The Guest Lecture by Ms Sonal Goyal, IAS , Former DC Jhajjar Secretary-Govt of Tripura, New Delhi, organized at JIMS, Rohini Sector-5, New Delhi, took place on 9th Oct 2024 on Beat the Clock: Conquer Procrastination, Embrace Success. The session on minimizing procrastination and maximizing success was truly insightful. It began with Ms. Sonal showing a clip from the movie Nayak: The Real Hero, featuring Anil Kapoor as Shiva, who becomes Chief Minister for a day. The scene illustrated how Shiva witnesses the struggles of ordinary people and realizes that change starts from within, not just with the government. This highlighted the importance of being the change we want to see, a goal that cannot be achieved while holding on to procrastination.
The session then moved on to a detailed presentation on procrastination. It was defined as the act of delaying decisions or actions necessary to achieve one's goals. Key characteristics of procrastination were covered, such as:
- Intention-Action Gap
- Avoidance Behavior
- Self-Regulatory Failure
- Chronic vs. Acute Procrastination
Ms. Sonal debunked common myths about procrastination, such as the belief that people work better under pressure, or that procrastinators are simply lazy. In reality, procrastination can often stem from emotional or psychological hurdles, including:
- Fear of Failure
- Perfectionism
- Decisional Procrastination
- Task Aversion
She provided relatable examples of procrastination in student life, workplaces, and even creative pursuits. The impact of procrastination on success was also highlighted, showing how it can lead to missed opportunities, anxiety, lower performance, and strained relationships.
Ms. Sonal then discussed strategies for overcoming procrastination, including:
- Self-awareness exercises (meditation, journaling)
- Breaking tasks into smaller steps
- Setting S.M.A.R.T. or VGPA goals (vision, goal, plan, action)
- Developing a reward system for small achievements
- Eliminating distractions
Time management techniques were also shared, such as:
- The Pomodoro Technique: Working for 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break to enhance focus and productivity.
- The Eisenhower Box: A tool to categorize tasks based on urgency and importance, helping to prioritize them.
Towards the end, Ms. Sonal led an activity on how to use the Eisenhower Box technique, helping participants analyze and prioritize their tasks. Overall, the session was highly beneficial and provided practical tools for combating procrastination.