Skip to main content

Advertisement

Advertisement

Gen Y Speaks: I paid a price for procrastinating but it’s not too late to learn

Life has a way of teaching us lessons from time to time in the most unexpected ways. Take what happened to me recently: As I was working on my laptop, it abruptly failed on me without warning.

The author (standing, right) says we are often alert enough to know that something wrong is going to happen but too few of us act on it before it is too late.

The author (standing, right) says we are often alert enough to know that something wrong is going to happen but too few of us act on it before it is too late.

Follow TODAY on WhatsApp

Life has a way of teaching us lessons from time to time in the most unexpected ways.

Take what happened to me recently: As I was working on my laptop, it abruptly failed on me without warning.

It would not restart and when I took it to the service centre the next day, the technician said there was nothing he could do: The thing was as dead as a doornail. 

Just like that, in the blink of an eye, I lost six years’ worth of photographs, documents and files. Nothing could be retrieved from the laptop's hard disk.

It was a very painful experience for me and a lesson which I will remember for many years to come.

To others, it might be just a laptop. But to me, it was a partner I had relied on through the key milestones in my life, from my diploma course in polytechnic to national service and the start of my career.

On hindsight, I should not be surprised that my laptop went kaput. It had given me plenty of warning signs in the past, but I had failed to act on them.

There were times where the laptop crashed on me without warning but I always managed to restart it.

Over time, I came to dismiss such episodes and failed to back up the data in my laptop or send it for servicing. 

I have been thinking about this costly mistake of mine and it struck me that the episode underscores how we tend to procrastinate in preparing for looming changes in our lives.

Many of us are alert enough to know that something wrong is going to happen but too few of us act on it before it is too late.

Take healthcare for example. Many smokers know that smoking is bad for health and it is best to quit smoking before they pay a price for it.

While some do try to quit smoking but fail, there are also many smokers who do not even take the first step to try to stop.

Too often, we just blame it on inertia. The same applies for our careers.

With rapid advances in technology, what is useful today will be obsolete in the not-so-distant future.

Thus the need for us to keep learning to stay relevant. Yet how many of us live up to this mantra?

A few weeks back, a colleague of mine told me he did not want to be rotated to another department because he has to relearn everything again and start afresh.

I can understand his feelings because he has become very good at what he does over the years and accumulated a wealth of experience.

It is definitely not easy for one to get out of your comfort zone to embrace change and reinvent yourself. However, it is necessary. 

Considering the ever changing world we live in today, being resistant to change is a recipe for irrelevancy.

I think more Singaporeans should learn to be experts in adapting and re-learning. My view is partly shaped by my own painful experience more than a decade ago when my father was retrenched during the global financial crisis.

It drove home the point that no one is indispensable. Yes, it is human nature to stay in the comfort zone and not take the trouble to learn new things and do extra work.

But the consequences can be drastic and painful.

So, what should we do when we pick up warning signs of problems?

First, before thinking of solutions, it is important to diagnose the problem and have a clear picture of the situation. This will allow one to fully understand the extent of the problem and appreciate the depth of solutions required to solve the problem.

Second, think about the purpose of the solution.

Take my case for example.

If I could turn back the clock, I would tell myself why I should back up data in my laptop: I wouldn’t want to lose my photos of experiences I hold dear, such as a holiday in Bali in 2017 after graduating with a diploma and a memorable trip to Beijing in 2016.  

Third, think about how you want to implement the solution.

Often, it is best to break things up and not attempt to do everything at one shot. Start with the easiest items first. Getting a good start will create some momentum and propel you forward.

Lastly, be nice to yourself and set realistic expectations.

As the saying goes: “It takes at least 21 days to make or break a habit”.

If you have been procrastinating for a long time, you may find it hard to break the habit overnight.

Finding the strict discipline to take action to change is not easy. This is why it is important to understand why you want to change in the first place. Thinking of the worst case scenario is a good way to stir up your motivation to do something.

In my case, I wish that I have done so before my laptop died on me. You can bet that I will not repeat the same mistake again.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Maa Zhi Hong is an accounting graduate of Ngee Ann Polytechnic. He is looking to build a career in public speaking and writing.

Related topics

work career study habits lifestyle Technology

Read more of the latest in

Advertisement

Advertisement

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.