Procrastinating means delaying or putting off tasks until the last minute or even past their deadlines. Sounds familliar?
Some researchers describe it as a “form of self-regulation failure where tasks are irrationally delayed despite potential negative consequences.” Joseph Ferrari, a psychology professor at DePaul University in Chicago and author of “Still Procrastinating: The No Regret Guide to Getting It Done,” says about 20% of U.S. adults are chronic procrastinators. Whether you’re avoiding work projects, homework, or household chores, procrastination can seriously affect your job, grades, and overall life. More: What is stellium? How it affects your zodiac sign?
It’s the job that’s never started as takes longest to finish.
J. R. R. Tolkien
Remember that time you thought you had a week left to finish a project, only to find out it was due the next day? Or when you decided not to clean your apartment because you “didn’t feel like doing it right now”?
We often underestimate how long projects will take, leading to a false sense of security that we have plenty of time to complete them. A major reason we procrastinate is the belief that we need to feel inspired or motivated to start a task. The truth is, if you wait until you’re in the right mood to do certain tasks, especially ones you don’t enjoy, the right time might never come, and the task may never get done. More: Discover Your True Path with North Node
Why do you procrastinate?
People often come up with excuses to justify their procrastination. Researchers have identified 15 common reasons why people say they procrastinate:
- Not feeling in the mood to do it
- Not knowing how to do something
- Thinking that you can finish it at the last minute
- Not knowing what needs to be done
- Delaying one task in favor of working on another
- Needing time to think about the task
- Lacking the initiative to get started
8. Believing that you work better under pressure
9. Not wanting to do something
10. Being in the habit of waiting until the last minute
11. Forgetting
12. Blaming sickness or poor health
13. Not caring if it gets done or not
14. Not caring when something gets done
15. Waiting for the right moment
6 great ways that will help you stop procrastinating
Conquer Procrastination: Admit when you’re procrastinating to kickstart change. Identify your procrastination habits and commit to improving your productivity.
Focus by Eliminating Distractions: Find a quiet study space and silence your phone to minimize interruptions. Consider using background music or white noise to aid concentration. More: How to focus your brain?
Stay Accountable: Take ownership of your tasks and deadlines. Share your goals with someone who can help keep you on track.
Plan Breaks Wisely: Schedule short breaks to recharge, but return to work promptly. Use tools like the Pomodoro method to structure your study sessions effectively.
Set Attainable Goals: Break tasks into smaller, manageable chunks. Set achievable objectives and reward yourself for completing them.
Optimize Your Study Space: Choose a well-lit, distraction-free area for studying. Establish consistent study locations to signal focus time to your brain. More: Consistency is a key to success: Learn these truths
Understanding the harm of procrastinating
Procrastination becomes a significant issue when it starts seriously affecting a person’s daily life. It’s not just about having poor time management skills; it becomes ingrained in their lifestyle. More: Overcoming the fear of spending money
For example, they might consistently pay bills late, wait until the last minute to start important projects, or postpone gift shopping until the day before a birthday.
Unfortunately, chronic procrastination can negatively impact various aspects of life, including mental health and social, professional, and financial well-being:
- Increased stress and illness due to prolonged procrastination.
- Strained relationships with friends, family, coworkers, and classmates due to missed deadlines and unfulfilled promises.
- Consequences such as late fees and penalties for overdue bills and tax returns, lead to financial strain and uncertainty.
Procrastinators and doers think differently
Dr. Ferrari, in an interview with the American Psychological Association (APA), explained that non-procrastinators focus on getting tasks done. They have a strong sense of self and prioritize their feelings over how others perceive them. Psychologist Piers Steel suggests that non-procrastinators often score high in conscientiousness, a personality trait identified by the Big Five theory. Those high in conscientiousness also tend to possess qualities like self-discipline, persistence, and personal responsibility. More: How do you know if you have imposter syndrome?
