Procrastination is purposely putting off or delaying tasks until the last minute or past their deadlines. It is an irrational behavior that’s influenced by personality and external factors. In fact, some people purposely delay despite the potential consequences. Unfortunately, it can be hard to stop procrastinating.
You would likely rather be doing something more fun than your obligations. Therefore, you may have excuses or rationalizations to justify why you can do something another time. Conversely, you may procrastinate because the task may be too dull, frustrating, challenging, ambiguous, or lacking personal meaning.
Regardless, these tactics do nothing other than cause anxiety and usually result in negative consequences. The trick to stop procrastinating is finding the best way to complete the task. Sounds easy enough, right?
Why You Should Stop Procrastinating
Procrastination becomes a problem when it starts to impact your life. At this point, it’s not just poor time management skills. It’s a part of your lifestyle. Are you a person who pays your bills late, doesn’t start work on a project until the day before the deadline, or puts off shopping for a gift until the day before the event?
According to a study from the Arctic University of Norway, procrastination can cause serious problems in your life, impacting your mental health and social, professional, and financial well-being. It can increase your risk of illness, unnecessary stress, resentment from people you know, and cause other negative consequences.
If you can stop procrastinating, then you can mitigate the negative consequences. However, don’t be afraid to talk with your physician or a qualified mental health provider with any questions. Sometimes, we need extra help regarding our mental health and well-being.
What Kind of Procrastinator Are You?
Some researchers define procrastinators based on their behaviors and personal motivations. Understanding your style can help you create your own strategy to help you stop procrastinating. Let’s explore six different personalities of procrastinators.
The Crisis-Maker
The crisis-maker waits until the last minute to start a task. They may put off tasks until the deadline nears. That’s because they typically feel they work well under pressure. Unfortunately, the lack of planning usually causes them to overreact with bursts of activity just before the deadline. This strategy could work for a single task, but a person typically has a lot going on simultaneously. Therefore, they miss deadlines and disappoint the people around them.
The Defier
The defier doesn’t like to be told what to do. They usually resent authority and use passive-aggressive techniques to rebel. They will agree to do a task but “forget” to do it. Unfortunately, the inevitable consequences catch up, and they usually console themselves, thinking it’s the price to pay to do things their way. However, this leaves the defier looking unreliable to other people.
The Dreamer
The dreamer strives for an easy and painless existence. They feel they do not have to play by the same rules as everyone else. Therefore, they may retreat into their own world when life gets hard. Unfortunately, unfinished tasks and broken promises damage their personal, social, and professional lives.
The Pleaser
The pleaser is always busy, so they usually don’t appear to procrastinate. From the outside perspective, they seem productive. However, they focus more on pleasing others than getting their work done. Although, this isn’t a problem until it distracts them from their obligations. Yet, they think that they can do it all. Unfortunately, they eventually can’t keep up. Therefore, they make excuses and disappoint others.
The Perfectionist
Although everyone wants to do things well, the perfectionist tackles each task with an all-or-nothing approach. If the task isn’t done perfectly, it is a failure, and they feel like a failure. They tend to feel their value and abilities are at stake whenever they take on a task. Unfortunately, they postpone tasks because they aren’t up to their standard and need more time to do a better job. Unfortunately, this leads to missed deadlines and friction between their relationships with other people.
The Worrier
The worrier wants to feel safe. Their greatest fears are risk and change. This paralyzes them since the task could push them out of their comfort zone. Unfortunately, they tend to fear the worst while they’re inner critic “what ifs” potential negative outcomes. Their “better safe than sorry” approach tends to alienate them. As a result, they tend to have less fun and joy in their lives than others. However, they believe it’s the price to pay to feel safe.
How to Stop Procrastinating
Accepting yourself is the first step. You can stop procrastinating, but you’ll need to work on it. Fortunately, there are several things you can do no matter which procrastinating personality you are.
- Keep a to-do list: List your goals with due dates to keep you organized.
- Recognize patterns and triggers: Pay attention to any thoughts of procrastinating or situations that could trigger you to procrastinate. Resist the urge and work on one task from your list, even if it’s just for a few minutes.
- Stay healthy: Proper sleep, a balanced diet, and a good exercise routine will energize you to tackle your obligations.
- Take baby steps: Micro-progress is progress that keeps you from feeling anxious and overwhelmed.
- Eliminate distractions: Mute notifications or turn off your phone. Turn off any background noise, such as a TV. This will make it easier to focus on the task at hand.
- Celebrate your wins: Whenever you finish a task from your list, do something fun!
Most importantly, be kind to yourself. Know your limitations and be realistic about what you can or can’t do. Change doesn’t happen overnight. However, if you keep working on yourself, you will become more productive, less stressed, and enjoy a better quality of life.
FitTrend’s mission is to help you along your self-improvement journey, promote an active lifestyle, and achieve your goals. Our journal can help you track your mood, sleep, and more. Also, FitTrend allows you to connect supported gadgets to your account to make it easier for you to update your journal automatically. Create your account today and start using FitTrend for free!
Disclaimer: No content on this site should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
