9/19/2007 - Emotional Wellbeing - Overcoming Procrastination - Lisa Hinz, PhD

Did you ever wonder why that looming task is sometimes so difficult to begin? It could be a matter of classic procrastination. Approximately 20% of Americans readily identify themselves as chronic procrastinators. We all may have a bit of a tendency to procrastinate at one time or another. Learning what actually drives procrastination may be the key toward overcoming it whether you procrastinate a little or a lot.

Deciding to do jobs “later”, completing projects at the last minute, and distracting yourself from important deadlines are all symptoms of procrastination. Contrary to popular belief, procrastination is not a time management problem nor is it normally the need to be a perfectionist. Procrastination is usually a self-esteem problem – a confidence issue.

People are more likely to procrastinate if the task is less urgent, less appealing, or daunting to the person facing the task. Chronic procrastinators often believe that they are not equipped to perform requested tasks. They distract themselves, delay, and complete projects at the last minute because usually they do not have the self-confidence to tackle it head-on. Studies have shown that people are less likely to procrastinate if the task has to be done quickly and they feel confident that they are up to the task.

While procrastination is a habit that develops over a lifetime, it can be unlearned with conscious attention to the underlying forces that are driving it in the first place. Breaking tasks down into small parts, scheduling tasks, celebrating success, and self-affirming talk are all key ingredients to successfully overcoming procrastination. The challenge is to take that first step now. Success breeds success, and builds confidence for the long term.