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Writer's picturePoornima Shejal

Why procrastinators procrastinate?

Updated: Jul 3







WHAT IS PROCRASTINATION?

The behaviour of putting off important activities despite the repercussions is known as procrastination. When people put off essential chores, they frequently give attention to smaller, more fun, less vital ones.


Contrary to what many people think, procrastination isn’t simply about being lazy or having bad time management skills. 


Although it is a more serious issue, you can work to solve it. People who actively choose to put off a task even when they understand they should delay. It differs from laziness, which denotes apathy, passivity, and a refusal to take action.



WHY DO I PROCRASTINATE? 


There are various reasons why people put things off. Sometimes it happens as a result of excessive familial pressure or perhaps from having grown up in a strict home. For instance, people may delay initiatives out of a fear of failing or receiving negative feedback if their parents have high expectations for them.


Some people could refrain from acting in a rebellious manner. You respond and assert your ability to decide, “No, you can’t force me to do that at this time!”


“The chronic procrastinator, the person who does this as a lifestyle, would rather have other people think that they lack effort than lacking ability.”

 -JOSEPH R FERRARI, PhD


PERFECTION:

Perfectionism may appear to be a positive trait. The pursuit of excellence and having high standards are traits of perfectionists.


However, aspiring for perfection creates irrational expectations because perfection is impossible to attain. They consequently grow to fear failure. They end up delaying tasks because they believe they won’t complete them satisfactorily or accurately.



AVOIDANCE:

Even when you’re running late for something crucial, do you find yourself using social media, email, video games, or TV to pass the time? (According to Statistics, the typical internet user invests at least two hours every day on social media!)


Unpleasant emotions like dread, tension, or inadequacy are brought on by undesirable or stressful tasks like accomplishing a challenging job project, filing your finances, or studying for a big exam. Unconscious avoidance takes the form of putting off duties and focussing on low priority ones.



LOW SELF ESTEEM:


According to study, procrastinators have worse wellbeing, higher levels of stress and anxiety, lower self-esteem, and a higher risk of developing depression. Compared to non-procrastinators, people who repeatedly put off work have self-deprecating cognitive patterns regarding both themselves and others. They might consider the following: What if I’m identifying the issue incorrectly?, What happens if I mess up?, What if I don’t measure up?


WAITING FOR A LONG TIME:


People who procrastinate frequently assert that they do it because they “perform better under pressure.” To experience the thrill of elation from accomplishing a task on time . In spite of all difficulties, they have a tendency of lingering until the very last moment.

However, things rarely turn out as expected. The “I’ll get around it” mentality prevents people from giving themselves adequate time to do a task successfully. Postponing tasks to the last minute results in accidents and needless mistakes that lower the quality of their output.



CONCENTRATION TROUBLE:


Researchers in psychology have discovered a direct connection between procrastination and trouble focusing. For instance, those who suffer from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) frequently struggle to start a project.



DECISION MAKING:


Have you ever said, “I don’t have anything to wear!” while gazing into a closet full of clothes?


The amount of resources at our disposal can actually make it more difficult to complete tasks. Consider how long it would take you to choose what to dress when there were too many options.


People frequently claim they desire choices. But making choices requires mental effort. Less is more, as they say, and in this situation, it means having more mental energy to concentrate on your essential principles. Having too many options can lead to procrastination.


Get the tools you need to start eliminating your procrastination once you’ve discovered your habit. We are here to help you specifically if you’re prepared to take control of yourself and efficiently organise your days. 


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