We’re heading the time of the year where most people are reaching deadlines, project goals and objectives. And it’s here where the procrastination monster appears when you need him least.
I share an extract from JustLive’s Life Balance Coaching Program module (Life Balance in the Mental & Relational dimension) and the effects of time-wasters and how procrastination impedes mental coherence and has a direct effect on relationships.
The secret of mental health derives from emotional intelligence, which results in regulation of emotions (self-regulation); practicing of self-control; and living mindful by building resilience (mental strength) (as elaborated on JustLive’s previous Life Balance Coaching Program module on the spiritual and emotional dimension).
Without vision, people are directionless, unrestrained and have no direction and perish. It is essential to live your life and mind structured and orderly, to reach successful heights each individual requires vision which consists of measurable goals, an effective structure, goal-driven schedule and good planning.
If you do not exercise self-control daily and allow distractions, disruptions, and assumptions to rule your mind, you will create a platform of chaos, wherein your goals will be unachieved, you will not be focused, and your plans will be uncompleted.
Effect of Time-wasters on your mental health:
Time-wasters can derail your thought patterns, plans or focus.
An example, should you be busy with your work and calculating a complicated calculation,
or coding a program, or performing any other priorities and you get a notification on your
computer or cellphone from one of your applications such as WhatsApp or Facebook (the
choice is vast…) – you will probably find yourself immersed therein and before you know it
you have wasted 20 minutes or more, forgotten your trail of thought and the essence of the
calculation, and you lose rhythm. No matter what task you are busy with, when you lose
rhythm you lose the effectiveness and quality invested therein.
The best is to schedule a specific time for social media or even replying to emails and keep
to a sustainable plan and schedule. You require self-discipline and commitment to enforce
focus.
Time-wasters have an emotional impact.
Time-wasters promote disappointment; irritation; and anxiety.
Should you have a deadline or priority to focus on, the wasting of time shortens your period
of effectiveness and efficiency and as this escalates the intensity of your emotional stance
increases and forms negativity.
By being assertive with distractions and interruptions the boundary will keep you secure and
goal-driven, and your emotions regulated.
Time-wasters limit progress on schedules, work or tasks that have to be completed.
Organize your life effectively, your house, kitchen, cupboards, and office. When the rest of
your life is organised – your mind feels organised too and you can work effectively. A clutter-
free life increases motivation which in turn increases productivity. Clutter can cause
unnecessary time-wasting and increase frustration.
You will have to apply discipline and mindfulness when organizing your life.
Time-wasters dishonor deadlines.
Take responsibility for your time-wasting – reminisce on your values and principles. It is
important to respect all people and systems, when you respect you build honor.
Build in extra time to accommodate time-wasters when you have deadlines and practice
assertiveness.
Time-wasters increase procrastination.
People sometimes allow time to be wasted rather than attend to the difficult time-consuming
task at hand, since the intensity of their priority evokes a feeling that they know the task will
take a lot out of them, and the intensity can exhaust and promote lethargy. At first avoidance
feels more comfortable, until the monster arises.
The irony is that procrastination will cause an emotional exhaustion and lethargy because of
the tension created from the postponement.
The effects of procrastination:-
Procrastination’s monster can destroy mental effectivity and cloud your mind.
The effect of the tension is dire on your physical and emotional self.
Procrastination can be very self-harming – it influences all the dimensions of your life – mental; spiritual; emotional; physical & nutritional; work; and especially your relational dimension.
Procrastination turns out to be a very selfish act - The effects of procrastination on relationships can be devastating – your loved ones, friends and colleagues all experience the negative effects of YOUR stress, anxiety, and turmoil. The fact that you are complied to bundle up and squash everything that has been procrastinated into a minimal amount of time and with so much tension escalating, destroys relationships and your happiness and mental well-being. You don’t just neglect yourself, you hurt others and throw you life off-balance.
Planning, effective scheduling and assertiveness (BOUNDARIES) can protect you.
Do not deviate from your plan and schedule - be loyal. Mostly loyal to yourself!
Practice responsibility – first think of being responsible to your loved ones (your support structure) – then be responsible by doing what needs to be done – immediately!
Ensure exercise is in your schedule to promote positive mental health, but when experiencing lethargy - intense breathing exercises and stepping away for a moment could revive the moment.
Qualities in your character that you can improve on to discourage time-wasting:
Build determination
Exercise healthy patterns and habits
Decide to practice discipline continuously
Build commitment
Build accountability
Build healthy boundaries
Keep to your word, commitment and promises
Practice assertiveness with your boundaries
Stay goal-driven
Practice mindfulness & awareness continuously
Reflect on personal values and principles regularly
Learn from your mistakes:
During the pressing times of completing tasks and meeting deadlines, such a relief and feel-good is felt after the pressure was experienced - that people easily forget what just transpired in their lives.
Invariably it turns out that your support system sustained your mentality, assisted you, stood by you during the pressing times and supported the work and projects that had to be completed. But when the dust settles down, these people often remain with much hurt and damage done to their hearts. We should be aware of the impact procrastination has on relationships, so that we do not delay doing the tasks and projects requiring our immediate attention, and meet deadlines in future.
It is also important to learn that although a certain amount of pressure promotes a “drive” that increases our productivity and could be beneficial to complete the work, this adrenaline that is excreted during this stress is also potentially harmful to our health. Experiencing excessive and frequent levels of adrenaline can damage your blood vessels, increase blood pressure, cause heart damage, therefor advance the risk of heart attacks or strokes, cause insomnia, nervous conditions, weight gain, headaches and result in further anxiety.
We should cultivate awareness of procrastination on our health, and aspire to structure our time wisely.
To maintain good mental health people need to keep their mind in a rut of healthy thought patterns. Your brain requires healthy, effective electrical impulses to think clearly. It takes practice doing the right thing, right, over and over again, until your thinking and behaviour consistently change.
To maintain satisfactory Life balance in all quadrants of your life, you need a sound mind. Sustainability of thinking patterns, fitness, good nutrition, will follow as a result of the development of a good mind-set, which is based on the commitment of a positive course of action.
You do have control over your mind, and since you are the custodian of your decisions – you can choose and control what goes into your mind. Therefor, establish vision, take direction and focus!
Set goals, plan, work according to a structure and schedule.
Don't delay - time is precious!
Please contact us should you be struggling to cope, experience anxiety and pressure and require assistance or need to chat with someone.
Elvira
JustLive Coach
elvira@justlive.co.za
www.justlive.co.za
“You may delay, but time will not, and lost time is never found again.” Benjamin Franklin