“Never put off till tomorrow what may be done the day after tomorrow just as well.” ― Mark Twain

We all have that moment when we do not feel like carrying out a task even though it is very important. That particular task that we try to avoid focusing on trivial tasks. Oftentimes, people assume procrastination is the same as laziness. This assumption is wrong. Procrastination and laziness are two totally different things.

One may ask, but what are the differences between procrastination and laziness? Well, procrastination happens when people avoid essential tasks for easier tasks that are less important knowing well that there will be consequences for doing so. Laziness on the other hand happens when people are unwilling to work.

In this article, you are going to learn what procrastination is, what causes procrastination in the first place, the negative effects of procrastination, and how to overcome it and reach your full potential.

What is Procrastination?

“Procrastination behavior occurs when the person is obligated to do an activity, even if they are not motivated to carry out the activity within the expected time frame. Literature studies define four types of procrastination: academic, decisional, life routines, and neurotic” (Özberk et al., International Journal of Psychology and Educational Studies, 2021). It has been estimated that over 70% of college students engage in procrastination (Ellis & Knaus, 1977). There are several reasons why people procrastinate. Let’s discuss a few.

Causes of Procrastination

1. Lack of motivation: Lack of motivation is one of the major causes of procrastination. This is when you do not have a good reason to perform a task. People tend to delay such activities to focus on other activities that are less important despite knowing that there will be negative consequences for doing so.
2. Lack of planning: One may procrastinate due to the lack of a clear plan. Planning means knowing what task to perform now, next, and so on. People who lack a clear plan do not know what task to complete and what not to.
3. Multitasking: Working on multiple tasks at the same time can be rewarding but challenging. Doing multiple things at the same time can slow down the progress of a project. This habit might delay the completion of the project leading to procrastination.
4. Distractions: In a world of technology, where there are smartphones, social media, televisions, and the internet can be very distracting. These days, people get glued to their smartphones all day even though they have more important tasks to work on. This habit over time eventually leads to procrastination.

Effects of Procrastination

Just like any other habit, procrastination can yield both positive and negative effects on individuals. We’ll focus on the negative effects since it's the dominant portion.

1. Stress and anxiety: People who procrastinate tend to do things at the last minute. As Andy bounds rightfully said, “lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine”. Delaying important task and doing it at a late hour will only breed more stress and anxiety.
2. Low quality of work: The quality of your work might decrease significantly due to the lack of focus on the most important things and instead doing it a the last minute in a rush.
3. Low productivity: Procrastination can harm a person’s productivity in the sense that, persons who procrastinate are more likely to miss deadlines.
4. Poor decisions: Delaying and postponing tasks usually results in making last minutes decisions to meet deadlines. As a result, procrastinators end up making poor decisions since they do not have enough time to think and make better decisions.
5. Mental fatigue and depression: One negative effect of procrastination is mental fatigue and depression. Leaving essential work undone puts pressure when there’s a deadline. As a result, people who procrastinate become mentally stressed and depressed due to the fear of failure.

How to combat Procrastination

1. Break tasks into smaller pieces: Some tasks are too large to complete at once. Hence needs to be broken down into smaller pieces and tackled piece by piece until the entire task is completed. This method is effective in combating procrastination.
2. Set realistic goals: Not just setting goals, but realistic ones that are achievable within a reasonable time frame. Most times, people set unrealistic goals that are difficult to achieve. This behavior may lead to procrastination.
3. Planning: Having a clear plan on what to do now, next, and how to go about is an effective way to overcome procrastination.
4. Use online task management tools to organize your day-to-day activities: Using task management tools such as Notion, ClickUp, Google Keep, Workflowy, and Microsoft OneNote helps you in managing your tasks effectively. These tools have features that allow you to set reminders and timers, create to-do lists, and so on.
5. Take breaks: Stress is one of the primary causes of procrastination. While we need to work to get things done, we also need to rest to regain lost energy. Studies have found that breaks can reduce or prevent stress, help to maintain performance throughout the day, and reduce the need for a long recovery at the end. The lesser the stress the lesser the chances of procrastination.

Conclusion

I hope this article helps you overcome the habit of procrastination.

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Enjoy the rest of your day.