You’re scrolling through your feed and you look at the time. It’s a few hours before your deadline and you feel a panic flow through your veins. You immediately get out of bed and frantically boot your computer to start on work you should’ve started hours ago. With the current health situation happening, you are left with no choice but to work from home, which means you have so much more time at your hands. You really can’t blame yourself for being in this situation. Reality is, with so much going on around us, it really is hard to be productive. Our minds are situated in thoughts that distract ourselves from the now. Instead of doing what we need to do, we find ways to cope for the many weeks of isolation. Although this can be an excuse to take it easy on ourselves, we cannot erase the fact that we have responsibilities like work, chores, school deadlines, etc.
Not being used to working or studying from home can be hard when you’re used to an office based job or going to school on an everyday basis. This can make you feel lazy and unmotivated. Don’t worry, we’re a victim of procrastination too and we know exactly how you feel. While this is something that everybody suffers from, procrastination can hold us back from things that are of importance to us. We can’t blame anything or anyone for this bad habit, as people have struggled with procrastination even way before the internet. This habitual form of hesitation is extremely harmful to the self. Researchers found that procrastinators have a higher level of stress and well being. While this is common, we shouldn’t get used to it as it helps form unhealthy habits that we can incorporate in our daily lives.
Avoiding tasks can mean a lot of things. This usually happens when our emotions are heightened from realizing a task may seem too difficult to accomplish. We let our thoughts consume us which makes us feel sad, angry, and confused. When one avoids these emotions- sadness, anger and confusion, we tend to avoid a certain task that triggers them, thus procrastination occurs. Procrastinating is a coping mechanism to feel these said emotions which gives anyone a reason to put off accomplishing an important task. Oftentimes, we can be unaware of this unhealthy habit. This unawareness will ultimately make us mentally unhealthy. If you feel that this resonates with you, then this is the article for you.
How To Know You Are Procrastinating
If procrastinating is something that has come to your attention, it is best to educate yourself on signs that you may be delaying work. Self awareness will help you in realizing what you need to work on. Here is a list of signs you could be procrastinating:
- Hitting the snooze button
If your intention is to wake up early, hitting the snooze button is a delaying tactic that won’t get any job done.
- Late for appointments
A clear sign of procrastination is being late for appointments. Whether it’s minute late or more, getting used to tardiness is a bad habit to have.
- A messy and unorganized workspace
Your workspace is a reflection of your mind. If you relate to this, it might mean that you have way too much in your head.
- Waiting for the last minute
You see your clock and you realize you have a deadline. Remember; work hard and play hard. Don’t wait until the deadline pressures you into doing your task.
- Daydreaming
Caught up thinking about what you’d rather be doing or where you’d rather be is another delaying tactic you do not want to be used to. Too much thinking and less act won’t help you accomplish anything.
- Giving excuses
The more excuses you make, the more you are most likely to do them again. Your excuses, no matter how believable they might be won’t help you in achieving your goals.
- Scrolling through social media
One of the most common signs of procrastination. Social media is a platform we allow ourselves to be consumed in. If you catch yourself scrolling for more than 3 hours, it might be a problem.
- Failing to reach goals
Not acting according to plan and doing things instead of what you need to is an act of procrastination you should be aware of. Knowing what to do but not working to do anything about it is dangerous to your mental health.
- Leaving things the next day
Telling yourself to put off a task for the next day is a clear sign of procrastination. Panic arouses when you try to delay things that are important.
What To Do When Procrastinating
Procrastinating can be a difficult habit to overcome. For a lot of people, it can be a long process. What helps for most people is recognizing that they are avoiding a certain task not because of any good reason, but because they are putting things off indefinitely. One should be self aware enough to point out why they are procrastinating. With this they will be able to formulate strategies to stop themselves from procrastination. There are many ways to do so. Luckily, there are more alternatives- this time, a more modern and progressive strategy. So many people have tried everything. From making lists, to teaching your brain how to focus, sometimes, those strategies just don’t work. Many have resulted in trying something new such as CBD products such as CBD oil.
Cannabidiol is the next best thing. It is said to assist with managing stress and relieving anxieties. It is not what you think it is. Contrary to popular belief, CBD does not give you a ‘high’. It is a hemp product that does not alter your behavior and it is definitely not harmful to your body, Infact, it is actually really good for you. CBD products are found to improve anxiety. Hemp oil will make you feel relieved and well rested, ready to conquer your day and help you finish your task. Due to the benefits CBD provides, products with this all natural substance it is most likely available in store, on your shelves. CBD products range from so many different types. Their CBD infused bath salt, Eye cream, Relief balm, and CBD oil. Using a CBD single dose oil dropper is the easiest and most effective way to ingest this type of product. A single drop using a dropper can give you fast results! This is not to say CBD will help you stop procrastination completely, but it will definitely help you feel more focused, alert and less distracted. If you are hesitant to try this product, it is best advised to seek a health professional that will give you the right dose.
