Laziness and Procrastination: A Recipe to be Avoided.

In our last article on academic vices, we discussed examination malpractice and academic dishonesty ad how they do not profit, but rather displease God and defeat the purpose of education.

Welcome again, dear student, as we go ahead to discuss other vices that spoil our academics and harm our foundation for he future. Let's dive into our discussion on laziness and procrastination!

 ‎As yam is to pounded yam, so is laziness to failure. I’m sure you’re like, “Hold up, how did food come into an article about living?” That similarly shows that laziness is the star ingredient in the recipe that makes for failure. Sometimes it comes in subtle or is very dominant in the dish. The bottom line is its presence leads to failure.

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‎You might hear “laziness” and immediately picture a person who sleeps all day, every day. 

‎However, it also shows up in only doing the bare minimum required, always looking for shortcuts and even spending more time planning than actually doing. In the wise words of King Solomon, “the soul of a sluggard desires and has nothing.” 

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‎Laziness is known worldwide for eating away success, including in one's academics. A lazy person would only keep wishing and hoping to attain great heights, but it would remain a wish because he or she would not put in the effort that is required.

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‎If laziness is the yam in pounded yam, then procrastination is definitely efo-riro or egusi. This is because procrastination is a necessary accompaniment to laziness; they go hand in hand in making the dish called failure. 

 

Procrastination and laziness go hand-in-hand in making the dish called failure.

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Procrastination is defined best in five words: “I will do it later.” It looks like putting off tasks until the last minute or waiting until the day of the assignment deadline to start it and giving excuses. 

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‎Laziness and procrastination may seem sweet and convenient, but they are extremely dangerous because they steal your time, potential and opportunities, leading to missed goals. They make you become a person who has dreams but never seems to actualize them.

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‎Now we see how big a problem they are.

 How then can they be overcome?

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‎1. You really need to see the goal: 

‎You have a life in your hands that you cannot afford to mismanage. Seeing the weight of this goal will help you know that you have to be diligent in managing your life.

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‎2. Know your priorities: Avoid piling too many things on your schedule. It is wise to know what is important and manage your time accordingly.  It is good to make out time for relaxation and fun activities, but make sure they are of the good kind, and they are not so excessive as to eat up the time meant for your academics or investing in your growth. Anybody that loves pleasure is not going to prepare for his/her future well. 

For more on priority and time management, check out this article.

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‎3. Be accountable: Having systems and people checking in on your goals helps you stay committed to the plans you make.

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‎4. Rely on God's help: Finally, you are not left without help; the Holy Spirit is your helper. He can help you overcome laziness and procrastination, so ask Him for help. The Holy Spirit brings God's personal presence to people who have put their faith in Jesus Christ. Thus, God is a very present help for those who are His children.

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There is no better way to end this article than with a proverb by King Solomon: “The soul of a sluggard desires and has nothing; the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.”

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How has this series on Vices impacted you so far? Kindly share with us by using the 'comments' feature below.

Also, do you have questions on any of the topics we have covered? Or any questions of your own? Please feel free to drop it in the comments section; we look forward to hearing from you and answering your questions!