Procrastination Articles
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Procrastination is the avoidance of starting or completing tasks with a deadline or importance. Some people procrastinate on assignments for school, such as studying for a test. Others may procrastinate on starting work due to a sense of dread while working. Several challenges can cause procrastination, including perfectionism, avoidance, or fear. You’re not alone if you experience this symptom, and there are various healthy ways to target procrastination and improve your time management skills, including speaking to a professional.
In this section, you will find articles about why people procrastinate. You can learn the causes of procrastination, signs you might want to procrastinate, and techniques to stop avoiding tasks and get them done on time.
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Procrastination refers to the "I’ll do it later" mentality. People procrastinate for different reasons; some don’t want to start a project unless they can do it correctly. Some procrastination may be related to perfectionism. People may put off projects out of fear of failure or a belief that they aren’t capable.
Regardless of its cause, procrastination can hurt people and stop them from achieving goals. When you procrastinate, you may communicate a lack of professionalism to others or show that you don’t prioritize tasks, even if you do. Time management is often the most effective remedy for procrastination.
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Forms of procrastination
Below are a few of the most common forms of procrastination and why they may occur.
Chronic procrastination
Chronic procrastination involves procrastinating in multiple professional, educational, social, and personal areas. For example, a chronic procrastinator may avoid doing the dishes, cleaning their home, submitting school assignments, hanging out with friends, and setting appointments. When someone procrastinates in all areas of life, it can cause severe functioning challenges.
Thrill-seeking procrastination
Thrill-seeking procrastinators may put off tasks because they work better under pressure or are passionate about them. They might prefer to write a term paper at three in the morning, a few hours before it’s due, due to the sense of urgency it offers them. This urgency may be a form of motivation in some cases.
Thrill-seeking procrastination can be unhealthy because people may become dependent on the adrenaline rush they experience when they wait until the last minute to complete a task. People may benefit from speaking to a professional about reducing this behavior in these cases.
Avoidant procrastination
Avoidant procrastination is one of the most common forms. It involves avoiding tasks because of not wanting to complete them in the moment. People with this form of procrastination may be overwhelmed by tasks or the idea of starting them. However, avoiding tasks can cause further stress, exacerbating the initial sense of being overwhelmed.
The more you avoid a task, the more overwhelming it may be. When you experience a desire to avoid, take one minor step toward the goal. Break the task down into multiple stages. If you need to write a paper, turn your computer on, open a blank document, and begin typing one sentence. You don’t eat an apple by swallowing it whole. You consume it by taking small bites. The same may be said for procrastination.
Can you combat procrastination?
If you’re overwhelmed with your procrastination, there are ways to move forward. Discovering the reason you are procrastinating is often the first step. The cause of your procrastination may not fit into the categories mentioned above. There could be another underlying reason you haven’t started a task. If you’re stuck and don’t know where to turn, consider contacting a mental health professional for guidance.
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Support options
Some people may procrastinate seeking help because they find it challenging to set appointments. In these cases, you can stop procrastinating in finding a therapist by signing up for an online platform like BetterHelp.
Online therapy platforms allow you to sign up in a few minutes and receive a match in 48 hours, so all the difficult work is done for you. In addition, you can choose between phone, video, or live chat sessions and access features like journaling prompts, group sessions, and worksheets to make therapy fun and interactive.
Studies also back up the effectiveness of online therapy. One study on online cognitive-behavioral therapy found that it could be more effective than in-person therapy in treating common mental health conditions like depression, which may sometimes cause procrastination.
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Takeaway
Procrastination can be a challenging behavior to get rid of, but it is possible. To learn more about avoiding procrastination, consider the above articles on the topic. You can also contact a professional anytime for further guidance and support.