At Last! An Article on Procrastination

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"Never put off until tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow.”
Mark Twain

From exercising, to being on time, to spending fewer hours surfing on the Internet, to vowing to keep a journal, a common thread runs through most New Year's resolutions: the longing to nip procrastination in the bud.

Everyone procrastinates from time to time, but with attention-grabbing toys like the Internet, satellite TV, video games, etc., many people are finding it harder to resist the urge to do nothing.

While the odd bout of procrastination may be harmless, constant foot-dragging can take a toll on the quality of your life, your work and even your health. A recent Carleton University study found that procrastinating students had the flu, colds, insomnia and digestive troubles more often than those who didn’t wait until the last minute to finish things.

Putting Things Off: The Deeper Truth

Most studies on procrastination show that putting off or avoiding tasks usually has very little to do with time management. There are a number of reasons why you may stall on starting a project or activity. Figuring out why you are resisting a job or assignment is the first step towards "lifting up" your dragging feet. Ask yourself the following:

Do I have too much to do? Sometimes the realization of the incredible amount of work ahead can make you freeze up: you feel so overwhelmed by the gigantic workload that you don't know where to start.

Do I disagree with the task? If you feel that what you're being asked to do goes against your core values or beliefs, you may be tempted to deal with the conflict by doing nothing at all. This is especially true if you feel there are no realistic ways to work out the problem openly, or without a confrontation.

Am I interested in the assignment? Maybe you've been asked to do a statistical analysis, and you hate mathematics. Or, as a 'hands-on' worker, you're suddenly expected to handle the paperwork for orders. If you're truly bored by the work you're doing then you may put it off instead of directly saying “no” when asked to do it.

Do I feel confident in my skills? Feeling "in over your head" or unqualified to complete the work can make you stop what you’re doing, or at least slow it down. Whether it's real or imagined, you may also fear that others will judge you harshly. Thoughts like, "I'm not good enough," or, "I can't even get this little job done—I'm so useless," may push you further into inactivity.

Do I expect perfection? Dig below the surface and you may discover a core belief that if it can't be done perfectly, there's no reason to do it at all.

Am I afraid of failing? People who put things off sometimes worry that they won't gain the credit or achievement they long for. If you don't try, you can't fail is the motto of many procrastinators.

Am I afraid of succeeding? Will I be able to keep up? What if I reach my ultimate goal and I'm unhappy? The flip side of failure is achieving success. In fact, the failure/success factors go hand in hand: both come from a fear of the unknown.

Procrastination Promoters

Procrastination robs you of time and can stop you from reaching your full potential. Understanding how you stall or waste time is an important step to deal with this issue. Some of the most common tools of procrastination include:

The Internet. Whoever said that the Internet would save students and workers oodles of time didn't account for the hours wasted surfing, chatting and playing games online. According to a Carleton University study, 47 per cent of online time is spent avoiding getting the job done. Without a doubt, the Internet is becoming one of the most popular ways to procrastinate.

Television. TV not only lets you escape into a fantasy world: it also helps you put off more important responsibilities.

The Telephone. Your sudden urge to phone a long-lost friend from Junior High may have a deeper meaning, especially if a critical deadline is hanging over your head. Though you're probably working hard, your mission is clear: to avoid completing the pressing task at hand.

Cleaning. Yes, cleaning. This is a favorite for "productive procrastinators," or those who substitute one important task for another. It's not that cleaning and reorganizing are bad things: they can help you feel more organized and in control. When cleaning comes before essential jobs, however, it's a sure sign of procrastination.

Putting Off Procrastination