You learned to read at a very young age. It was fun.

Then came television, it was more fun, and your reading was cut in half – maybe more.

Then came beer, and less reading.

Then came job, and even less reading.

Then came marriage and family, and reading books converted to reading bank statements and insurance policies, and helping your kids learn to read from the very same books you learned from.

You get the idea. Many people, maybe even you, have substituted reading for other activities, pleasures, or necessities in life.

Before I get into the reasons for procrastination, I'd like to make a point about reading. If you can discipline yourself to reading only 10 pages a day. At the end of the year you would have read 3,650 pages. That is roughly 10 books. Supposing you were to read only about one subject, any subject for example 'negotiations' - my guess is within a year and after 10 books, you would almost be an expert in the field. Thats what reading can do. My bet is that those 3,650 pages will teach you more, inspire you more, and earn you more, than the TV re-runs you’re currently watching (at times in the name of 'family time').

Lets examine why we procrastinate. Why did we wait to do our homework in school until the very last minute? Or in other words - Why did we start working on homework to be submitted  on Friday morning, only on Thursday night? The reason is simple - Because we did not gain any pleasure out of writing it, we preferred to watch television, or hang out with our friends or had rather done thousands of things.  We choose to do it on the very last night because we realized that we would face enough pain (or punishment) if we did not have the homework to hand in the next day, so we would sacrifice that one night of pleasure to avoid the pain of a a teacher or parent reprimanding us.

The reasoning behind procrastination of any sorts is simply to avoid pain or gain pleasure. 

Study carefully the things you avoid. It can be avoiding -  exercise, writing a book, taking a holiday, a conflict at work, reaching home on time, learning a skill, learning a music instrument, reading, calling a friend, buying a gift for your spouse or children, buying a house or a car.. or anything else.. Behind every avoidance we have a very sound reason. The reason invariably is that we are waiting for some particular thing to happen before we start. "I'll join a gym but I just need to sort this one thing at work that eats up my time." or "I've always wanted to write a book but just don't have the time. One of these days I'll take a weeks holiday and start." ... The real reason however is that you are basically avoiding the pain and everything else is BS.  If you are procrastinating on exercising, you may be avoiding the pain of waking up early. If you are procrastinating on writing, you are basically avoiding the pain of discovering that you might not be able to do so and therefore avoiding the pain of learning and practicing it. If you are procrastinating about calling an old friend in the name of time - you are basically avoiding the pain of uneasiness or embarrassment. If you are procrastinating about settling a conflict with a colleague, mostly self talking yourself into believing it isn't important, you are basically avoiding the pain of discomfort or may be even losing. 

I think the point is clear. No one wants a hard life right? Well the longer you put something off, the harder it is to start later. Doesn't take brains to figure what should your next step be?

We must have all been through one particular situation that I must write about. Have you ever wanted to tell that person that you were dating that you no longer wish to date them?  Why do we think about telling them for days, weeks, and even months before we break things off?  Because it  is comfortable and the thought of putting ourselves in that situation is uncomfortable.  Remember we do things for two reasons, avoid pain or receive pleasure.

So how do we change?  Change what you link pain and pleasure to.  Confused?  First you must look at what it is that you know must be done - making that phone call, joining a gym, or starting to read.  In the past you have found it more pleasurable to do what ever it was that you were doing instead of doing all this. Now you must think about what would happen if you don’t do what must be done now and what would happen if you keep putting this thing off.

Next imagine what life would be like in the near future if what you were putting off was accomplished.  Maybe you made that phone call to that difficult to deal with prospect.  Imagine that you were able to relate with them and inspire them to agree with whatever it was that you were trying to persuade them to do.  How would it feel to have gained their agreement on the issue? What would it be like to finally make that sale and celebrate the commission?  What would you do with the money?  How would you enjoy it?  Who would you share it with?  

Imagine that you actually started reading 10 pages a day on a particular subjects, lets say leadership. Imagine a year later, you know almost all that there is to know. You are loaded with examples and insights into every great leader that there ever was. Imagine the respect and adulation that you will receive for your knowledge. How would it feel when your colleagues walk up to you and start soliciting your inputs on the subject as if you were some sort of an expert. Wouldn't you feel great? Wouldn't you enjoy it? Wouldn't you like to read and share even more? Don't you feel like starting right away???

You must see the pleasure in doing the task that you have been procrastinating on. If you keep seeing the pain, your pessimism will never allow you to rise above the situation. .  In order for things to change, you must change.  You must see the pain of not taking the action, rather than seeing the pain in taking action. How would you feel if you knew that things wouldn’t get any better because YOU were afraid to make a positive decision to creating an extraordinary life for yourself?

You must link enough pleasure in taking positive action. Do it now.  What have you been putting off?  What would you really like to do?  What has been holding you back?  What can you now make possible for your life by putting off procrastinating? Can you procrastinate later? After a while of procrastinating procrastination, you will make taking positive action part of your life and will receive pain from procrastination.  Taking action will be a natural reaction.

Practice makes perfect.  Practice every day about feeling the pain of procrastination and feeling the pleasure of taking action. Soon enough we will be reading about you and your accomplishments.  Don’t be afraid to think big.  Every attempt that you make on not even trying will only guarantee you of not getting what you want. So start NOW.

To your success!

Chetan Walia