You know you’re procrastinating when you tell yourself or others that you will do something important tomorrow. You make excuses for why you need to put something off and why you don’t have time to focus on it right now. And when tomorrow comes, you might procrastinate again with the same responses.
I will do it tomorrow.
Now is not the right time.
Maybe I will think about this later.
I’m too busy to think about it.
And so on and so on and so on.
But here’s the thing. When it comes to your long-term health, you must never procrastinate. The longer you wait to do something, the higher the likelihood of you suffering down the line.
So, consider yourself today. Are you procrastinating over anything that could have an effect on your health?
Think about your stressors
If something is causing you stress, what are you doing about? It might be your job, a family situation, or an issue with your finances.
Or it could be something else entirely. If you are telling yourself that you will get on top of your stressors another day, that stress will continue to build up. You might be falling prey to the ‘flee’ response instead of fighting your stressors head-on. Procrastination will become the norm should this be the case. And then? You might fall prey to one of these stress-related health problems.
So, if your job or any other aspect of your life is causing you stress, do something rather than nothing about the problems you’re having. Eliminate your stressors when you can, and follow these methods for busting stress to support your health in the short-term.
Think about your bad habits
Bad habits can be hard to give up, we know. However, some of them will have catastrophic effects on your long-term health, especially when they develop into full-blown addictions. So, don’t tell yourself you will give up smoking tomorrow.
Don’t tell yourself you will start to eat better another day. Don’t tell yourself you will deal with an alcohol problem when you have more time. The sooner you deal with these things, the better. Speak to your doctor. Look for counselling option.
Book yourself into an inpatient alcohol detox center. And reach out to your loved ones for help. The road to recovery begins now and not tomorrow, so get yourself on the right path today.
Think about the appointments you need to make
When did you last see your doctor, dentist, or optician? When did you last book yourself in for a therapy session with your counsellor? If your answer is ‘I can’t quite remember,’ then you should procrastinate no more, especially if you are already feeling the effects of ill-health.
And even if you’re feeling fine, there is nothing wrong with a medical check-up to be doubly sure you’re okay. So, don’t tell yourself you will make those important appointments tomorrow. Stop making any excuses.
Your health needs to be your priority, and it might be that you will one day regret not getting on the phone now should you find out you’re unwell later. Today then, make time on your calendar for the your annual medical check-ups and the all-important health screenings you need. They might just save your life!
So, what do you think? Have you been procrastinating over anything that could protect your health? If so, don’t delay. Stop making excuses. Create an action plan for the way forward and get the necessary help you need. You will be glad that you did.