It is important to note that procrastination is commonly seen in individuals with high levels of anxiety and poor impulse control. It is believed that procrastination is correlated with physical illness as well. Most college students procrastinate when it comes to working on assignments, choosing to order custom paper writing service providers to complete their tasks. In this article, we take a deeper look at procrastination and how to deal with it.
What Is Meant by the Term Procrastination?
Scholars have described procrastination as a maladaptive behavioral process characterized by immediate gains with long-term penalties. Many people can define it as procrastination, which simply refers to delaying tasks that one needs to do regardless of the effort required to complete them.
Procrastination is something that every one of us is guilty of at some point or another. However, if we build the habit of delaying the actions that are required and have negative consequences when executed, then it is considered damaging to our health.
A 2014 systematic review of procrastination and coping showed that 20-25 % of the adult population is a procrastinator.
In this study, procrastination is found to be correlated with negative functioning and threats to one’s mental health. Procrastinators are known to have elevated levels of anxiety and also have poor impulse control.
Sadly, procrastination is now associated with physical illness. This implies that procrastinators are more stressed and delay treatments, which leads to a poor health cycle because of just putting things off.
Why Do People Procrastinate?
It is rare to find an individual who has never procrastinated at some point in his or her life. Below are the main causes people give for
1. Feeling Bored
That is why if you think an activity is boring or unpleasant, you will likely procrastinate and do it later.
2. Low Self-Esteem
Well, there is another reason why you may dawdle. You have no confidence in yourself. The assumption that one can perform tasks is necessary for action. Feeling low self-efficacy means that one is unlikely to start a task, or if one does, is unlikely to complete it.
3. Fear and Anxiety
You may procrastinate due to some form of fear. For instance, people can avoid doctor appointments because they are afraid of the results the doctor will give them. The greater our concern about a task, the higher the probability of its postponement. Social anxiety can also be a factor, as it can prevent people from leaving the house or going outside.
4. Perfectionism
There are several factors contributing to procrastination, including perfectionism. A person may procrastinate on tasks he or she feels he or she will do a bad job or may not do at all. They can procrastinate on a task in the hope that they will find inspiration to do it better or come up with a better idea to work on it, only to realize that inspiration might come when the job is already underway.
5. Distractions
Interferences in our environment can make it difficult for us to concentrate on the work to be done. A majority of people will agree with me that they would rather spend time on social media than doi. However, do not forget that delaying work is also dangerous for your health, physical and psychological. Self-esteem is affected, and your vulnerabilities and worries are exacerbated. Besides work, procrastination can be harmful and lead to relationship problems. Still, it is quite logical that your partner may feel neglected if you postpone actions that are important for both of you. Neglect also leads to conflicts and resentment because your partner may feel that you are not committed to the relationship.
How to Overcome Procrastination?
It is impossible to eradicate procrastination entirely from one’s life, but some measures can be taken to minimize the frequency or time spent on procrastination.
1. Identify Your Daily Goals
The first step towards eliminating procrastination is to recognize the tasks that cause one to procrastinate. This might sound like a redundant point, but let me explain it to you. If you list all the things you need to accomplish in a given day, you will be likelier to do them than when you list them as you go along. Before you start your day, write down some of the targets you wish to achieve on a piece of paper, notebook, or the notes app, and cross them when you have done something you dislike, such as paying bills.
2. Goals Should Be Specific and Realistic
Setting your daily goals will not help you fight procrastination if your goals are not specific. Eliminate fuzzy objectives by defining periods that you wish to focus on a subject or choosing specifically which sections of a test you wish to cover. It is advisable to set certain objectives at the start of a day so that when you are starting, you know what to do and for how long. This will ensure that you maintain the morale of achieving the activities on your list more reasonably and effectively.
3. Include Easy Tasks
On the same note as preparing for success, do not forget to assign yourself simple tasks on a daily to-do list. This means that no matter how simple the task is, it still consumes time, and no matter how trivial it may seem, it is significant. This is a useful reminder to implement that there are tasks that you are fully capable of doing to nourish you for the tasks that will require more energy. For stress, consider finding stress management mechanisms to help you cope. Find out more from this article on Self-Care: Your Health’s Secret Weapon.
4. Find Your Productive Flow
So, when you do those harder tasks, ensure they are in the place where you work best. A post-cession plan becomes more comfortable to execute when you are eating some snacks or in bed than when you are at your desk or on a bench outside. Whether it be your preferred setting, place, or time of the day, they should be utilized to the maximum extent to get all the day’s work done.
Summary
For most people, getting started on tasks is often the biggest challenge. If you have been struggling with procrastination for some time, starting your journey towards becoming productive can be difficult. It may be difficult to remain conscious of the fact that one can revert to previous unhealthy behavior. This is why there is a need to have creative accountability. Make it your practice to have your study consultant, friend, or family member call you towards the end of the day or week to inquire about how you have been doing in overcoming procrastination.
Written by Lincoln Tyas.
Lynn Martelli is an editor at Readability. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University and has worked as an editor for over 10 years. Lynn has edited a wide variety of books, including fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, and more. In her free time, Lynn enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family and friends.
