“I’ll do it after class, Mom.”
“I think I’ll leave that work for tomorrow; the night is still young.”
“This work is not due for a week, so let me take it easy now.”
These sentences are examples of a crippling behaviour seen in young children as well as adults. Often parents misunderstand this as laziness. The truth of the matter is that, the individual might be going through emotions that are hard to put in words, feelings of despair of how to do the task or just feelings of shame, guilt and anxiety. This could be coupled with fear of not being able to accomplish anything in life.
Research has shown that when children are compared with each other or there is sibling rivalry, procrastination can set in. It is a big handicap that one faces when procrastination sets in – one has to break the habit or else everything in life will turn out to be, “I’ll do it later.”
Procrastination leads to laziness and spending time aimlessly, which could lead to a number of other problems, if not taken care of. This can dangerously become a lifestyle if not addressed.
Some tips that might prove useful are:
1. Allow the person to feel a little self-compassion.
When somebody we know are delaying work, there will a temporary satisfaction of procrastination but soon, it will be clouded with shame and guilt and perhaps anxiety as well. The individual will go through self-criticism or beating oneself up.
Allow the person you are caring for to be kind to themselves. To forgive themselves and to care for themselves as they would to a best friend, this can also be a time for self-awareness and self-discovery. They come to an understanding and realization that they have been procrastinating. This is a crucial part that leads to changed behaviour.
2. Allow the person to “time travel.”
A good quote to ponder on at this time is by Robert Collier – “Visualize this thing that you want, see it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blue print, and begin to build.”
This is an important tool to consider especially with children. Have the individual imagine what would he feel like once the task is completed. It is important for the individual to know that it is possible to accomplish and have something to look forward when the task is done.
It will help build resilience and self-worth.
3. One step at a time.
One of the reasons why children and adults procrastinate is the sheer volume of the task and how overwhelming it feels. It would greatly help by just taking baby steps, stopping to take a break, and then go forward to take the next step.
When the child or adult finishes a task there is a morale boosting which is crucial for development of self-esteem. When this is achieved, the child will feel confident to try new things.
Counselling care helps the child to become more self-aware, to zero down on what could be causing the blocks, and what are some healthy lifestyles changes to adopt in order to combat procrastination.
Remember, procrastination is the thief of time.
Comentarios