When was the last time you procrastinated? Countless people suffer from this act, delaying their studying or postponing their math homework – in fact, I procrastinated for this article. People of all races, genders, and ages procrastinate to push off a task without realizing the negative consequences it can have. Procrastination is often a lighthearted, joking term, but its meaning goes beyond mere laziness. Thankfully, there are solutions or helpful tricks that will help you increase your productivity and stay on top of work, which is worth the incremental sacrifice of the time it takes to finish reading this article. If you are reading this right now as a replacement for another task, I suggest you stay and finish the rest of this article which could potentially change your life.
As put by Benjamin Franklin, “You may delay, but time will not”.
Procrastination is the act of delaying tasks and decisions, leading to more last-minute work. It can be traced far back to the Romans, who first started openly speaking about procrastination, describing it as a “hateful” conduct of affairs, especially in governance and times of urgency. Many ancient civilizations have recognized its negative impacts and sought to change it with moral and philosophical teachings, which have proven to be challenging. Procrastination is a common human behavior that can manifest itself in many forms, from postponing major life decisions to delaying next week’s assignment. So why do we make things more difficult for ourselves? Why do we procrastinate? Spoiler alert: contrary to popular belief, the answer is not laziness.
Procrastination is rooted in the difficulty of managing your emotions about the task ahead instead of just poor time management skills. People who feel anxiety or fear in the face of an unpleasant, or maybe just plain boring task, struggle to override emotional urges to delay their assignment even when recognizing its harmful effects. By prioritizing short-term mood over long-term goals, a procrastinator will find difficulty in getting the motivation necessary to take the first step in completing that goal. Several factors lead to delaying tasks, one of which is a fear of failure (not starting the assignment because they are worried about failing to meet expectations). Another is perfectionism; these types of people tend to set high expectations for themselves and have a need for perfection, so the task becomes too large to begin with. Finally, low self-efficacy, where one may doubt their ability to complete their goal, and then decide not to try at all, can lead to procrastination.
Some cognitive biases also influence procrastination, especially with the help of environmental or situational factors. For example, many people need to be more accurate in their assessment of the time and effort required in a task. Others overestimate their capabilities, and some prioritize immediate rewards over long-term benefits. All of these factors that lead to our planning fallacies are fueled by our surroundings. Being students and teenagers, we get easily distracted by our screens and can oftentimes feel overwhelmed by the amount of tasks we have to complete. By procrastinating, we create unpredictable and inefficient environments for ourselves, so let’s work on improving.
Luckily, there are many methods by which one can work and focus on their respective tasks, minimizing procrastination. Recognizing and trying these proven strategies can help you directly address your next large task.
- Breaking it into steps: A large task is daunting for all of us. Instead, try breaking your assignment into incremental steps over a longer time to help manage them. For example, instead of writing down “study for math test”, write, “study chapters 1-2 from the math textbook”.
- Use study techniques: The Pomodoro technique, which involves working intensely for 25 minutes at a time with controlled breaks in between, can enhance your motivation and concentration.
- Two-Minute Rule: If a task takes less than two minutes to complete, do it immediately. This helps you tick things off your list and feel more efficient when completing your tasks.
- Create a committed environment: Last but not least, one of the most important rules is setting up your workspace. Hide your phone in another room, organize your work environment, and bring water. You got this!
Procrastination is a small word with a broad meaning. By recognizing its causes and integrating some techniques against it, you can cure your “laziness”. But don’t get nervous; being a procrastinator does not mean you embody emotional difficulties, it just means there are things about your efficiency that you could potentially improve. Ultimately, procrastination is not about being a bad time manager; it is about regaining control, one small task at a time.
Bibliography:
Itani, Omar. “The Psychology Behind Why We Procrastinate: Here’s the Secret on How to Stop Procrastinating.” OMAR ITANI, OMAR ITANI, 3 Feb. 2021, www.omaritani.com/blog/why-we-procrastinate.
Loder, Vanessa. “10 Scientifically Proven Tips for Beating Procrastination.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024, www.forbes.com/sites/vanessaloder/2016/04/15/10-scientifically-proven-tips-for-beating-procrastination/.
“Procrastination: A Scientific Guide on How to Stop Procrastinating.” James Clear, 31 Aug. 2022, jamesclear.com/procrastination.
The Real Reason You’re Procrastinating | Mclean Hospital, www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/procrastination. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Why Do We Procrastinate, and How Can We Stop? Experts Have Answers., www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/procrastinate-why-stop-advice/2021/07/09/13b7dc2c-e00e-11eb-9f54-7eee10b5fcd2_story.html. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.