Mind over matter: time management, its link to motivation, procrastination and strategies to stop this thief of time Time management and motivation, a delve into procrastination and how to stop it

Malaz Dhirar

Time is quite the valuable commodity, especially in today’s fast paced world. The twenty four hours of a day may seem like a lot of time but if one isn’t careful, those hours will slip right by. Managing time is an important part of being productive and accomplishing goals. 

One of the most important factors to accomplishing goals is motivation. It sounds easy, a motivated person can do what they set their minds to and that’s that. All the motivation in the world means nothing without good use of time. But if done correctly, time management can pave the way to success (1)(2)(3). 

Time management and motivation

There are two types of motivation, extrinsic and intrinsic. In other words, one driven by external factors like rewards and the other by inner reasons where a person does something of their own choice. Motivation and time management go hand in hand. Time management helps fuel motivation forwards, it can even improve intrinsic motivation. A person who exercises time management well improves their productivity and fulfills more tasks, naturally resulting in lower stress and anxiety (4). 

No one can be motivated all the time, no matter how hard they try. Having a structure to keep track of one’s goals and responsibilities can be very useful and that’s exactly what time management can do. Organizing time doesn’t just ensure order, it can keep a person happy and productive. 

Procrastination as a term and how to stop it 

The best way to get something done is to begin. And yet people procrastinate quite often. It is generally attributed to laziness that’s not quite right. After all, people who do put things off still put in several hours worth of work later so it’s not lazy if they can do it. Examples of other causes are fear of failure, avoiding judgment and pressure. Or simply lack of interest, people tend to put off what they perceive as boring or too long, or they simply need to be perfectionists. Procrastination causes stress, fatigue and anxiety, putting things off until much later only increases the chances of failure. 

There are, of course, several methods to overcome procrastination. Awareness is the way to begin, for there is no way to fix an unacknowledged problem. Then comes perspective, altering viewpoints to focus on the good, doable things and break down big tasks into smaller ones. Committing to goals, no matter how small, is important. It helps to set a reward system that would serve as more incentive for motivation while keeping realistic goals in mind. Just a few changes here and there let procrastination become a thing of the past. With a little time management, much can be done. After all, procrastination is the thief of time  (5)(6)(7). 

Motivation may not be the answer to all goals but it is the first step on the ladder of success. People can do what they set their minds to. The greatest amount of wasted time is the time not getting started so everyone should not let reservations get in the way of living. That is the way to a productive and successful life, one without regrets.