Project 9 - Persuade with Power - "Get Set Go"

The gloomy evening, the listless breeze

They make me anxious, the heartbeats increase.

Minutes turn into hours and hours into days

Is this it or just another phase?

The meek whisper stutters and stammers at first

Slowly it grows louder and bellows at worst.

“I think its right, no time to wile

But am I really willing to go that extra mile?”

What you just heard were excerpts not from the latest book in the Chicken Soup series but a deeply distressing dialogue of the heart with the mind. And mind you, not that of any specific soul but that of a fairly common tribe who walk among us. Willing to go to any lengths to defend it, they sincerely and faithfully follow only one nation – ‘Procrastination’. The website of thefreedictionary.com defines ‘Procrastination’ as ‘To put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.’ Well, what do they know?

Hmmm..  Okay! More than 150 words of the speech done! Enough for the day, right? Some of you may agree, some of you may not. What if I say that this is at an hour past midnight, for the first draft of a 5 to 7 minute long speech, a speech to be delivered less than 2 days later? <Tch-tch-tch> Do I see few more among you nodding your heads in disapproval now? A diehard procrastinator at heart, I believe this to be a form of ‘OCD’ – Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. How do you identify if you suffer from it? Have you had an innate urge to keep postponing the really important things that you must do till the eleventh hour? While doing so, have you experienced that jittery nervousness of knowing that it is not the wise thing to do? If you just had a déjà-vu, I am sorry to say my friends – we are sailing in the same shaky boat.

But wait a minute! Are we just talking about not completing assignments in time or just meeting deadlines by a whisker? No, it definitely delves deeper, and has a much more profound impact than that. Consider this: A tingling uneasy sensation in your back. It persists and subsequently takes form of a nagging ache. It’s already over a month since you have had the throbbing sensation for the first time, but you just ignore it. “I’m a software programmer, I sit at my desk for 9.25 hours each day, it’s a professional hazard! But I’m fine, you see, I’m fine!” But one not-so-fine morning few months later, you experience excruciating pain and are unable to move. You finally visit the orthopedic doctor – a round of check-up, an X-Ray, a couple of questions and Rs. 2000 later – the verdict is “Spondylitis”.

Procrastination is not just injurious to your physical health; it can be injurious to the well-being of your personal relations too. We all have ups and downs in our relationships. We all go through those tough times of tiffs, trials and tribulations. Minor misunderstandings, if not sorted out immediately, blow out of proportions transforming themselves into a colossal rift damaging the bond forever. The key to avoid this is to take corrective measures, right away, before it’s too late to rectify and too early to regret.

The problem has been identified and acknowledged. So, what next? Don’t procrastinate, huh? It’s easier said than done. This brings us to the most crucial aspect – ‘How to prevail over it?’

-          First and foremost, we must understand that procrastination of an unfavorable task or an activity is not going to take us away from it. If anything, it might make the task all the more uncomfortable and inconvenient to tackle.

-          Next, we need to consider and implement the three important ‘Ps’ - Plan, Prioritize and Perform as these will help us triumph over the fourth one – Procrastination.

-          At times, if our fair judgment gets shrouded by clouds of confusion, we need to think through the consequences. Imagining the undesirable outcomes will give that much-needed boost to let go of the inhibitions, the careless attitude and the lethargy.

-          The fourth and the final factor is determination. Determination to overcome any obstacles that come your way, determination to give your best shot, determination to reach the zenith. And when that happens..

The gloom turns into elation, the breeze gushes spiritedly

The cheer spreads around and the soul sings happily

Don't give me a day, an hour or a minute

A second is all it takes to win it!

No whispering words, no stuttering start,

The goal is set say the mind and the heart

"We know it’s right, we know it's time

So let’s cross the extra mile and be ready to climb!"