Procrastinators are active seekers of activity. Six types of procrastinators, associated with “soft” and “hard” deadlines, have been identified. Some root causes of procrastination have been found to be the pursuit of perfectionism, deterrent from distress, indecisiveness to specific decisions, challenging authority, resistors to “dull” things, and assuming many roles too tough to control.
Our mindset “I choose to ” exerts a tremendous steering force on whether to proceed with the ‘more boring’ task, or not. As we’re already familiar, the more favourable task offers bouts of energy. Those 15 minutes you choose to distract your mind provides ‘brain juice’ to boost productivity. Procrastination is not all that bad afterall! However “chronic” procrastination is the so-called thief of time.
Chronic procrastination lies within tasks we have set for ourselves with no deadlines. We witness the effects of chronic procrastination by strained interpersonal relationships, overall low life satisfaction associated with unfulfillment, and a cycle of poor physical health after putting things off we set to do. As we usher in the new year, we are manifesting an improved and enjoyable 2023. Even if your goals are not time-bound, remember your goals and make it harder to procrastinate. If you need help getting past that first step, draw a sticky note to remind you of what you have started.
Some tasks might not have endpoints; rather, a collection of valuable tasks that adds meaning and worth to a project. You may have been procrastinating for these past three minutes reading this blog, however you have shared your three minutes bringing value to the goals I have set out to do.
