The Problem of Procrastination - Essay Example

IUPUI User Professor Name Institution, course number Date B110 Final Reflection Paper Introduction The topic of the final reflection is the problem of procrastination in making decisions. Making decisions is necessary when you realize that you are not satisfied with the current situation, and it can’t be changed with the help of means and knowledge which you possess. In order to proceed to the decision-making process, it is necessary to formulate the problem. For example, "I cannot learn a second language. I do not have time and so forth". In psychology, procrastination is the process of delaying actions, which leads to the painful psychological effects. Procrastination is a process, when the person is aware of the need to perform the specific important cases (for example, his duties), but ignores the necessity of doing it, by distracting his attention on household stuff or entertainment. Description Psychologists often define procrastination as a mechanism for coping with anxiety, associated with the undertaking or completion of any cases or decisions. Laziness and procrastination are two different states of personality. In the first case, the person does not want to do anything and is not worried about it, while in the second one, he wants to do something, but cannot start. Rest and procrastination are also different. During the rest, a person tries to restore his energy resources, while in case of delaying the duties, he loses them. Procrastination can cause stress, guilt, loss of productivity, because of dissatisfaction with the surrounding world. The combination of these feelings and overspending forces can lead to chronic procrastination. Chronic procrastination may be caused by hidden psychological or physiological diseases. Some people can work successfully only when they subject to the strict time limits and perform their duties on the last days before the deadline. Explanation There were three situations, in my life, which indicated this problem. The first one concerned my trip to another city. I needed to buy tickets for the trip in a week. Every day I found excuses for myself in order not to go to the railway station. As a result I came there the day before the date of my departure and found out that there were no tickets. The second situation concerned the meeting with my friend. I agreed to meet my friend at 12 o’clock p.m. near the café. There was an interesting film on the TV and I was distracted from my preparations. I looked at the clock and understood that in a half an hour I had to be on place, but stretched the time. As a result we met, but I was really late. The third situation was connected with the relations with my parents. I had an issue, which I wanted to discuss with them, but I was afraid to do it. I played for time and consequently the things became worth and my parents got to know about everything by themselves. Each problem is originated from our minds or previous life situations. I’ve managed to find the initial reasons of my problem. Firstly, it appeared because every time I found the excuses for myself in order not to make decisions and secondly I perceived the time incorrectly. There were also things from my environment, which contributed to the problem. The first one came from my childhood. During my life, all the decisions, which concerned my study, trips, and other situations were made by my parents and it created the ground for the rise of my problem. The second one consisted in the similar attitude of my friends to this problem, as they also had a habit to put the execution of the tasks for the future. There were also some more situations which related to the problem, I will try to explain them on the basis of the detailed description. When I was a child I went to the summer camp. My parents did all the necessary preparations for it: bought tickets, packed things and so forth, as a result I didn’t learn to be responsible for the organization of my trip. The next situation appeared when my friends suggested me to play the computer games instead of doing homework, which was also harmful for my study and discipline. Both situations describe the process of situational procrastination (chapter 1). The sociocultural influence on this problem is reflected in such factors: the opinion of people is important and sometimes makes you view the things differently; the nature of the person is to remain the problems for tomorrow, which lead to self-downing (chapter 2). Prediction If the problem of procrastination remains in my life, it will make it much more complicated, than it could be in case of its correct organization. If there isn’t any changes about the problem, I think I will lose a lot of possibilities that could be achieved by the right schedule and will waist a lot of time. Using the time correctly, people become lucky, their lives begin to fill with different events and emotions. Most of them struggle for perfectionism (chapter 7). If they cannot make decisions in time, it leads to the destruction of their inner peace and happiness. It is important to remember that time is a treasure. Laziness and carelessness are the integral states of time wasting. In such situation, one runs the risk to remain with nothing, which will lead to the feeling of inferiority (chapter 4). Changes Certainly, it is possible to change the situation for the better. First of all, one needs to understand the necessity for this step and get rid of the laziness. It is important to remember every day, that it’s better to do the work earlier, than to leave it for the later period of time. The useful thing is to make a list of things, and write everything that one needs to do, and by the result, put the ticks near each task. In order to set the goal and formulate the problem one needs to determine the desired result in mind all the time. It is necessary to describe the desired solution under the most favorable circumstances and in the light of the absence of interference and obstacles. The ideal solution would be a source of criteria for the particular decision. For example, the decision to learn a second language on the conversational level. The criteria reveals itself in the ability to communicate with a native speaker during the summer vacation. The values of the aim state that the second language is very important for today’s communication. The advantage is the ability to communicate with native speakers. The disadvantages are time expenses and financial expenses for training. Making decisions is not the guarantee, that they will be implemented. This implementation method is created in order to check if the current aims correspond one’s actions. For example, the progress of learning of the second language reveals in such actions as: visiting a class, achievement of some progress, learning new words and so forth. It is important not to delay the choice of schools and training. In the case with parents, described above, it is necessary to persuade them or the surrounding people, that you are able to make your own decisions and organize everything by yourself. The terms used in the research: Situational procrastination – is a meaning which indicates that the item of the procrastination can vary according to the task (chapter 1) Self-downing is the ability of people to decrease their self-esteem (chapter 2). Inferiority feelings are the feelings of uncertainty in the surrounding world and the appearing circumstances (chapter 4). Hostility-created procrastination – is the expression of impatience towards other people (chapter 6). Perfectionism is the eagerness of the person to achieve the highest standards (chapter 7). Reinforcement principles are things, which helps one to get rid of the self-destroying habits (chapter 8). Other terms used: Self-monitors and reminders – the system of penalties for breaking the rules (chapter 9). Forceful self-persuasiveness – the process of persuading oneself in the necessity of the abiding the certain principles (chapter 10). Concluding this research, based on the personal experience, it is important to mention that the process of procrastination leads to the destruction of the life and inner world of the personality and it’s very important to overcome this negative feature. Works Cited Albert Ellis. “Overcoming procrastination. The famed scientific method for ending a habit that is robbing you of time, money, power, freedom and love.” New York: Institute for rational living, 1977. Print. Read More