What should I change in my daily routine to overcome laziness and procrastination?
A question from Quora
Laziness and procrastination go hand in hand. And the only cure for that is discipline. Here are four factors that help with discipline. Scott Peck, a psychologist, in his book The Road Less Traveled lists four factors to bring about discipline:
- Delayed gratification
- Acceptance of responsibility.
- Dedication to reality
- Balancing.
Delayed Gratification
This is doing the hardest thing first and then moving on to the lighter thing.
For example, if you are preparing for the exam, you have to learn the hardest chapter first and enjoy the easier ones later. Similarly in your work too, you have to do the parts you hate first thing and then move on to lighter works. While denying instant gratification, you are actually freeing most of the time to tasks you enjoy. This applies even for problem solving. For example if you try to build a child’s tent without instruction on a whim, you are most likely to confuse yourself. You have to take the time to study the problem first before you set out to solve it.
Acceptance of Responsibility
In most cases we find ourselves blaming everything but our self for our laziness. I couldn’t study because my house was noisy. My father didn’t let me watch TV, so I ended up watching TV late at night. I am late because my wife was late in preparing the lunch, etc. You cannot get over laziness and procrastination without accepting responsibility. You have to be able to say “I am responsible”.
“I can do this and I will do this”
Yes external factors affect us. But you only get over laziness if you get over the factors. If your house is noisy, find a quiet place to study. If you didn’t get a chance to watch TV, its alright to skip TV for one day. If your wife is late, skip lunch or breakfast. You can manage it on the way. You have to solve your problem.
Dedication to Reality
In our life, we deceive our self in many instances. Like when you sit with the phone, we deceive ourself that we have all the time in the world. When we are lazy and procrastinating we are at some level losing contact with the reality. The author beautifully states that,
“Our view of reality is like a map with which we negotiate(navigate) the terrain of life. If the map is true and accurate. We will generally know where we are, where we have to go and how to get there. If the map is false and inaccurate, we generally will be lost”
“The biggest problem of map making is not that we have to start from scratch, but if the map is to be accurate we have to continuously revise them”
Yes, we have to constantly assess our progress and productivity in order to over come laziness. Laziness is like a cancer cell, it only needs a small way to set in. Once it has, it spreads merciless.
Balancing
Above all discipline is also about flexibility. It is about delaying gratification at the same time it is also about finding joy. For example, as much important as doing your homework as soon you come home is, it is also equally important to relax once you are done. While discipline is about accepting responsibility of yourself, it is also about not putting the responsibilities of others on your head. While it is okay to accept responsibility for waking up late, its not okay to accept responsibility for your siblings waking up late. Sometimes it happens in family where the parents takes two siblings to school. So the one that gets ready earlier must do chores for the late one. While it is alright to note down your progress to asses your reality, it is also okay if you don’t make progress on some days. You don’t have to beat yourself up for that.
If you don’t find this balance to get over your laziness, then you cant go anywhere. You may be disciplined for a few days. But you will find yourself slipping to your laziness without the balance.
P. S. Cut down your gadget time. Mainly do not check the phone first thing in the morning. Trust me it clears your mind. Do not give into to your desperation to check your phone. It’s the worst form of addiction. There is nothing you will be missing. Good morning posts in the mornings are not necessary.
Originally published at www.quora.com.
