Why We Procrastinate

Sometimes you glimpse at your messages or the mail inbox on your phone or laptop and wish you could run away. The sheer number of tasks that need doing, some simple and some quite complex, can become overwhelming and discouraging. The thought of knuckling down to get started on work of whatever sort can feel daunting, and it can lead to the tactic of delaying starting that work.

When we delay or put off doing something that we ought to be doing, that’s called ‘procrastination’. This article will explore why we often procrastinate even when it works against us and propose some of the ways we can get out of this unhelpful habit.

The Ins and Outs of Procrastination

There is some evidence that around 20% of U.S. adults are chronic procrastinators. This means it is a significant issue for many Americans because either you struggle with procrastination or may be affected by someone else’s procrastination. People procrastinate in different ways, and they procrastinate for different reasons.

Some of the reasons people procrastinate include:

Wanting more immediate rewards.

When you start working on a project ahead of time, there isn’t the immediate gratification that comes from doing something that gives rewards there and then. This is one reason why it’s easier to procrastinate by scrolling on social media rather than knuckling down to write an assignment due next week that will take longer to complete.

Mistaken deadlines.

Procrastination can happen when you think you have more time than you do. You can have the mistaken belief that you have more time or assume that you won’t need much time to finish the work well. Thus, mistaking the time or your capacity to get the work done can also result in procrastination.

Not feeling inspired

The words “I don’t feel like it” often accompany delays in doing some work that feels unpleasant. You may feel like you need to be in the right frame of mind before you start getting work done, but relying on that can make you leave tasks until it’s late. Other people are caught up in either not wanting to or not caring whether a task gets done, and so they delay starting and finishing the task.

Mental health challenges

Issues such as obsessive-compulsive disorder can result in maladaptive perfectionism which can inspire doubts about whether you’re performing a task correctly, fear of making mistakes, and concerns about disappointing others’ expectations. Depression can also sap one’s energy and make the initiation and completion of tasks difficult. ADHD can also affect one’s ability to focus on uninteresting tasks.

Beliefs about productivity

Some people delay starting tasks on time because they believe they work better under pressure. Others believe that they’ll work better if they have the right frame of mind, and they won’t be productive otherwise.

For these and other reasons, people will delay or put off tasks until they are swamped by time pressures, or until they run out of time altogether and go past their deadline.

The Different Ways Procrastination Works

Procrastination can manifest in a variety of ways. Each person may have specific ways of procrastinating that they tend to repeat, and becoming aware of your own patterns of procrastination can help you identify what’s going on and then find ways to push through to get tasks done.

Sometimes we procrastinate by allowing ourselves to be distracted. For instance, you could be reading this article as a way to delay the inevitable – starting to work on the tasks you know you need to be doing. These distractions come in various guises, whether it’s social media, watching a show or movie, talking with loved ones or colleagues, or reorganizing our workspace. These aren’t bad things; they can just be a distraction.

Another way procrastination shows up is when you get caught up doing other tasks that don’t need doing now. You may have two pieces of work to attend to, but the one may seem more appealing or interesting. Procrastination on the other less interesting task will happen as you focus elsewhere. You’re getting work done, but you’re just not doing the work you ought to be doing at that particular time.

The other way procrastination creeps in is when one waits till they feel inspired or motivated before deciding to get work done. In this scenario, we may be fully conscious of the fact that we’re not attending to a task, but in our heads, we justify it by saying that we’re not yet feeling inspired to do the work and that once we do feel inspired, the work will go quickly and will be much more enjoyable.

Lastly, procrastination can also look like waiting till the pressure of a deadline or facing serious repercussions pushes you to get going with work. Some people are convinced that they produce their best work under pressure, which may or may not be true. Waiting until the pinch of a deadline becomes real functions as the trigger to start work that could have been completed without undue pressure.

The Effects of Procrastination

We all have moments when we procrastinate, putting off the inevitable until another time. This can range from being a mild issue to a serious issue that begins affecting various areas of a person’s life. Procrastination can have several significant effects, and these can include the following:

• Penalties. There are consequences of not getting things done on time. Procrastination can be about completing a work task, filing tax returns, cleaning your house, or paying bills. Depending on the issue, if you go past certain deadlines, you could lose your job or incur significant penalties for not paying your bills or filing your taxes, for instance.
• Strained relationships. If you delay getting things done, you can strain your relationships, particularly if people are relying on you. Procrastinating may place a burden on the people in your life, and that includes your colleagues and loved ones. They might feel the need to either keep prodding you into action, or they may end up shouldering burdens they trusted you with.

In some instances, your procrastination can lead to resentment and ill-feeling from the people around you. People might begin to feel like they cannot trust you to do a thing, or that you are unreliable if you fail to complete tasks on time or get them done down to the wire.

• Stress and illness. When you do things at the last minute, you may put your body under incredible stress as you push toward the deadline. Stress, especially if it is chronic stress, can undermine your well-being, and that includes weakening your immune system.
• Not doing your best work. There is a spiritual dimension to our work, which is that we aren’t simply doing it for the sake of the boss. One’s work is done “for the Lord, not for human masters” (Colossians 3:23, NIV), and our work, as with everything else, ought to be done well and to the best of our ability. Procrastination can rob you of the chance to work with excellence and skill.

Moving Past Procrastination

When you have work to do, it helps to know how best to avoid procrastination. Some of the ways to overcome procrastination include being aware of the circumstances and ways you tend to procrastinate. When you see the signs of it, direct yourself toward your work. It isn’t helpful to wait for inspiration or motivation to get work done; in the absence of motivation, discipline is what gets us through to get done what needs doing.

Procrastination can also be overcome through creating clear to-do lists that help you map out what needs doing and setting out clear priorities. Procrastination can creep in when you’re unclear about what needs doing, so eliminate that gap by being clear on the tasks you should be doing. You can even break down those tasks into smaller items if the whole task feels too big to tackle.

You can also overcome procrastination by naming and setting aside your distractions. If your electronic devices have a focus mode that limits what notifications you see or that get through, enable it. If certain apps or spaces are distracting, shut them down or find another space that’s more conducive to getting things done.

Seeking help and accountability can also be effective tools to move past procrastination. Talking to a counselor or a life coach can provide you with a space to develop strategies to overcome procrastination, as well as address any underlying reasons why you’re procrastinating, such as being a perfectionist. Contact our offices today if you would like to meet with a counselor or life coach about your procrastination.