Lost? Overwhelmed? Confused? or is it just Procrastination?

Yes, this was quite me a year ago. I was lost, overwhelmed, and confused about the changing technology around me. This was just because "I was a master procrastinator." I looked around my circle to find people who were sailing in the same boat as me and finding various ways to "catch the tide." Let's first understand what is "Procrastination" and later, I will share an experience with you that changed my life!

Procrastination definition Trouble persuading yourself to do the things you should do or would like to do. When you procrastinate, instead of working on important, meaningful tasks, you find yourself performing trivial activities.

ᴵᵐᵃᵍᵉ ᶜʳᵉᵈᶦᵗˢ: ᵖʳᵒᶜʳᵃˢᵗᶦⁿᵃᵗᶦᵒⁿ.ᶜᵒᵐ

If you want to learn and understand more about "Procrastination" please visit: https://procrastination.com/what-is-procrastination

Now let me share my experience:

As we know, if you are in IT, learning CLOUD is the thing! When I realized this, I wanted to learn cloud and pick up new skills, so first, I started planning and researching (honestly, my research was a quick call to my friend, and I got the answer); it was Microsoft Cloud "Azure." Coincidently at the same time, I found out that Microsoft was hosting a one-day exclusive training for Az-900, and this was on 18th February 2020. Yes, they were in town with an Azure workshop; I enrolled and attended the training.

Later that week, I scheduled the exam on 14th March 2020 with the free exam voucher that was provided as part of the training. Now that the exam is approaching, a normal person would spread out their study time something like Figure 1; trust me, I wanted to do the same, but I ended up doing something like Figure 2.

Thank god, even after this, I passed! Official certified Az-900. I was overwhelmed with joy and thought I must get the next certification done in about three months (June 2020), which was Az-104. Three months went by, and I couldn't do anything; another three months went by, still nothing, and another three months went by, still no sign of studying, but I finally completed the certification after exactly one year in Apr 2021.

Now you might be wondering what happened. The 1st exam Az-900 I was able to complete it within a month of taking up the training, even with the tiny delay ah! "procrastination"!

Let me explain there are two kinds of "procrastination"!

1. One with a deadline - here, the effects of "procrastination" are contained and short-term because of the deadline!

2. One without a deadline - here, the effects of "procrastination" are not contained and long-term because of no deadline!

The 1st kind is sometimes acceptable, but the 2nd kind is the one that most of us need to get rid of because it results in a huge amount of long-term unhappiness and regrets.

If you want to achieve something in life, you need to start having deadlines, and definitely, we cannot stop "procrastinating," but guess what? When you have deadlines, you will fall under the 1st kind of "procrastination," which is better than the 2nd kind.

Once I realized this, I could complete multiple certifications in one year by having deadlines, and I am still a "procrastinator," but one with a deadline! A Ted talk by Tim Urban inspired it! Honestly, it was life-changing, believe me!