We’ve probably all heard of the phrase “saving the best for last.” It’s commonly used in presentational settings to ease the awkwardness of being the last in line. It also applies to a variety of other situations—saving the cherry on that delicious cupcake, opening the biggest present last, etc.
All of these examples show us that the last things aren’t necessarily the worst things.
Why is it, then, that this concept doesn’t apply to the everyday challenges we face in life? Why do we keep saving the worst tasks last? In other words, why do we procrastinate?
Negatives of Procrastination
Procrastination: the persistent enemy all have battled with at least once (if not more) in their lives. It usually stems from the dread of completing a task, consequently encouraging us to pursue other topics of interest. However, by ignoring the task before us, we become entrapped in a deeper sense of anxiety.
Prolonging something important comes with many negative consequences. In a study of Swedish university students, procrastination was revealed to be associated with higher levels of depression, anxiety, and stress. Procrastinators also tend to experience poor sleep quality, physical inactivity, loneliness, and economic difficulties. These undesirable traits show the true dangers of doing things at the last minute.
As a professional procrastinator myself, I can testify these symptoms are true. In fact, I’ve procrastinated my way out of many important situations: AP Tests, SATs, college applications, etc. Ironically, I was even procrastinating while writing this post!
If these experiences sound a little familiar, keep reading to find ways to combat procrastination.
Solutions to Procrastination
Procrastination is frustrating, tiring, and annoying. Luckily, there are many ways to combat this endless cycle of dread! Here are a few that I’ve found the most helpful:
- Set Realistic Goals
You, yourself, know best what you can and cannot do. Don’t try to fool yourself into setting goals that are impossible to achieve! It will only lead to more dread, more procrastination, and more all-nighters. If you have trouble setting reasonable goals, check out this article about SMART goals!
2. Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself!
There’s nothing wrong with a packed schedule. In fact, procrastination is a sign that you’re challenging yourself! If you’re ever feeling stressed about a task, try practicing self-compassion—that is, being kinder to yourself. Learn to embrace mistakes, celebrate flaws, and simply enjoy the process (good or bad!). By acknowledging the normality of mistakes, your task will start becoming a lot less scary.
3. Study in a Work-Conducive Environment
Do you like to study around people? Or do you focus better when you’re alone? Everybody has their own preferences–find what works best for you and stick to it! Eliminating possible distractions (phones, TVs, your super cute cat) can also be helpful.
What Now?
Now that you’ve learned how to stop procrastinating, it’s time to put your knowledge into action! Take a look at the following scenarios. Then, pick the best option based on what you’ve just learned.
1. It’s the weekend, and you just discovered a 10-page English essay that’s due in...a month! Phew! What are your next steps?
A. Start bingeing your favorite TV show and worry about it all later (You’ve got plenty of time, anyway)!
B. Set a goal to finish the entire paper in 3 days.
C. Find a quiet place and start planning your paper. Then, set actionable goals for the upcoming weeks.
2. You have a scholarship application due in 2 weeks. What do you do?
A. Begin to fill out the necessary information. If needed, request recommendations from teachers/mentors ASAP!
B. Scroll on social media, then complete it all the night before.
C. Complete your application while watching TV, chatting with friends, and listening to music.
If you picked C and A, you are correct! Congrats, you’ve successfully learned how to stop procrastinating!
Now, get out there and stop saving the worst for last!
Thank you to Hind S for editing this article!