a plan to solve procrastination. It doesn’t have to be a big change in your lifestyle. Sometimes it’s the nitty-gritty or the little changes that make an impact.

Create a to-do list and adopt methods like time blocking or the Pomodoro technique. Time blocking is a time management method that allows you to divide your day into blocks of time. This method helps you to remain focused on a particular task and helps you to finish them with efficiency.

But if you’re someone who gets distracted easily, the Pomodoro technique will suit your needs better. The Pomodoro technique asks you to tackle each task with an equal amount of time while taking short breaks in between. This helps you focus on each task without losing your insanity.

If you’re still struggling then maybe it is time to ask for help. A simple conversation makes wonders, and also, there is nothing wrong with asking someone to check up on you. It might help motivate you and remind you why you’re doing all this hard work.

The new school year is just around the corner. So, the next time you start asking yourself “How did this happen? What went wrong? Why did you lose your focus?” then maybe you might want to go back to this article and start beating procrastination to a pulp!