How To Define Procrastination To Get The Most Out Of Yourself
Do you ever feel the need to do, but not the need to do at a specific time? This phenomenon is called procrastination and it's become an overarching problem for many in Western societies. The problem, however, could be easily combated with these ten tips! You'll learn key information about procrastination, how it affects you (both negatively and positively) and what can be done to reduce or eliminate it entirely. No more excuses!
What are some of your "to-do" tasks that you have been putting off until tomorrow? We all have them — but we don't have to let them fester any longer. A few minutes now could save us hours later on.
What Is Procrastination?
Procrastination is the practice of delaying or postponing tasks, work and responsibilities. While it is generally accepted that we all do so from time to time, procrastinators go a step further and delay more than 50% of their workload. It is a problem that seems to be growing in prevalence; it may be responsible for as much as $20 billion a year in lost productivity in the U.S. alone ( Time, 2011 ). A study by the University of London found that 60% of students procrastinate regularly ( Scholastic, 2010 ). It's also been reported that 34% of working professionals in the U.S. habitually procrastinate, as well ( Swartz, 2006 ).
One of the most important aspects of procrastination is that it always takes place at some level. If a person never procrastinated, they would always get their work done — and there would be nothing to write about! So we are all guilty of putting off tasks at some point in our lives, but for many people it's a major problem that needs to be addressed.
Common Reasons for Procrastination
The main reasons procrastination occurs are related to self-esteem issues, excuses for not working and a fear of failure. Procrastination occurs in a variety of contexts with society seeing it as something that can be fixed with a little work or motivation. Fear of failure is a huge reason why we put things off. Our parents and teachers instilled in us the idea that we had to do our best at everything, or else we would not be successful. So it's okay to put off certain tasks if you're afraid that you might not do them well enough. But you can't put off everything forever!
What Causes Procrastination?
One of the first differences between a procrastinator and someone who never puts things off is the reason they do so. For someone who procrastinates based on self-esteem or fear of failure, it's best to take an objective look at their situation. You may be putting things off for reasons that are irrational or even wrong. For example, if you work as a university professor, you may be thinking about something that happened at work this morning when in reality your students have not yet arrived for class.
The other major cause of procrastination is lack of motivation. Not working for many years can lead to a lack of motivation, so you need to find the motivation within yourself. This is why so many people fail to get through the work when they start their own businesses; once they have exhausted all their work and business ideas, they don't have the motivation to do any more.
What Causes Procrastination In Children?
While adults can be motivated by things such as making money, a children's main motivator is keeping up with their friends. If your child has fallen behind in his or her homework, this is what will keep them from doing it — not an inability to do it on time.
Children are also more likely to put off tasks because they feel left out and being left out can cause them to develop low self-esteem. If your child is sad, it is likely that he or she will put things off until the problem goes away or until you pick him or her up from school. Getting involved in activities that interest you can help your child deal with this situation. Or, if you suspect your child has low self-esteem, a therapist may be able to help.
What To Do When You Procrastinate
The first step should always be to take a step back and learn what's going on here. I always say that procrastination is a problem as big as the sky — but alcohol is a problem as small as a pint. So it's important to deal with what's going on in your life.
Ask yourself these questions:
Am I too tired to do this? If so, see if you can set it aside for another time when you feel more energetic. Do I need help doing this? If something is too difficult, then you may need some guidance. This could be something related to work or some other task. Do I have the right resources to do this? If you have all the right tools, but you still haven't been able to do it, then there may be something about it that you don't like. Do I know how to do this? If you're having trouble doing something, see if someone can teach you or point you in the right direction.
From there, figure out what the reason for your procrastination is — or decide whether it's a legitimate reason or not. This is especially important when it comes to self-esteem and fear of failure; if your procrastination is linked to these ideas, then you need to address them head on.
What Are Some Ways To Stop Procrastinating?
The best way to stop procrastinating is to get some clarity. I had trouble writing this article because I didn't know where it was going — until now! So, make a list of everything that you have to do. This can help you focus on what you need to do in order to get everything done on time. Also, try breaking your tasks down into smaller chunks so that each step is not so overwhelming. If we don't see the forest for the trees, we may not ever be able to finish our work! If a task is particularly large, start with its smallest part and take it from there.
Conclusion
There are many reasons why people procrastinate; some of them are rational and others are irrational. Once you have your reasons, you can deal with them accordingly and stop procrastinating as well.
References: Scholastic (2010) Survey Finds Students Are a Procrastination Nation, N.p., last access 21 Feb 2014
Time (2011). Why We Procrastinate. N.p., last access 21 Feb 2014
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