Posted 2nd April 2012 by englcomblogger

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Manana Habit, A Curse?

“Manana” habit, is a habit wherein people tend to delay certain tasks on a later date (Pepoa, 2010). Until now,
“manana” habit is still common among us Filipinos and it affects us in both positive and negative ways.

How did this manana habit get into the Philippines? This habit that is most common to us Filipinos came from the
Spaniards who colonized our country many years ago (Maxxwell, 2009). It was a habit commonly seen in the Spaniards
before and we Filipinos just inherited it from them. Until now, many of us Filipinos still have the manana habit.

According to Pepoa(2010), the manana habit can be also considered as the “procrastination virus” since it has a lot of
negative effects to us. This habit has made us become lazier and less efficient in doing tasks. It is also one of the
greatest reasons why we become less productive and why we give our outputs late which prevents us from growing as
human beings. Since it made us lazier, it caused us to achieve less instead of achieving higher goals and it caused us
to miss a lot of opportunities. The manana habit really has a lot of negative effects to the Filipinos.

Volcano ECIG claims that although manana habit has a lot of negative effects to us, it also has some positive effects on
us. Since we tend to finish tasks on a later date, we are able to set our priorities on which tasks are more important. Also
because of this, we also are able to get rest from the many things that we do everyday. If we consider all these, manana
habit does not only have negative effects but also positive effects.

Since manana habit is still common among us Filipinos and it brings more negative effects than positive effects, we
should avoid living with this habit.

References:
Pepoa, R. (2010, June 21). Manana habit - how to get rid of it. Retrieved
from http://ezinearticles.com/? Manana-Habit---How-to-Get-Rid-of-It&id=4521164
The top volcano tips of getting out from maÑana habit. (2011, July 28). Retrieved
from http://www.autoayudablog.com/blog/general/the-top-volcano-tips-of-getting-out-from manana-habit
Maxxwell, J. (2009, April 29). 5 excuses for mañana habits of pinoy. Retrieved from
http://www.thinkphilippines.com/life/5-excuses-for-manana-habits-of-pinoy.html

Procrastination simply refers to the habit of putting off doing something for a later time.

Filipinos are more familiar to the term mañana habit, which is often translated to Tagalog as “mamaya na”
(much later). Aside from the definition, it is also necessary to learn why we often choose to procrastinate.

Is it simply because we are too lazy to act or is it something much deeper? More importantly, how do we get rid
of this bad habit? What is the best way to really overcome procrastination?

“It’s not urgent anyway, I can do that tomorrow.”

Psychologists often attribute procrastination as a coping mechanism against the anxiety we experience when
faced with a difficult or unwanted task.
Think about the times when you needlessly delayed doing something. Chances are, those tasks were either
hard to do, will take a long time to finish or something you simply don’t like doing.

To excuse ourselves, we find distractions to make ourselves “busy” and rationalize that these tasks aren’t
time-critical and can be done tomorrow or much later.

Manana Habit - How to Get Rid of It

By Robert Pepoa | Submitted On June 21, 2010

When at work, at home or in circumstances wherein you can finish tasks do

you always say later or tomorrow? In Philippine tongue do you always say
"mamaya na, bukas na lang" or anything like it? Do you often place your
primary chores second only to doing nothing, dilly-dallying, watching movies,
playing games or just idling around only to discover that you need to rush
things to catch up on works you have not yet finished? If you are
experiencing this then you my friend, are one of the individuals of the
thousands of people afflicted by the so-called manana habit syndrome or
let's term it "procrastination virus", it is actually one of the biggest reason for
loss of productivity and late output that could hinder financial or personal
growth.

This procrastination virus does not just affect Filipinos contrary to Filipinos
beliefs which have been carved into our thinking by fellow countrymen that
this habit is only found in the Philippines. They would often say "if you go to
America, Japan, Korea and etc. you will find them always on time" is this
true? I guess not. Actually this procrastination virus is found globally and no
one is safe unless one fully protects himself and gets rid of this bad virus.

For lots of people, saving up their tasks for later is more habit than desire. It
is difficult to start in a timely fashion especially if the penalties for being late
are things that one can probably bear. If you belong to this kinds of people
as i am yet you desire to shake off your propensity for procrastination then
you visited the right article. Here are few tips to help you overcome this
dilemma and develop to more productive and reliable individual.

I T had been creeping over us ever since our arrival at Gibraltar. We attributed the condition to various

causes, such as "feeling the ship's motion," or "a touch of the grip"; but it had secured no definite hold
upon us, and we still could rail against the lack of business enterprise exhibited by the Spanish country
people and remain guiltless.

As we began to work our way northward, en auto, the insidious habit became more distinctly a part of
us, although our state might have politely escaped comment were we not of those candid specimens of
earth's creatures known as Man and Wife. I observed it first in the Man, and, being of a confiding
nature, remarked upon it immediately. Thus confronted with the discovery, he was forced to admit
that he did wait until morning to put oil in the feeders instead of filling them up the night before—as
all gentlemen chauffeurs should—and that the frequent rests at the wayside inns were not entirely for
the sake of the engine.

My triumph was short-lived, however, for he replied with unnecessary spirit that he had noticed long
ago (though had refrained from speaking of it) that I did not pack now until the last moment, and that
was probably one reason his slippers had been left behind in Murcia. Upon reflection, I decided not to
combat this cause for the loss of the slippers. When a man's feet are tired, packing in a rush seems a
better excuse than a fourteenth-century saint. Besides, the spirit of unity that has made us a couple
worthy of comment has for its foundation our mutual peccadillos, and the consciousness that we shared
the crime of the "to-morrow habit" held us closer than our bonds of wedlock.

It grew rapidly upon us after we had admitted the thing, and with it developed a gentle tolerance of
the postponing proclivities of those around us. We bore no malice toward the chambermaid who waved
her hand airily as the only response to our demand for towels while the water dried upon our faces;
nothing but the choicest of English was expended upon the boy who carried off the gentleman
chauffeur's puttees and forgot where he had hidden them (the pitiful bare expanse from knicker to sock
top was nothing to the boy); and we abandoned the black looks we were wont to cast at the patron of
the inn, who invariably delayed in making out his bill until the motor was pounding at the door.

A cause for congratulation that did much to allay any pangs of conscience was the excellence of our
intentions—we expected to do better things when we got farther on, to-morrow, or to-morrow, or
to-morrow.
 The Tower of the Miguelete—Valencia Cathedral

I remember how eagerly (for Mañanites) we entered Alicante, after crossing the map of Spain with
unsullied note-book and a sketching-pad free from all impressionistic records. We were considerably
behind in our schedule, owing, not to our difficulty in arriving at a town, but to our difficulty in getting
away from it. The morning was so pleasant for lazily sleeping, the afternoon so short for a decent run,
the night so vibrant with promenading Spaniards, that—well—the morning was pleasant for lazily
sleeping. But all this dalliance was to cease at Alicante. Alphabetically speaking, the town suggested a
commencement; who could have struggled against the M of Malaga or S of Seville? Alicante was a
beginning—a beginning of real endeavor, real results, and the Spanish Riviera.

We had decided to call the strip of Mediterranean coast running from Alicante to Barcelona by this
name, for the reason that Spain had as much right to a Riviera as France or Italy. We felt that we were
justified in this claim when we discovered palm-trees waving a welcome to us as we neared the coast,
and while we appreciated their hospitality we must admit that the town they shaded was as good a
start for anywhere as any one could choose, for, no matter the destination, it was sure to be better
than the beginning.

There are two things to do in Alicante. One can walk under the palms of the Alameda which runs along
the water's edge and be stared at by those who sit in the cafés, or one can sit in the cafés and stare at
those who walk under the palms of the Alameda which runs along the water's edge. Only, if you are a
Spanish woman, you will probably walk up and down with your grandmother, while your husband or
your father sits at the cafés. I have sometimes felt very lonely at those little tables; but they have
seemed preferable to the cool stare of the don as he comfortably sips his liqueur. Neither the señora nor
the señorita objects to this stare; if they are conscious of it they are unresentful, and they must be
mightily strong to stand an evening's senseless parading.

The Spanish peasant is the most polished gentleman in the world, but the provincial dandy is not a
pleasant person. He does not limit himself to admiring one (which might be endured); he laughs at one.
Since the foreign city hat is different from the Spanish town hat, the Spanish town hat laughs and
points its finger; even a lady hat will do this. It never occurs to the Spanish provincial head-gear that it
is very funny, too—that is because a Spaniard is under it, and therefore it must be right; yet, if the
foreign city hat laughed, the resentment would be deep.

Spain is a land of contrasts. When one is driven to the point of laughing loudly and pointing retaliating
fingers at the gazing populace, something very beautiful always happens, and one forgets about the
finger of scorn and wipes one's eyes surreptitiously. It took a fine, big policeman to remind me of my
manners on one occasion in Alicante. I found him arresting a very feeble old woman, who was asking
alms without a license. She sat upon the usual child's chair, and she was loath to let it go but too weak
to carry it. So the big policeman carried it for her, in one big hand, and supported the trembling old
crone with the other. Very slowly they went, stopping frequently for her to rest—the big police-man
and the little chair and the old lady. So slowly that I, discreetly following them, was obliged to look into
shop-windows as though that was my only mission in life. And all the people on the streets who met
them turned aside to gaze up the road fixedly at something imaginary, as though feeling "the old one's"
shame. When I finally reached the Municipal Building she was panting before the sergeant's desk, and no
one laughed at my hat when I made it understood that I would pay for the license. I shook hands with
the department and was courteously escorted to the hotel; but—mark the contrast—the change they
gave me from my gold piece was bad!
Mañana is a Spanish word meaning ‘tomorrow’ or ‘later’ which is also
described as procrastination. The photo portrays just that, there is still
a lot of time left and do it tomorrow or later.

Mañana habits simply means putting off important tasks for

later and hastily make it to the last minute when the deadline draws
closer. Filipinos have been plagued by Mañana habit at one time or
another when they heighten how much time they have to complete a
task or lessen how long it takes to complete it which forces them to
work under pressure resulting to half-baked ideas and solutions. This
habit shows our culture’s lack of sense in time which is most true
especially to students. This is a social problem because most Filipinos
are under an illusion that they are dealing with important urgent tasks
but realize in the end that they are just wasting their time. This is a
Filipino habit and a Filipino could easily determine procrastinators
because almost everyone in the society is procrastinating which
causes them to inadequately accomplish productive work. Moreover, I
am a student who had hard time to resist the temptation of putting off
duties for tomorrow which leads me to come up against stress, guilt,
late submission of class works.

This negative habit of procrastination for Filipinos will always

bring disease not only in the society and community but also to their
personal life. As I am already in the habit of procrastinating, running
away from it will be a hard test of character for me to carry. Unless I am
unwilling to change, I will not expect to see a better Filipino psyche. I
suppose it’s possible to change own self first and the world will follow
in time.

Mañana habit is a disease. Fix it while you can and I will do the
same while I can