A lot of people are feeling guilty for not able to complete their work on time. And they feel that procrastination or postponing the work to be done, has become a habit. I have been asked by many people this question, ‘How to avoid procrastination?’ And in this article would like to give you some practical Chanakya solutions to avoid procrastination and become more ‘proactive’.
So, to begin with, there is a big difference between being a procrastinator and being lazy. A lazy person, by design, avoids the work. Lazy people do not feel guilty for not completing the work on time. But a person who is procrastinating work is ‘aware’ that the work has to be completed in time and feels bad that it is not happening.
So, the real problem of postponing a work is about ‘time management’ which after a point becomes a habit. And we are not able to break away from that habit.
What would Chanakya advise us, “Having found a matter for consideration, he should not allow time to pass” (1.15.45)
It is very important to know that time is the most important resource that we have in our hands. If we know how to use every minute of our day, we will be super productive.
It is one thing not to waste your time. But, it another thing to use all your time efficiently. How does one do that? Chanakya is advising us in the above sutra–First, find a matter for consideration and then do not allow time to pass.
So, let us decode this advice:
Find a matter for consideration
It is interesting to note that we do not ‘think’ properly before starting anything. Just because someone tells us to do something, does not mean we actually ‘have’ to do it. We can consider if we need to do it, or not do it.
There are three scenarios when new work comes to us. First, do it yourself. Second is to delegate this to someone else. And third is, not do it at all. You will have to consider all options before we actually take up the new work.
Imagine you have ten things to do in a day. And suddenly someone gives you a new work. Now, the list had become eleven things to do. But what is more dangerous is that you will lose time thinking about the new work that you will not even do the previous ten things in hand.
And half of your day is gone wondering what to do. And at the end of the day, you would have completed just three things to do. Your guilt starts from there. Even if you want to do it, your mind is not available. So, what is the solution?
Dr Radhakrishnan Pillai is an Indian management thinker, author, and Founder of Atma Darshan and Chanakya Aanvikshiki. Dr Pillai has extensively researched Kautilya’s Arthashastra, the 3rd century BC treatise and incorporated it into modern management.
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