NOW OR NEVER || Black and White CA ||

NOW OR NEVER

First things first, procrastination has got nothing to do with laziness. Well, procrastination does involve delaying. But not every delay you make falls under the ambit of procrastination.

Suppose you had a meeting scheduled which you eventually called off due to weather disruptions. Will you consider it as procrastination? Of course not.

Then what exactly is procrastination?

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom”

said Aristotle

and hence it’s time for you to introspect. Do you feel the constant urge of digressing from your goals by some other plan that seems to be less challenging or problem free? Are you afraid of not giving the ‘perfect’ output? Is the fear of being judged, criticized and laughed at leaving you paralysed? Do you postpone the rational act and blame the outside events for not doing it? This is Procrastination.

It is a behavioural pattern you develop to avoid anxiety, the anxiety that comes with starting or finishing a particular task.

But why do you do what you do?

Fear of failure. Yes, when you are restless about making mistakes and appearing foolish, you tend to procrastinate. You start identifying your worth from the standpoint of how well your work is appreciated.
Your brain starts signalling that “you don’t feel like” doing a seemingly difficult task right now. As a result, instant gratification takes over your rational thought process
The “temporary relief” from stress of doing something painful or threatening becomes a habit. The more challenging a task seems to you, the more you will want to seek the relief through avoidance.

We have been accustomed to believe that life is dull and you can’t have fun if you want to be successful. And hence your brain tries avoiding that so called pain. But is life really the way it has been portrayed? Can’t you replace the negative image with a positive one? What matters at the end is your long term goal. If you have the ability to focus attention at will for as long as it is needed and not longer, you are in love with the process unlike others who focus on rewards. Escalate your goals. Enjoy the struggles that come along. What’s outside is not in your hands. But how you feel inside is at your own will. Failing is a part of living. But not trying at all is slavery. Choose freedom. Always!

By SWETA JHALANI

CA Student
At Skill-Set & Will-Set to be A Chartered Accounant
Students Skills Enrichment Board (ICAI)