Meetup 11th Coping with Procrastination

Eatsure Food Court

2nd March 2025

Greetings fellow humans! It looks like BracingEmotions is on a roll. Our 11th meet-up, "Coping with Procrastination," went down on 2nd March 2025, at Eatsure Food Court on Law College Road. Let by the beautiful psychotherapist, Juvena Ajwani. She kicked things off by making sure that everyone felt comfortable and safe to share their thoughts and that's exactly what everyone did.

The first question she asked was "What is procrastination for you?", which got everyone thinking. Each Participant had their own definition of procrastination. Some said that their not reaching perfection made them procrastinate. Meanwhile, some pointed out that fear of failure was the culprit. Similarly, people listed doubting their potential and getting overwhelmed with their tasks, and so on led to procrastination.

Even though all of these factors did affect them, everyone agreed that there was a common word they associated with procrastination, and to no one's surprise it turned out to be - 'Laziness'. So basically, Sid from "Wake Up Sid" is procrastination, if procrastination was a person.

In response to this, Juvena read a thought-provoking excerpt that really made us pause:

"I've come to see procrastination not merely as a habit of delay.

But as a window into our inner world.

Often, what appears as a simple inability to start a task

Maybe a subtle expression of internal conflict — a silent cry for understanding,

Or a protective measure against confronting deeper emotions.

Instead of chastising ourselves for "wasting time,"

We might ask ourselves:

What is my mind trying to tell me?

Are there UNSPOKEN Fears or UNRESOLVED Issues behind my hesitation?"

It got us thinking about what really holds us back. After a moment of reflection, Juvena invited us to spill our thoughts on a paper. It was followed by some serious introspection. Then, we broke into groups to chat about our thoughts and feelings. What a relief it was to know that we’re not alone in this!

After some heart-to-heart discussions, everyone regrouped, acknowledging their emotions had helped them to shift towards more practical strategies. She then shared the following techniques which are known to work:

1. The 5-Minute Rule:- Commit to working on a task for just 5 minutes—this helps overcome the resistance to starting.

2. The Pomodoro Technique:- Work in 25-minute focused sessions, followed by a 5-minute break. Rinse and repeat!

3. The Eisenhower Matrix (Prioritization Tool) Helps classify tasks into four categories: Urgent & Important? Do it now. Important but Not Urgent? Schedule it. Urgent but Not Important? Delegate it. Neither? Take a break.

4. Habit Stacking:- Attach a new habit to an existing one. (Example: "After I brush my teeth, I will review my to-do list.")

5. Accountability & Rewards:- Having an accountability partner or rewarding oneself after completing a task. One chocolate never hurt anyone right?

As the last activity, everyone was asked to note down one big task we've been procrastinating on, the main reason we've avoided it, a small action we would take, and lastly, a strategy we would use to complete the task. She then encouraged participants to share any techniques that helped them. One of the participants shared an awesome technique she called the 1-2-3 technique. The participant explained that when she feels stuck, she says 1-2-3 and then gets up to start doing the task she's been avoiding. Everyone loved the idea!

Juvena’s business partner showcased some cool stickers and posters too, what a fantastic touch! As we wrapped up, we shared our feelings about the session and everyone felt so pumped and empowered.

After that, everyone stayed behind to snap a few fun photos and to shoot a reel. After the session, a few

participants lingered behind, eager to express how inspiring the meet-up was. One participant, who had struggled with procrastination for years, thanked Juvena for creating such a comfortable environment.

Shoutout to Sarthak Malkhede, the founder of BracingEmotions, for another successful meet-up! Juvena's insights really hit home, and we all left feeling a bit lighter and super motivated to tackle our tasks. Overall, this meet-up wasn’t just about beating procrastination but rather about building a community and growing together.