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About the Author My name is Veronica Haas, but everyone calls me Roni. I have a master's degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, and I have worked in the mental health field since 1987. As manager of Mental Health Services at Christian Hospital, I oversee all mental health admissions, case management and social services for the Center for Mental Health. I’ve always been fascinated by how our mental health can affect so much of our physical health and well-being. I look forward to sharing this information with you and encouraging you to make positive changes in your life.

About the Author

My name is Veronica Haas, but everyone calls me Roni. I have a master's degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, and I have worked in the mental health field since 1987. As manager of Mental Health Services at Christian Hospital, I oversee all mental health admissions, case management and social services for the Center for Mental Health.

I’ve always been fascinated by how our mental health can affect so much of our physical health and well-being. I look forward to sharing this information with you and encouraging you to make positive changes in your life.

Challenge #12: Do it… now!

by Roni Haas, MSW, LCSW

This month I am writing about one of my own personal vices: procrastination. Even as an adult, I can still hear my 4th grade teacher telling the class, “Do what you got to do when you got to do it, so you can do what you want to do when you want to do it.“

For some reason, I have never been able to heed this advice. In college and grad school, I amazed many of my friends by staying up all night studying for a final exam the night before the test, and then acing the exam. Many of my papers were also finished in the wee hours of the morning. Somehow, when backed into a corner, I could find the necessary creativity and burst of energy to accomplish the task at hand. Therefore, I rationalized that I work best under pressure. And this bad habit has continued.

Studies show I’m not alone. Most of us procrastinate from time to time. It is not simply a problem of time management because we know exactly what we should be doing. Usually we put off doing things because we feel they’re boring, difficult, overwhelming or just too complicated.

Putting off the problem leads to more problems.
At the very least, procrastination inconveniences you and those around you, but it also can lead to new problems. For example, when a student puts off something routine, such as writing a paper, it causes increased stress and anxiety, and a loss of freedom and sleep when they can delay the paper no longer. Students who are stressed, anxious and sleep-deprived will not produce their best work.

The more serious the responsibility, the greater the risk of procrastinating.
Delaying critical responsibilities can take a serious toll on one’s finances, career, mental health and physical wellbeing. In other words, ignoring a term paper is one thing, but “forgetting” to write the mortgage check is another.

Learning to overcome procrastination has tremendous benefits, such as peace of mind, a feeling of strength and purpose, and a healthy feeling of being in charge of your life.

This month I challenge you to stop procrastinating.
Look at your daily To Do list, and start with an item you have been transferring to the next day, week after week. Make this task your first priority, and tackle it early in the day. Imagine the sense of accomplishment you’ll feel.

I’ll start by writing my 4th grade teacher and letting her know she was right.

Learn about Christian Hospital’s Center for Mental Health >

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