Procrastination Vs. Precrastination

Strategies for time management should be identified at the very beginning of any life-changing transition, goal, program, or work project to ensure not only completion, but an accurate completion. Time is the heartbeat, the dictator, and the ultimate metric that will determine if you're considered to be ahead or…behind.

I just completed my third week as a student at Trident University's Doctor of Business Administration program, and my life perspective is already changing.

I find myself asking these questions:

*How does one define or measure success?

*Do you ever ask yourself, while perusing social media, why some appear to be more successful than others?

*Are you working towards a goal and how will you know when you've reached your goal?

It takes time and effort to achieve great results. We tend to lend an ear to "immediate" gratification without having a fuller understanding of the work that went in prior to the launch. A methodical process for accuracy isn't obtained by procrastination nor precrastination. Inherently, there are dangers to both.

Ask yourself as you prepare to embark on your next journey:

Do you procrastinate? Are you waiting until the last minute to start something that you could start now? Studies suggest that stress, anxiety, depression, and fatigue increase the longer you wait to complete something[1]. This additional, unnecessary pressure can ultimately lead to not only failures in performance, but a reduced overall well-being.

Do you precrastinate? Are you in such a hurry to respond to every email/LinkedIn post that you choose time over quality? If you're questioning the dangers of precrastination then I ask you: How many misspelled words have you typed recently? How many times have you responded and thought "wow, I should've read the whole message"? Lastly, are you receiving the intended message or response?

Over the next few days, I implore you to slow down, take a deep breath, get a pen and paper… yes, pen and paper, and write down your goals. Contemplate, and prioritize how you will achieve those goals. Now, consider which goal could fall victim to your pro/precrastination.

Success doesn't happen overnight. It requires hard work, dedication, and a continued methodology of prioritization. Success is found through proving to be a lifelong learner and having the ability to apply what you’ve learned. Success is a journey, and a journey to be shared with those who will celebrate the victories as well as the defeats with you. And this, of course is your journey, your life story!

Chaunte Hall, a 15-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, is CEO of Centurion Military Alliance, an organization that helps active duty and veteran men and women address the challenges related to successfully reintegrating from the military to civilian life. She is a current student in Trident's Doctor of Business Administration program.

[1] Salehzadeh Einabad Z, Dorban G, Nainian M. The Mediating Role of Self-Compassion in the Relationship Between Anxiety and Procrastination, Zahedan J Res Med Sci. 2017 ;19(9):e11773. doi: 10.5812/zjrms.11773.