As I sit here writing this article I knowingly, and admittedly, am procrastinating my homework (what a shocker, know!). I have three essays due within the next week, a math exam on Friday, a short story sitting on the back burner due tomorrow and various other homework assignments that I’ll probably do an hour before the class begins.
Any of this ring a bell?For 99% percent of you (for the 1% who have their lives together and have never had issues procrastinating I applaud you) the answer is probably a resounding: YES.
But the better question is what kind of procrastinator are you?
THE PERFECTIONIST
Perfectionists set such high standards for themselves that they become overwhelmed and crushed under their own pressure. Surprisingly, these types of procrastinators might even get STARTED on the work but fail to finish when they can’t meet their own expectations.
Because it can’t get done perfectly, nothing gets done.
At all.
Cue the drum roll for anxiety and shame.
THE THRILL SEEKER
Thrill-seekers procrastinate because they get a legitimate rush from completing things at the very last minute. You thrive under the pressure and love the adrenaline you get from handing in work at the last minute. But are you really accomplishing something to its best potential when you’re spending so little time on the actual work?
THE AVOIDER
Avoiders run away from the uncomfortable thought of going through a task with high stakes or that is deemed unpleasant. You always focus too much on what others think then run away from the fear of failure (and often times the fear of success). Avoiders try to make themselves feel better by running away from the task rather than putting in the effort.
THE INDECISIVE PROCRASTINATOR
Indecisive procrastinators simply CAN’T make a decision. This is usually due to the fear they’ll be blamed for a negative outcome. If you’re an Indecisive Procrastinator you try your best to run from responsibility...after all, if you’re not making the decision, the result won’t be your fault.
THE BUSY PROCRASTINATOR
Busy Procrastinators are just (you guessed it) too busy to actually get down to the tasks they need to do. Everything seems equally important so they can’t decide which to do first. Choosing one task over the other means that everything else simply won’t get done. Similar to Perfectionists, you may start a project but fail to finish it. Hence the need to: prioritize, prioritize, prioritize!
Happy Procrastinating, my friends! I believe in you!
