Here's the scenario: You have a big project due tomorrow. You’ve known about it for weeks, but you’ve been putting off until the last minute. If you’re like most people, I’m sure you’re telling yourself that you work better under pressure and that somehow, you’ll find a way to get it done. But why do people put themselves in this scenario?

 

For most, it’s because they’d rather spend their time scrolling through social media, watching Netflix, playing video games, or doing anything other than the task at hand.

 

Now, it’s the night before the deadline and here you are, stressed and overwhelmed. Only now, wishing you had more time is a waste of time. It’s also at this point when self-doubt starts to creep in. Is there something wrong with me? Why can’t I just concentrate and get my work done on time? These are questions that all kinds of people struggle to answer.

 

You may think that this scenario is a little exaggerated, that you’re not that bad and you have everything under control. But ask yourself this and be really honest with yourself: how often do you procrastinate? If it’s not missed deadlines, then how many promises have you broken or how many opportunities have been lost due to you wasting your time? 

A lot of people I talk to about this usually have the same reasons. It is because they suffer from a lack of motivation, a fear of failure, or something similar to it.

 

I’ll be the one to break it to you, these excuses are challenges. And these challenges need to be overcome to achieve success.

 

I’ve talked at length about bad habits in past posts and newsletters, and this is definitely one of them. Procrastination is not just a bad habit, it’s also a choice. It’s a choice that we are constantly making that comes with all kinds of consequences. But the good news is that once you identify what’s driving your bad choices, you can begin to fix them.

 

This is why your words matter so much. When you accept a project or commit to something, it matters. With that kind of weight behind your words, it doesn’t make sense to lie or make excuses why you didn’t get something done, does it? No, it doesn’t. Because …

When you keep your word to others (and to yourself) you are showing respect. This is how we build trust, credibility, self-confidence, and create a reputation for ourselves that we can be proud of. Don’t you want to be known as the reliable guy who always gets things done on time?

 

The opposite is also true. When you break your word, you should treat that as disrespect. If you asked someone to stop and pick something up for you and then they don’t do it, they are telling you very clearly that they didn’t put any priority on your request. I would feel a little disrespected by that, wouldn’t you? What’s really sad is that we do this to ourselves more than anyone else.

 

With procrastination, when you put things off until tomorrow, you’re not just delaying the task, but the reward too. Doesn’t it make you feel good to know that you accomplished a task or did something good for someone? There is a reason for that. Science refers to it as your reward system activation, or a release of dopamine by the brain that makes you feel good.

 

It's real. I assure you.

 

That’s why when you do things today, you get the immediate satisfaction of accomplishing the task and the good feelings that come with doing something that matters. Just look at the studies out there. (you don’t have to, I already did it for you). Altruistic behavior (meaning you do things for someone else’s benefit) activates the same reward processing region of the brain that I just mentioned. Why deny your body that feeling?

 

There is an old saying, “A man is only as good as his word”. Simply put, it means that your character and reputation depend on your ability to keep your word. I would argue that this phrase actually goes a step further and means that your word is your most valuable asset, which means words shouldn’t be wasted.

 

But let’s be real for a second. How many of you are living up to this standard?

 

If you’re being honest, you’ll probably admit that you’re not doing it enough. You may do it often, but not consistently. And that is the problem. 

The answer? If you say you’re going to do something, do it. Period. You do it because you said you would.

 

It really is that simple.

 

So, let me wrap this up with a challenge. Share something that you’ve been putting off and what you’re going to do about it today. It doesn’t matter what it is. It can be something small or something that’s been lingering for months or years. Just make sure it’s something that matters. Maybe it’s an unfulfilled promise to yourself or someone else? Maybe it’s something you’ve always wanted to accomplish? Either way, remember, you were the one who said yesterday that you’d do it tomorrow, and now today is here.