2 February | Youth
«Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth.» Proverbs 27:1
Let us talk about procrastination. Do you know the meaning of this word? It is the addiction of postponing a commitment, delaying an important decision or failing to fulfill immediate responsibilities. It is the tendency to leave everything for later. Do you know someone who “kicks the can down the road”?
Everyone procrastinates on something in life, whether it is health care, schoolwork, or a relationship with God. We are born with the tendency to use excuses to avoid commitments.
This human difficulty caught the attention of psychologist Tim Pychyl, from Carleton University, in Canada. He studied the subject for 20 years and found that procrastination is “currently the most serious problem in education.” After all, it is much more enjoyable to spend an afternoon watching videos on the internet than solving math problems! Tim explains: “It's like getting drunk or eating for comfort: it's a strategy that makes us feel better by distracting ourselves with a short-term pleasure and forgetting about the problem.”
How do you deal with these distractions? Are you one of those who spends hours on social media instead of fulfilling your obligations? Be careful with entertainment and hobbies, as they work like sweets: they promote a feeling of pleasure, but it ends quickly and are harmful.
Here are some practical suggestions to avoid procrastinating:
1. Develop self-control, which is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:23), the result of communion with God.
2. Assume that you are not a spectator in life, but the builder. You are responsible for your time, your dreams and your future.
3. Planning is important, but do not forget that dreaming without doing something becomes an illusion. So, go on and make it happen!
4. Organize your day by setting times. Focus on your tasks and do not be distracted by your cell phone!
The worst kind of procrastination, however, is leaving the decision for Jesus for another time. Remember that life is fleeting and that today is the day of your salvation (Heb 3:15).