6 Reasons on Why are You Procrastinating
Everyone procrastinates at some time in their life. As a self employed writer, I am certainly guilty as charged. I have spent many evenings cleaning the kitchen or folding the laundry instead of working on projects with looming deadlines. Through experience I have learned that there are many reason why I, and others, procrastinate and understanding these reasons has given me a new perspective on how to put an end to procrastination. In this article, I will share with you my insight on procrastination including common reasons for procrastination and strategies to eliminate procrastination.
Below are some of the key reasons why people procrastinate and tips for beating the procrastination cycle:
- Complex projects often seem daunting and cause many people to procrastinate. When faced with a project that seems overwhelming in its complexity it is advisable to break the project down into smaller components and tackle each component individually.
- Projects that are viewed as being unpleasant are also often the victim of procrastination. While many people will tackle a task that they enjoy with relish they may consistently delay working on tasks that are less appealing. Although not all tasks are enjoyable, they still need to be completed. To avoid procrastinating in this situation, try implementing a reward system for the completion of an unpleasant task.
- The inability to prioritize also contributes to procrastination. Those who cannot view the tasks at hand and place them into different categories based on their level of importance sometimes have difficulty getting anything done because they are constantly switching from one task to another or trying to decide what to do next. Try making a list of all of your tasks and ranking them in order of importance. Then set a goal of completing a certain number of tasks in the next four hours. After four hours evaluate your progress and reassess the situation based on the remaining tasks.
- The inability to make decisions also contributes to procrastination. Many people simply spend too much time trying to make decisions about their projects. While it is important to weigh your options carefully and make informed decisions, too much time spent wastefully trying to make a decision can cause a significant delay for a project. To avoid this potential problem, set aside some time each day specifically for the purpose of making decisions and set a timeline for yourself to complete the decision making process. This will encourage you to use your time wisely and reach a decision in a timely manner.
- A fear of failure also causes some people to procrastinate. Some people will subconsciously delay the completion of the project because they are nervous about the reaction that their project will elicit. One way to combat this type of procrastination is to visualize yourself succeeding in the project and imagine the steps that you will need to take in order to succeed. Once you have visualized the steps, it is time to act on them.
- Distractions are a major cause of procrastination. Sometimes the temptation to engage in conversation with your coworkers, play games or do other non-work related tasks can be sources of procrastination. Setting up your workspace to minimize distractions and scheduling time to converse with your coworkers will help to prevent procrastination and keep your project on schedule.
I was trapped in the endless cycle of procrastination until I came to realize why I was procrastinating. Once I understood what was causing me to procrastinate, I was able to implement strategies to put an end to my procrastination. Now I am completing tasks more efficiently and have greatly reduced the stress associated with constantly feeling like you are behind schedule.
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Comments
Ben says on December 7th, 2005 at 12:02 am
Interesting topic. I’ll read it later.
Super Hawk says on December 7th, 2005 at 2:24 am
“Distractions are a major cause of procrastination”
NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Graydancer says on December 7th, 2005 at 3:33 am
I found myself rushing through this article, because it was a distraction and I felt the need to get back to work. Then I realized that there were suggestions for avoiding procrastination after each reason. “Ahhhhh…”
Went back and read it slowly. Wonder if there’s a “slow work” movement, like the slow food movement, about doing things right the _first_ time…and that procrastination might be a tool FOR that. “I’m going to use _this_ task to keep me from rushing through _that_ one.”
“Procrastination is my sin,
It brings me endless sorrow,
I really must stop doing it.
In fact…I’ll stop tomorrow.”
Mark says on December 7th, 2005 at 8:12 am
Also you might have depression, “chronic fatigue syndrome”, insomnia, ADD/ADHD, or several other mental disorders preventing you from doing your work. The root cause can be chemical or simply an irrational thought. A short term solution is to get a prescription for Provigil or Adderall. A long-term solution is to seek therapy. And stop watching TV!
Mark says on December 7th, 2005 at 8:16 am
Oh man. One of the “popular” tags for this article on del.icio.us is “toread”.
Chris P. says on December 7th, 2005 at 11:35 am
I only got here cause I was procrastinating on reddit.
John Doe says on December 8th, 2005 at 4:17 am
There are procrastinators and then there are Procrastinators. The solutions offered here are great for the former.
For the latter (myself, unfortunately, included) the root of the problem is often much more fundamental to who you are.
In my own case, I have suffered from diagnosed clinical depression for years. This is tied in to the fact that I was molested by my father throughout my childhood (until I was old enough to make him stop… 12 years old). In spite of all of this, I have functioned relatively normally (I’m 36 now, still alive and not a repeater of what happened to me… pretty successful by my peers standards). People don’t know I have depression, nor do they know about my being molested, and I am viewed as creative, intelligent and humorous by those around me. At the same time no one knows that I am (secretly) effectively unemployed, have been very close to suicide (in the past… I take medication now), etc., etc. On to the procrastination bits…
That said (ugh) procrastination has been a HUGE problem for me. Common solutions, from the trite “Just DO it.”, to the creative “…a reward system…” simply can’t “climb the wall” that exists in me. Why? I don’t really know. I long for a solution, or more likely a set of solutions/strategies, that would enable me and those like me to make some progress. Any real solutions for folks like me? Don’t say “therapy” or “medication” please. Let’s stick to unique, specific and/or creative solutions.
BTW, my email is real so if you want to email me, I will get it.
John Doe says on December 8th, 2005 at 4:19 am
Uhmmm. Opps. That email being niuniupapa at yahoo dot com .
topdaz says on December 12th, 2005 at 5:44 am
Hey, I’m the CEO of United Procrastination Club so… oh, hang on, I ain’t done it yet… ummmn, better shut up then waahh waahh waahh.com!
wayfarer_boy says on December 12th, 2005 at 11:41 pm
I am starting to come to terms with the idea that I am one of the Procrastinators the above John Doe is talking about. I too have followed the common methods for getting out of the procrastination ‘traps’ that have consumed my days of working from home over the last few months, but all to no avail.
I’m starting to realise that my problems may be due to the time of year - in April my partner and I lost our baby at 33 weeks, and while horrifying at the time, I returned to work after 2 weeks (as with everywhere else, self-employment isn’t supported well in the UK) and started to feel a sense of normality creep back in.
However, it’s Christmas, and there’s definitely something missing. The thing is, I’ve been so work orientated over the last few months, that I’ve barely given the events in April a second thought, let alone a third. It’s a good first step to start taking responsibility for your own state of mind, and I’d just like to thank John Doe for speaking up and making me thing about mine. Help from anyone who may have been in similar situations, and come out the other side would be appreciated.
Ron R says on December 14th, 2005 at 2:36 am
Procrastination is a form of time management. Much as folks hate or are unable to admit there is a maximum number of tasks that can be dealt with in a given time period unless you are unconcerned about thought, quality or reflection. Failure to capitalize on thought, quality or reflection typically leads to additional busy work which leads to even more procrastination!
Procrastinator says on January 25th, 2006 at 3:08 am
procrastinating is awesome!!
jojo says on March 19th, 2006 at 11:48 am
dude..i can’t wait to read this article..just after i take a nap
kate says on August 29th, 2006 at 1:31 pm
try writing all your thoughts down at end of day before sleeping. all nice things you did today and all bad things you did. all the decisions you have to make etc, then things look clearer and you make yourself make the decisions there and then and follow them in the morning. or make them in the morning. but stick to them and dont ask a million people what they would do before making your decisions, it only confuses the matter. maybe just one person.
God says on November 19th, 2006 at 7:32 pm
Chronic fatigue and you recommend - therapy? What’s your training in Mark?
GI JOE says on January 11th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I was born a genius but a Procrastinator by choice. Its all about “Time Management”. Google it and learn how to master this technique.