Gaining ground
I'll get to it - eventually: Learning more about procrastination
As Mark Twain once said, "Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow."
Just about everyone is guilty of procrastination at one time or another. For most of us, it’s a minor and infrequent situation. We may complete the big presentation on the day before it’s due, do our holiday shopping the night before Christmas or begin preparing our tax return on April 14. But for a portion of the American population, the issue is more severe. Nearly 20 percent of people identify themselves as habitual procrastinators. For this group, procrastination is a chronic condition.
According to Psychology Today, procrastination at its core is an issue of self-regulation. Chronic procrastinators are not necessarily bad at managing time; they are simply more optimistic about their time estimations. Their perception of time differs from the rest of us. They sabotage themselves by assuming they have more time than they really do.
Distractions are also a major issue for any procrastinator. It is not that procrastinators can’t get things done; they just get the wrong things done. Procrastinators subconsciously seek out distraction as a means of avoiding their primary task.
Types of procrastinators
There are three types of procrastinators.
- Thrill-seekers intentionally wait until the last minute to experience a “rush” of adrenaline. These individuals feel they are more productive or creative the closer they are to a deadline.
- Avoiders worry about the possible failure associated with their task. The overwhelming fear of what will happen after they complete their task (or that they won’t be able to accomplish the task successfully) causes them to hesitate about starting.
- Decisional procrastinators simply cannot make up their minds. They are unable to even begin their primary task because they are unsure how to approach it.
“Chronic lateness costs the American public over $3 billion in lost productivity every year.”
– Diana DeLonzor, Never Be Late Again: 7 Cures for the Punctually Challenge
Breaking the cycle
The costs of procrastination range from lost productivity in the workplace to strained relationships and health issues. Many procrastinators have made a habit of their behavior and become infamous for their lateness. Change is possible, but it is not necessarily easy.
Try these tips to break the procrastination cycle.
- Make reasonable and attainable goals. Rather than creating an entire presentation the night before the big meeting, split the presentation into distinct sections and tackle one at a time in the days prior to the meeting.
- Tell someone else about the project and when it will be completed. Accountability is a major key to accomplishing a task.
- Create a productive environment. If it is difficult to escape distractions, try a change of scenery. Find a location that will minimize interruptions in an effort to get your task completed.
- Ask for help. If all else fails, procrastinators may need to seek assistance from others to complete their task.
- Celebrate achievements. As progress is made on a task, it is important to observe those successes which will continue to reinforce the new behaviors.
Over time and with effort, procrastinators may be able to change their tune from “better late than never” to “the early bird gets the worm.”
Resources
The whys and why-nows of procrastination. CBSnews.com, February 21, 2010.
Procrastination: Ten things to know. Psychology Today, October 2001.
Never Be Late Again: 7 Cures for the Punctually Challenged, Diana DeLonzor, 2003.
