Say No to Procrastination

  

What is Procrastination? Procrastination is putting off or avoiding doing something that must be done. It is natural to procrastinate occasionally. However, excessive procrastination can result in guilt feelings about not doing a task when it should be done. It can also cause anxiety since the task still needs to be done. Furthermore, excessive procrastination can cause poor performance if the task is completed without sufficient time to do it well. In short, excessive procrastination can interfere with school and personal success.

Here are 7 reasons why People procrastinate: (Contributed by Bro. Bode Awuyo)

1.              Fear – Success/failure. You might think success is strange to fear. Who wouldn’t want to be successful, right? It’s a big fear for many because being successful is life-changing, full of losses and gains. So, people, especially teenagers, procrastinate because they do not have the level of confidence to believe in their ability to succeed.

2.               Their desire isn’t strong enough. They haven’t really made the decision to have what they want. This is so true for teenagers. Ask some of them what they want to become and you either hit a brick wall or a long string of mismatched desires. And as long as their planning is deficient, so will time be running!

3.             Goals/dreams don’t inspire them. Too often teenagers have little or no idea what they really want and they pursue goals they think they should want or what others want for them. That’s one reason why many successful people feel unhappy – like something is missing. They are living somebody else’s life rather than one that would make them happy. This feeling rather than popping into action consumes their time.

4.            Loss of a momentum and motivation. Without support and accountability, some teenagers lose steam and enthusiasm quickly and fall back into old behaviors. One of these old behaviours is procrastination which leads to a waste of precious time.

5.        Negative self-talk and beliefs. This is a huge reason why teenagers procrastinate. All the conversations they have in their heads that scare them and make them feel like crap. They construct stories about inevitable outcomes (worse case scenarios, what happened in the past will surely repeat) that they believe as truth! It’s amazing what we do to ourselves, isn’t it?

6.                  Overwhelmed with too many options. Sometimes, many teenagers don’t know where to start or what to choose. It’s a double-edged sword. Having choices is important and yet, having too many causes confusion. Often they make a hasty choice to get it over with, defer to someone else to take responsibility, or do nothing.

7.                  Too many distractions cause them to lose focus. They become overwhelmed, and confused, and stressed. They lack structure, routines, and boundaries to help them stay on track. Meanwhile, nothing gets done and time is ticking.

How Do I Know if I Procrastinate Excessively? 

You procrastinate excessively if you agree with five or more of the following statements;

1.                  I often put off starting a task I find difficult

2.                  I often give up on a task as soon as I start to find it difficult.

3.                  I often wonder why I should be doing a task.

4.                  I often have difficulty getting started on a task.

5.                  I often try to do so many tasks at once that I cannot do any of them.

6.                  I often put off a task in which I have little or no interest.

7.                I often try to come up with reasons to do something other than a task I have to do.

8.                  I often ignore a task when I am not certain about how to start it or complete it.

9.                  I often start a task but stop before completing it.

10.             I often find myself thinking that if I ignore a task, it will go away.

11.             I often cannot decide which of a number of tasks I should complete first.

12.             I often find my mind wandering to things other that the task on which I am trying to work.

What Can I Do About Excessive Procrastination?

Here are some things you can do to control excessive procrastination

1.                  Motivate yourself to work on a task with thoughts such as "There is no time like the present," or "Nobody's perfect."

2.                  Prioritize the tasks you have to do.

3.                  Commit yourself to completing a task once started.

4.                  Reward yourself whenever you complete a task.

5.                  Work on tasks at the times you work best.

6.                  Break large tasks into small manageable parts.

7.                  Work on tasks as part of a study group.

8.                  Get help from teachers and other students when you find a task difficult.

9.                  Make a schedule of the tasks you have to do and stick to it.

10.             Eliminate distractions that interfere with working on tasks.

11.             Set reasonable standards that you can meet for a task.

12.             Take breaks when working on a task so that you do not wear down.

13.             Work on difficult and/or unpleasant tasks first.

14.             Work on a task you find easier after you complete a difficult task.

15.             Find a good place to work on tasks.

Above all, think positively and get going. Once you are into a task, you will probably find that it is more interesting than you thought it would be and not as difficult as you feared. You will feel increasingly relieved as you work toward its accomplishment and will come to look forward to the feeling of satisfaction you will experience when you have completed the task.

(www.how-to-study.com/study-skills/en/.../procrastination/)

5 More Reasons You Procrastinate and How to Overcome Them

(Procrastination: To delay, stall, hesitate, put off, or lag). For more from Nate visit him at www.n8tip.com. Below I have listed 5 common causes of procrastination and strategies for conquering them:

1.                  Repulsive Tasks: Some tasks just aren’t any fun. But that doesn’t matter – some things just have to be done. But there's this effective strategy - When you find yourself with a backlog of “nasty” tasks, chose just one per day and knock it out as your first order of business. Why first? Because saving dreaded tasks until last is great incentive to never get all the way through your list. Plus, knocking out a nasty task first, keeps them from taunting you the rest of the day.

2.                  Mental Mountains: Complex projects or tasks that have many steps can be especially overwhelming. Not to mention the mind’s unfortunate knack of making “mountains” out of “mole hills.” Even tasks that aren’t particularly difficult sometime “seem” that way when you try juggling all the steps in your head. The key to moving past mental mountains is breaking larger projects into smaller, more manageable steps. Remember one step at a time!

3.                  Emotional Avoidance: Gaining traction on emotionally charged tasks is particularly difficult. Whether its fear, grief, resentment, or whatever, emotional obstacles are barriers that will always hold you back, until you decided to cross them.

4.                  Lack of Energy: Probably the most underappreciated, but very real reason many people fail to get started on projects is that they’re just too tired. Life in the modern world can be exhausting. There’s so much going on, so much to do, so many things vying for your attention, that some days it just drains you. That’s why, rest, exercise, and nutrition is more important than ever before. If you want to run at full capacity, you have to be well rested. Trying to tackle projects when you’re mentally or physically fatigued is a bad idea.

5.                  Help is Needed: Some tasks are just too large for you to handle by yourself; others require expertise you don’t posses. If that’s the case, – it’s time to get help. As admirable as the pioneering spirit is, it’s not always possible to go it alone. Whether the job’s too big, you don’t know what you’re doing, or you’re just not any good at it, asking for help is sometimes the only way to get some things done. And there’s nothing wrong with asking for help. Sometimes it’s the only way to get unstuck.

What does the Bible say about procrastination?

Procrastination is “the act of willfully delaying the doing of something that should be done,” and in some people it is a habitual way of handling any task. While the word itself is not found in the Bible, we can find some principles to help guide us. Sometimes, procrastination is the result of laziness, and the Bible has plenty to say about that. The Bible commends hard work and industry (Proverbs 12:24; 13:4) and warns against sloth and slackness (Proverbs 15:19; 18:9).

One cure for procrastination is more diligence, regardless of the task. The Christian should be supremely motivated to be diligent in his work, since he is ultimately serving the Lord. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men” (Colossians 3:23). If we put our hearts into our work, as this verse says to do, we will probably find it difficult to procrastinate too much.

Some people, upon hearing the Gospel and knowing their spiritual need, delay in making a response. This is the most dangerous type of procrastination. Life is short, and we do not know what will happen tomorrow (James 4:13-14). The Bible urges us to get right with God today. “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. As has just been said: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion’” (Heb 3:12-13, 15). To procrastinate and put off getting right with God is to harden one’s own heart.

Quote of the Week!

“Procrastination is the fear of success. People procrastinate because they are afraid of the success that they know will result if they move ahead now. Because success is heavy, carries a responsibility with it, it is much easier to procrastinate and live on the “someday I’ll” philosophy.” Denis Waitley.

Say No to indecent Dressing

What is indecent dressing? 

Indecent dressing can be described as worn clothing that is either too tight, too loose, too short, too skimpy or revealing. For example, the men/boys wear oversized shirts and trousers which they allow to hang loosely on their buttocks or thighs popularly known as sagging while the girls wear skimpy clothes which reveal their breasts, legs up to their buttocks, waist down to buttocks, bum shorts, low necklines, slits above the knee, bra-less clothing, exposed midriff, see-through clothing, etc, to the point of obscenity.

What do we mean when we say something is obscene? 

It means something that is;

1)                 offensive to accepted standards of decency or modesty

2)                 incites lustful feelings; lewd (is preoccupied with sex and sexual desire)

3)                 repulsive

4)                 disgusting

5)                 wickedness

To stem this misfortune, the authorities of many higher institutions and corporate organizations have introduced dress codes for their members/students/workers.

Why do people dress indecently?

1)                 Fashion

2)                 Peer pressure

3)                 Media hype

4)                 Ignorance

5)                 Low self-esteem

What are those things you take into consideration when dressing to go out? It is a natural question for one to ask, “What shall I wear?” as one prepares to go out of the home for everyday pursuits. But beyond style or fashion, the Christian considers other more important issues such as;

1)                 Is it modest?

2)                 Is it decent?

3)                 Does it profess godliness?

Why should we ask ourselves all these questions? Because as Christians, the Bible provides us the basic principles and concepts that can help us discern between good and evil. The world may have a different notion about what is right and proper for our attire but we will do what the word of God says. God does not have a double standard for men different from women. What is decent and fitting for a man is also decent and fitting for a woman. However, we will find that most of the Scripture on the subject of indecent dressing usually refer to the woman, just as lust is always attributed to men. There is probably a good reason for this. Men, by nature, are typically more visually stimulated than women. This is one reason pornography is more ensnaring to men than the women. The inspired writers, knowing this, may well be pleading with women to help neutralize with tendency by dressing in a wholesome manner.

What does the Bible say about indecent dressing? 

The Bible teaches that the proper attire of a Christian goes beyond the mere covering of skin.1 Timothy 2:9-10 explains, “In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment; but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works”.

(a)               Our apparel should be modest. Modesty defined as "orderly, well arranged, and decent". This word applies not so much to scanty clothing but to inappropriate or brash clothing. This means that there is a type of clothing that is not suitable for some occasions as society or culture would expect; and such clothing attracts undue attention as not being appropriate. The modest Christian will not go to a funeral or worship services dressed like they are going to a picnic.

(b)               There should be a sense of honour, reverence, regard for others, and respect’ in our dressing. ‘Shamefacedness’ refers more to the issue of scanty clothing. Those who display their bodies so as to excite lust in others do not have this quality of "shamefacedness." The Christian must take into consideration the effect their apparel has on others. If you cause people to look at you with lust (and they will!), you have not only enticed them to sin (Matthew 5:28) but you are equally guilty of sin (Matthew 18:7).

(c)                “Sobriety” indicates moderation and suggests that one should not go to extremes in any regard. Only someone of a sound mind will recognize the limits of good taste. But we find people who use their appearance to draw undue attention to themselves. They possess an attitude that is full of the ‘self’ and dress in such a way that says, "Hey, look at me!" This includes:

(i) Girls with too much make-up. Bum shorts to show off their thighs. 

(ii) Guys with muscle shirts or no shirt at all to show off their physique (both cases in public).

Excuses People Give for Indecent Dressing

1.                   "Indecent dressing is relative." (meaning, “Different strokes for different folks” may not necessarily be bad)

2.                  “We are not living in old times.” (meaning, “Things have changed since Adam & Eve, just in case you haven’t noticed)

3.                  "Some cultures, for example in Europe, are more open about their bodies, so there, nudity is okay." (meaning, “When you go to Rome, do like the Romans”)

4.                  "It depends on the situation.  If everyone else around is dressed scantily, it's okay." (meaning, “Go with the flow”)

5.                  "It depends on the activity.  If it's some athletic completion or hard work, you can't expect full clothing." (meaning, “There is a time & place for everything”)

6.                  "I'll be cooler and more comfortable." (meaning, “Isn’t that the whole point of dressing – to be comfortable)

7.                  "Everybody is dressing in this style now." (meaning, “It’s a vogue thing!”)

Consequences of Indecent Dressing

1.  Indecent dressing is a reflection of one’s level of unseriousness, loss of dignity and poor character molding expected of a responsible society. The Bible says clearly, “Let us not be deceived, for God cannot be ridiculed. Whatever a man sows, he will certainly reap” (Galatians 6:7). It also applies to the choice of indecent dressing.

1.                  2.  No one will take you seriously. It is said that ‘the way you dress is the way you will be addressed’.

2.                  3.  Lost opportunities. Indecent dressers stand to lose many God-given prospects, be they good jobs, life partners, businesses, unmerited favour, etc. Sometimes, there are no opportunities for a second chance to make a good impression.

3.                  4.  Lack of depth. The Bible says, “Deep calls unto the deep …” (Psalm 42:7-8). I believe then, that the shallow will also be the ones to beckon to their kind, the shallow. Indecent dressing portrays a lack of spiritual depth and one cannot go far in life without spiritual profundity.

4.                 5.  Serving the devil. Indecent dressing is the devil’s trick to lure people into sin by configuring it to look glamorous. Every young person wants to look stylish and fashionable and the devil knows this and has prepared his own agenda. So indecent dressers are working the devil’s agenda and not God’s, who wants us to be modest, honourable, and sober, even in our dressing. But “the wages of sin, is death …” (Romans 6:23).

Quote of the Week!

Apostle Paul had this to say in 1 Corinthians 6:12a, ‘All things are lawful but not all things are expedient’. We may not be contravening any law by dressing any which way we desire but there is a code of conduct for every Christian, and it includes the way we, as believers, are expected to appear in public. Being a Christian, I must say, is a choice as well as a lifestyle...

Say No to Pre-marital Sex

I can just hear the sighs and groans ... 'here we go again'! But helllloooo … we'll never stop talking about it because pre-marital sex is the harbinger of all other variants of sexual immorality. Pre-marital sex means having sexual intercourse before marriage. But whether it is referred to as pre-marital experience, assuming one is talking of sexual intercourse or perversion of the same, the word of God implies it all by calling it fornication. It knows no exception. It allows none. Renaming fornication does not change the act or remove the consequence. Those who commit fornication, commit sin.

It is a sin against God, against His will, His word and His way. Judgement will fall on those who are guilty of fornication and who fail to turn in repentance. (I Cor. 6:9-11). For this reason Paul writes in I Cor. 7:2, "Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife and every woman have her own husband". Temptation is not a sin, fornication is.

The core of pre-marital sex is LUST - a desire to have or seek to have what is not rightfully yours. 

LOVE is not LUST. 

LOVE is the opposite of LUST. 

LOVE is concerned about GIVING, LUST with GETTING. 

LUST is wrapped up in SELF, LOVE is wrapped up in GOD and OTHERS. 

While LUST seeks to please and satisfy SELF, LOVE seeks to please GOD and OTHERS (see Romans 15:1-3). 

LOVE is thankful for what God has given; LUST is envious of what others have. 

What do we mean by Lust? 

"Lust is an intense, unrestrained sexual craving; an overwhelming desire, and intense eagerness for sexual pleasure". If this is not madness, tell me what else to call it!

Sex is God's idea - oh, yes. And like everything He created, it is good (Gen. 1:31a). Sex was created for procreation (Gen. 1:27-28) and for recreation (1 Cor. 7:2-5). And for these purposes, the best environment is in marriage. Anything outside of that is SIN. There will always be pressure on young people to ignore their values and warnings to engage in premarital sex but the onus lies on you to keep d 'big picture' in mind. You are looking for love, not lust. You deserve love, not lust. Love preserves, lust destroys. Love endures, lust is a fleeting passion. Love is triumph, lust is disaster!

Quote of the Week!

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" (1 Cor. 13:4-7).