Not this Monday

There are many problems we face in our day to day life, like when to start writing a diary or a blog. The most common answer we have for such questions on a lazy Friday night is to wait for a couple of days more. From Monday onwards I will start writing my office gossip in my diary. Next Monday you checked your phone to write the date, and you found that it’s 27th and in the next three days this month will have an end. So, now you are waiting for a new month. This process will keep going, and your dream of becoming a blogger is still a dream. 

Do we always procrastinate in the same way? 

Last week I finished a book by Dan Ariely, Predictably Irrational. This book is about how we all tend to commit similar mistakes. There is a pattern, and we all are in the same trap. I have the above question in my mind, and there is a chapter with somewhat the same problem. Procrastination is not something which you want in your life. We all want to solve this, but do we have enough self-control to make it happen. Theoretically, self control can be achieved by the forceful imposition of penalties. But, this isn’t sustainable in the long term scenario. 

What can be done to get rid out of this trap? 

Step 1:- Accept that it is a problem. It should be the first step, as it is obvious many of us don’t even want to consider it as a problem. Honestly, this is the exact trap.

Step 2:- What if? Ask yourself what if, I don’t start it today or tomorrow. 

Let’s take an example: You are suffering from a minor heart problem, and you have supposed a check-up for your cholesterol weekly. Just because the pathology lab is 12KM away from your place, you start skipping your visits. Don’t settle for the worst, because when you are delaying your routine check-ups. You are eventually getting into big trouble. To overcome this problem the book provides us with different examples, like impose penalties or try to achieve your goals by predetermination. Preventive methods are better than to take care. 

If you can connect the dots. Surely, we can connect this routine check-up thing to

blogging. So the overall point is no matter what’s the day or date. If you want to start then

go for it.

Vedant Patil