I'm not proud to admit it: I'm a lifelong procrastinator. I've procrastinated pretty bad over the years, and it's sometimes gotten me into some trouble. I don't try to be this way--it just happens. For some people, procrastination isn't so much a choice, but rather a habit that's hard to crack. I decided to do some research into this phenomenon and share my results. Here are six questions I asked about procrastination, along with six answers. Maybe you can get some value from this article, or at least pass some time--maybe procrastinating?
1. How is procrastination defined?
Merriam-Webster defines procrastination as “to put off intentionally and habitually,” and also “to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines it as “the action of delaying or postponing something.” The American Heritage Dictionary defines procrastination as “to put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.” Personally, I think some of these are a little harsh. It may be habitual delaying, but I don't think procrastination stems from inherent laziness or carelessness. And as you'll see in a moment, I found there is indeed much more to the story.
2. Who procrastinates?
I had a feeling I wasn't alone here, and now I know for sure. Psychology Today notes that twenty percent of people self-identify as chronic procrastinators. A 2007 study by University of Calgary psychologist Piers Steel, PhD, reported that 80 to 95 percent of college students procrastinate, especially when coursework is involved. That number is staggering to me, but not so shocking when it’s linked to college students. So, this is a significant issue. But if it's that significant, that means it's well-researched. And that's good news for all of us.
3. Why do people procrastinate?
According to Psychology Today, people procrastinate for all kind of reasons, and some are more common than others. They can range from having skewed time estimates to being intolerant of discomfort, from having a lack of self-compassion to being hindered by anxiety, depression or other conditions. Oregon University also cites lack of motivation, fear of failure, lack of interest and lack of skill as reasons why people procrastinate.
4. What are the dangers of procrastination?
Procrastination is generally seen as quite a negative thing, which doesn’t surprise me. It can be pretty extreme, and according to this article from Lifehack, it can even ruin your life. Procrastination can lead to lower self-esteem, poor decision-making, the inability to meet goals and damaging your career. Now, speaking as an aspiring optimist, I don't think it's the worst habit to have. And if you manage it well, you can actually make it work for you. But yes, a life as a procrastinator can certainly be a risky one.
5. Are there advantages to procrastination?
While procrastination isn’t usually recommended, it’s not always all bad. There can be some advantages to procrastination if used the right way. In fact, a philosopher at Stanford by the name of John Perry wrote a book on positive procrastination, using his own term “structured procrastination.” Procrastination is known to be linked to higher creativity., and makes one work faster and more efficiently. Thought Catalog also identified some positive aspects—procrastinators know how to work smarter, not harder, and they know how to make time for the things that matter in life.
6. Are there ways to improve procrastination?
It’s difficult, but procrastination can be overcome. I found this awesome, encouraging infographic from Entrpreneur.com on 15 ways to overcome procrastination. It discusses techniques like changing your perspective, working in productive environments, planning for obstacles, and learning to forgive yourself. You can check out the infographic, and the rest of the article, here.
And for a final treat, here's an awesome mini-musical on Youtube about procrastinating. Enjoy!
Since procrastination is a part of my life, and it's probably not going away any time soon, I can at least learn to identify it, understand it, and even embrace it. If you're like me, maybe you can do the same.
