PROCRASTINATION

There is this thief. I like to think of him as one of the greatest thieves of all time. He is a master swindler, a guru of his craft. I think most of us have encountered him at one point or the other of our lives. Some are able to slip through his clutches unharmed, some barely make it out but most, well, most end up losing and missing out on very important things thanks to him. Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to the greatest thief of time, whom I am currently in a complicated relationship with, PROCRASTINATION.

Procrastination- Pushing things you are supposed to do to a later day, date or time. Procrastination is something that most of us battle with. In all honesty, it is like some kind of disease, especially when you become a chronic procrastinator.

I was chatting up with my five other delusional personalities the other day and there was this heated debate about procrastination, my procrastination in particular. I was supposed to write something some two weeks ago and I was quite psyched. I had the topic in mind, but when I picked my keyboard and began typing, I froze. I could not write a single thing. So, I decided I would write the next day. The next day, I was a bubbling ball of energy and good vibes and I wrote but it just wasn’t what I wanted. So, I said tomorrow. The next day arrived and I was like, nope, today does not feel like a writing day. The next day, I found some stupid excuse and on and on we went. I had a brief meeting with myself.

Me: I seriously have to learn to get a grip of myself and just do what I am supposed to do and what I plan to do at the very exact time I plan on doing it.

Myself: You know you are incapable of doing that. You are lazy.

I: She is not lazy. She is just too caught up in her head that she can handle all tasks at the very last minute and do them so perfectly, that she chooses to just do it at the very last minute.

Me: Way to go, I. I do not see the point of wasting hours doing something that is much due in maybe three days, when I can handle them two hours prior to the set deadline and accomplish them expertly. Procrastination is the art of keeping up with tomorrow, bro.

The other two personalities were seated in a corner seeping tea and watching. This went on for quite some time until I adjourned the meeting to a later date. (Classic chronic procrastinator acts).

Away from my very evident insanity, procrastination is a habit that starts with the small things. No habit ever starts big. For me, it began that day in pre-unit, when I found out that I could do the class one sums given to us as an assignment on the school bus and still get everything and get a test and a direct pass to class one. It was my undoing. Procrastination just comes about from that one thing that leads you to start pushing things aside and for another day and before you know it, it is your whole life.

Why do people procrastinate though?

There are varied reasons. Some are super busy with so many things that some need to go to a later day. Others just lack the energy and bandwidth to sit through some tasks and just push them aside. Others are just scared of doing some tasks, or trying out some things so they push them aside until they can’t do them. Others have too much faith in themselves that they would rather do it last minute and be like, I told you I could do it, to themselves, so they just procrastinate. Others just feel like it is fun to do so.

Why does thedarkheartemoji procrastinate?

In all honesty, if it is not really urgent, I have better things to do with my time. Even sitting down and letting my mind wonder and wander about important bigger things are better than working. I also believe I can do anything I set my mind to; I just refuse to set my mind to. Welcome to my mind.

There is still hope for all of us though. We just have to get to it now, today. (How about tomorrow? No, not tomorrow, never tomorrow). We just have to look at it from this angle, if we do whatever we have to today, no procrastinations, then we shall have free time tomorrow. That my friends; is optimism at its best. There is no big miracle on how to not procrastinate; you just have to do it. I honestly wish I had a solution to this, but this is the only one and I have been trying my best to embrace it. To-do lists or task lists also work a little bit, for procrastinators who are not in too deep. Conditioning, with rewards and punishments, also do work. (I hope it rings a bell, wow I am wheezing currently).

Just like gambling, you are never done with procrastination, but just like gambling you learn how to control your urges. If you have a procrastinating friend, encourage them out of it. Push them to complete their assignments ahead of deadlines, use rewards to help them get out of that postponing habit of theirs and you could also threaten them, the good kind though.

As for me, I have been trying to dump this thief for a while, but we are still in a toxic relationship and currently blame-gaming each other. It is amazing how when you do what you had to do, you get time to do another and then another and then you go crazy. Yes, I need help.

POETRY BLOCK.

Bite my hand, shoot me down

I can’t stand, I just frown

Tied to by a band, I’m just a clown

Give me my land, I’ll sell and leave town.

You’re a monster, cruel and cold

Yet I’m a master, mister, will you fold?

You think I stutter, a façade so bold

A smile so sinister, the game is getting old.

A thief of time, what a joke

You’re here by MY time, here on my clock

I may whine and cry, but behind the cloak

I simply want you here, you’re not a need but a joke.

A master swindler, but who is fooling the other

Staring at a mirror, one is not a part of the other

Multiple reflections none clearer, a trophy added upon another

My ego-stoking enigma, my procrastination, how you make me smile.

👸🏾🖤Thedarkheartemoji. Your Word Queen 👸🏾🖤. Before the Poetic Queen, I stan! 👸🏾🖤

That’s all from me to you today. Keep warm, for my Kenyan audience, it is quite cold currently. Stay safe. Do not forget to recommend someone else here. Leave a like and a comment.

Be happy, stay happy and always smile.

Do read Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor.

Currently on a re-read and I love the book even more.