Procrastination is delaying or postponing action, putting off doing something. Everyone procrastinates. Even the most successful people struggle with it every day. But successful people do something that most others don’t – they push past it. They don’t make excuses or allow it to affect their output. They develop intelligent, actionable strategies to break past mental barriers and stay productive.
Successful people defeat procrastination. They do it by keeping themselves accountable. They commit themselves to get things done. Committing oneself keeps you accountable. They write their goals, keep a to-do list, and create reminders. They make themselves accountable to others. They tell everyone what their plans are and commit to it. They have self-awareness. Self-awareness is a common trait many successful people have.
Self-awareness allows you to understand precisely why you’re even procrastinating in the first place. This will allow you to see the root cause of your procrastination, which you can solve.
Successful people plan. They always show up, no matter how they feel. Successful people understand that tasks need to be broken down into much more specific and measurable sub-tasks to get the job done.
Sometimes, procrastination results from laziness, and the Bible has plenty to say about that.
Proverbs 12:24 (ESV) The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labour.
Proverbs 13:4 (ESV) The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
Proverbs 18:9 (ESV) Whoever is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.
Colossians 3:23 (ESV) Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
God calls us to be good stewards of our time – making the most of the time we are given here on earth.
Hebrews 12:11 (NIV) No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Ephesians 5:15-16 (NLT) So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NLT) Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom.
“How soon ‘not now’ becomes ‘never.’” – Martin Luther
“In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing to do, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.” – Theodore Roosevelt
I conclude with the words of Martin Luther King, Jr: “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”