Procrastination: Now vs Later

2min read

Procrastination is when you delay doing something important and concentrate on trivial, less critical activities, and busywork to avoid the inevitable task that must be done. Various studies have shown that procrastination is not laziness, nor is it due to poor time management. Procrastination is simply a manifestation of fear - the fear of failure.

This fear of failure manifests in different ways at different times, for different people. Some get anxious when they are given a task that seems hard, others put it off until the last minute because there are more fun and interesting things to do. There are those that will spend a lot of time thinking of all the various ways to tackle the task. Another group will start off well, but get distracted and end up not finishing.

Let’s touch on the ways we procrastinate, and what we can do to get out of this non-progressive habit.

The Performer: Symptom - Needs pressure and tight deadlines to do a task well. This is an illusion, when operating in a crisis, there is no time to check for errors and omissions.

The quick fix is to set a start date, not a due date. Break down tasks into timed smaller tasks to give the illusion of pressure.

The Overdoer: Symptom - They are always busy and constantly complain of fatigue. They cannot say no, take on too much, and are always found helping others instead of doing their own work. It is hard for them to prioritize their work.

The quick fix is to find out what task is being avoided, and why. Could it be a lack of skills? Getting some time to rest and recharge allows one to be able to prioritize better.

The Dreamer: Symptom - Good at generating ideas and starting projects, but not at finishing anything. They are easily distracted and are always chasing the next big thing.

The quick fix is to jot down any ideas that pop up but do not develop them further until the current project is completed.

The Perfectionist: Symptom - They get bogged down by the details and trying to make things perfect. They will delay or avoid getting started on anything because it may not turn out perfect.

The quick fix is to define the parameters of the task - deliverables, timelines, and then get started on the hardest tasks first to build momentum.