As we finish Pillar 1 on our Wellbeing Programme, we conclude that sleep is a vital aspect of keeping our body both physically and mentally well. We share with you a reflective essay by Mikhail ISAEV, on the importance of sleeping and Procrastination.

Many of us struggle with procrastination, and it occurs more frequently than we might imagine. It happens when we put off tasks that we know we should complete, such as studying, chores, or assignments. Instead, we spend our time scrolling through TikTok or Instagram, which are purposely all designed with the intention so that we stay on them for hours and continue procrastinating. That explains why TikTok is so addictive. This infinite loop continues because every time you scroll until you find something you like, dopamine is released in enormous amounts. Although it may appear innocent, procrastination can have some negative effects.

Stress can result from procrastination, which is one of its major minuses. When we put off doing anything until the last minute, we frequently speed through it, which might make us feel uneasy. For instance, if we wait until the night before to start an assignment like a presentation that is due in a week, we might not do our best work and not finish it. Which might also cause us to lose sleep, and that could make us feel tired and stressed out and affect how well we do in class and at school.

As I’ve already stated, procrastination can have an impact on our academic performance. We might perform less well on tests or assignments if we put off studying or finishing our homework. And we know that for teenagers like us, sleeping is an essential part of our life. Experts recommend for 8 to 10 hours of sleep, procrastination can affect our sleeping schedule and thus mess with our sleeping cycle which can cause serious consequences, as I have already previously stated.

Another problem with procrastination is that it can become a habit. The more we put things off, the easier it becomes to keep doing it. It’s like a cycle that’s hard to break. We might start to feel like we can’t get anything done, which can hurt our self-esteem and ego.

So why do we put things off? There may be several causes: Like when we simply don’t feel like accomplishing the task and would prefer to do something more enjoyable. Or sometimes we put off the chore because we don’t know where to begin since we feel overwhelmed by it.

But procrastination can be overcome. Knowing when we’re doing it is one of the first stages. If we see that we are delaying anything, we should stop and consider why we are delaying it and how it makes us feel. The task can then be divided into smaller, easier to handle steps. It may seem less overpowering as a result.

Setting objectives and deadlines might be beneficial. A clear schedule for when something must be completed can encourage us to start earlier. It’s similar to following a road map.

In conclusion, procrastination is a widespread issue that can result in stress, poor academic performance, and a feeling of frustration. However, with awareness and a few techniques, we can overcome it.

By Mikhail ISAEV