Procrastination - what is it in simple words and who is procrastinator + 5 ways to stop procrastinating

Welcome readers of the online magazine "Rich Pro"! Today we will talk about procrastination: what is it in simple words, who is called a procrastinator and how to deal with this phenomenon.

Having studied the submitted article from beginning to end, you will also learn:

• what are the causes, signs and consequences of procrastination;
• whether the procrastinator should fight it;
• what methods are better to use to stop procrastinating.

At the end of the publication, we traditionally answer the most popular questions on the topic.

So let's go!

About what procrastination is in simple words, what is a procrastinator, how to stop procrastinating and start acting - read in our publication

1. What is procrastination and who is a procrastinator in simple words - a review of concepts 🔎 + an example of procrastination

Despite the fact that this phenomenon has always existed, they began to study its scientific research relatively recently. Literally concept procrastination (from Englishprocrastination) translates as "delay" or “Shelving for tomorrow”.

This term first appeared in 1977were then released 2 scientific publications on this subject. However, in Russia, the study of this concept began only in the middle 2000s years.

Before proceeding to a detailed discussion of the phenomenon, it is important to familiarize yourself with its definitions. So procrastination - what is it?

From the point of view of science:

✏ Procrastination - This is the person’s tendency to regularly postpone urgent and important matters, as well as to replace such tasks with extraneous activities.

In simple words:

✏ Under procrastination understand the phenomenon when a person postpones the execution of important tasks. They can be difficult and unpleasant, but they will have to be done anyway.

It turns out that the term “procrastinator” can be given the following definition.

✏ Procrastinator - This is the person who maximally delays the performance of particularly important matters.

At the same time, he is well aware that such behavior can entail both professional and personal failures. However, he cannot help himself, continuing to postpone the important task for later and replacing it with extraneous matters.

Often, the most important activities are delayed by the procrastinator so much that it will be too late to complete. Often the deadlines for such cases are hopelessly missed.

Moreover, failure to fulfill important tasks can lead to serious problems, such as:

• worsening financial situation;
• other life troubles;
• psychological problems.

The procrastinator understands all this perfectly, but can not help it. He realizes that he needs to perform specific tasks, but usually replaces them with entertainment, as well as household trifles.

Even if you have not heard the term procrastination, you have almost certainly encountered a similar phenomenon. Many consider people who suffer from this phenomenon, lazy people. But such a definition is fundamentally wrong.

• Lazy people usually do nothing, waste time in vain.
• In contrast, procrastinators are always busy with something. It’s just that their activity is usually unproductive and does not entail self-improvement, an increase in the level of security.

The most complete description of the phenomenon can be found in the study of the professor Pierce Steel. The results of his work he outlined in the work, which he called "The equation of procrastination".

The author is sure that the modern rhythm of life forces a person to constantly postpone various important tasks for later. In his opinion, the root of the problem lies in the fact that many do not have the habit of clearly following their intentions, as well as in personal psychology itself.

An example of manifestation of procrastination

A typical example of procrastination can be found in the life of every student. For example, the student decides on the day off to begin the course work, which must be completed in the near future.

1. The student turns on the computer and discovers that a lot of letters have accumulated in the mailbox. Some of them require an answer, so he decides to immediately parse the mail.
2. When this case is completed, it turns out that the time has come for lunch. However, it needs to be cooked. When the table is already set, it turns out that the bread has run out. The student decides to go to the store.
3. Leaving home, a young man meets a friend who asks to help him transfer things. The student cannot refuse a friend, so he returns to the computer late in the evening.

Eventually the day passed, but failed to start writing an important work. However, it cannot be said that the student did nothing all day. He was busy all the time, but not what was really necessary.

In this way, with the phenomenon of procrastination in their lives, many are faced. In order not to be in a difficult situation, it is important to understand the causes of this problem, and also to learn how to deal with it most effectively.

2. What are the causes, symptoms and possible consequences of procrastination

Despite the fact that procrastination is a fairly common phenomenon, few people think about its causes, symptoms and consequences. Meanwhile, a study was conducted of this phenomenon in the laboratory.

As a result, it became clear that procrastination manifests itself as a result of the opposition of processes in 2brain areas:

• One of them responsible for the pleasures received at the moment, which, in fact, is an unconscious part of human life.
• Other part the brain is a certain planner whose tasks include caring for long-term well-being.

The conflict of these parts of the brain does not allow a person to work at full strength, as well as to complete tasks in a timely manner.

Causes of Procrastination

Do not think that only the physiological characteristics of the body lead to the development of procrastination. There are a number of other reasons that entail this condition. The table below shows the main ones.

Table: “The main causes leading to procrastination”

The above reasons often lead to the manifestation of procrastination. But it should be understood that in any case, for each individual person, they can be combined in different ways. In addition, there may be other factors that will entail the development of the phenomenon.

Symptoms

To accurately determine the presence of procrastination, it is important to know its main symptoms. Below are the most common ones.

Signs by which you can find out about procrastination:

1. Failure to complete important tasks. A person’s lack of punctuality, that is, the habit of arriving on time, as well as meeting deadlines, can be a dangerous symptom.
2. Regular non-fulfillment of the set number of tasks. If it is planned to finish a specific number of cases in a certain time period, and upon its completion it turns out that it was not possible to start some of them, it is worth considering. When such a situation arises regularly (subject to real terms for completion), most likely there are manifestations of procrastination.
3. Constantly delaying the fulfillment of various promises,which leads to a deterioration in relationships with family and colleagues.

If the symptoms described above are constantly observed in a person, they are almost certainly prone to procrastination. In this case, you should be wary and think about how to change the situation.

Effects

It is important to understand that procrastination can lead to quite serious consequences. Most often it can be:

• job loss;
• lack of promotion in the service;
• monetary difficulties;
• reduced level of personal effectiveness;
• depressive states;
• irritability;
• nervous tension;
• frustration, that is, a state of depression;
• prostration, that is, depression and indifference;
• chronic lack of sleep and insomnia;
• constant conflicts with relatives and colleagues.

Of course, these consequences are very unpleasant. However, often everything related to manifestations of procrastination in a particular person can be exaggerated.

Important not only to reveal this phenomenon, but also to study it more thoroughly. This will help to understand how to deal with this.

Areas of human life where procrastination can affect personal finances

3. How procrastination interferes with financial well-being - a description of areas in which laziness is unacceptable

Not everyone understands, but procrastination can greatly interfere with financial well-being. Meanwhile, there are certain areas of life in which things cannot be postponed until later. Below we consider the most important of them.

1) Payments for various obligations

If you postpone later making various payments, you can lose considerable amounts. Delay in loans, late payment of taxes and payments for housing and communal services entail accrual of fines and fines.

Such accruals seem to be negligible. However, if violations of the payment deadlines are allowed regularly, the sanctions add up to a fairly substantial amount.

To prevent excuses (eg, payments are not made on time, because after work there is no way to go to the bank), you should carefully study all possible payment methods (in the round-the-clock terminal, online and others).

Another effective way to break the habit of deferring payment for later is to reward yourself. You should please yourself with small purchases in case of timely payments.

2) Doctor visits врач

Many find a huge number of excuses not to undergo preventive examinations by doctors. Meanwhile, postponing a visit to the hospital until something gets sick, you can lose a lot of money.

Important to understand that you can take tests regularly and visit doctors under the compulsory health insurance policy for free. At the same time, you will have to pay for the treatment of diseases that have already manifested, at least by purchasing drugs at the pharmacy.

In order not to postpone visiting doctors for later, experts recommend teaming up with friends and relatives in this lesson. Together, it’s much easier to wait in line.

3) Work

While at work, it is easiest to succumb to an attack of procrastination. As a result, often at the end of the working day, the necessary amount of work remains unfulfilled.

Here you can expect such distracting factors as:

• regular tea parties;
• calls to relatives;
• elementary computer games;
• social networks.

Procrastination in such a situation can lead not only to the accumulation of important cases, but also to the deprivation of bonuses, reprimand. If you don’t start solving the problem in time, you can completely lose your job.

To minimize the effects of procrastination, experts recommend at work, give up smoking breaks and limit communication with colleagues. Workflow should bring career growth and financial well-being. You can communicate after the end of the working day.

4) Free time ⏱

Many consider it to be the best pastime at the end of the day to watch TV shows, as well as study social networks. Meanwhile, such activities significantly tire the brain, distract from household chores, and do not allow you to communicate with relatives.

Besides, often, such things cause unpleasant consequences in an emotional sense, leading to irritability, envy and disappointment. As a result, this interferes with personal development and raising income levels.

In order not to waste time in vain, experts recommend abandoning watching TV, mobile and computer games and the Internet.

Instead, it’s better to do useful things in your free time:

• enroll in developmental courses;
• start reading quality literature;
• spending time with children;
• go in for creativity.

Such hobbies help to recharge positively and emotionally unload. Ultimately, this has a positive impact on workflow and financial well-being.

5) Shopping 🎁

Procrastination can be a serious obstacle to budget planning. Creating a shopping list, calculating costs, comparing prices takes time and some effort.

It is much easier to replace periodic purchases with the necessary spontaneous purchase of products in the nearest store. It’s even easier to order ready-made meals for home delivery.

However, keep in mind that such actions can lead to increase expenses several times.

In order to overcome procrastination in shopping, it is important to make exact list of necessary goods. By shopping at the supermarket only once a week, you can save a lot of time and money. About how to save money correctly, we wrote in one of our articles.

Thus, there are several areas of life in which manifestations of procrastination can lead to serious financial problems.

4. Do I need to fight procrastination?

As we have already said, there are certain areas in which procrastination can cause serious financial and other problems. That is why many people consider this phenomenon to be extremely negative and are trying by all means to eradicate it.

However, some scientists believe that the fight against procrastination is a futile exercise. They are sure that it helps to save energy and can act as a kind of insurance against various disappointments.

Often postponing cases for later allows you to ultimately perform more assigned tasks. Since there are people who can quickly mobilize and do everything more quickly and efficiently.

Those who consider procrastination a useful phenomenon argue that postponing the matter until later, you can understand how important it is. This allows you not to waste energy, performing only really necessary tasks.

In fact a similar attitude to the phenomenon under consideration can be effective only in the case when the business put off for later is new and completely unfamiliar to the person. In those situations where the goals and the effect of the task are absolutely clear, procrastination can only be considered as a cover for one's own laziness.

In this way, in any case, it is necessary to deal with such manifestations. You just need to do this wisely, avoiding self-flagellation. It is best to rely on scientific research and combine them with ongoing practice.

How to deal with procrastination - the main ways to combat constant procrastination

5. How to stop procrastinating - TOP-5 ways to get rid of procrastination

In fact, minimizing the manifestation of procrastination is quite real. However, this issue should be approached with the maximum degree of pragmatism. You also need to understand that you need extraordinary patience, because to eradicate any habit, you need a lot of time.

We immediately note that there is no universal method to defeat procrastination. Each one has its own. Below are the most effective ways to get rid of procrastination.

Method 1. Make a list of tasks regularly

The effectiveness of any activity is largely determined by the ability to correctly distribute the available time. It can help task listplanning ahead the next day.

When compiling a list of tasks, you must consider the importance of each case. Ideally, the list should include only those cases that must be completed on a specific date. It turns out if the task is not in the list, there is no need to do it.

The most important thing in this case is not the rejection of secondary matters, but rather the compilation of a list. This approach in any case will help to combat procrastination. It is best to compile a list of tasks taking into account their feasibility.

You can use Eisenhower matrix. In accordance with it, all tasks are divided into 4 groups by urgency and importance:

1. ATimportant and urgent matters, the execution of which will not be delayed, such tasks should be performed first. If you do not do them today, this can lead to serious troubles.
2. Cases from the category are important, but not urgent. When the tasks from the previous category are done, it is worth starting them.
3. Unimportant but urgent matters Do not bring you closer to achieving a specific goal. However, they must be completed in a short time. Usually, such tasks are imposed on a person by someone. If possible, their implementation should be passed on to other people.
4. Unimportant and non-urgent matters. The so-called time eaters. Moreover, they usually want to deal with them the most.

This approach to completing tasks helps not to waste time on trifles, allows you to more effectively move towards personal goals and achieve prosperity faster.

Method 2. Divide large business into parts

Experts recommend subdivide global tasks into several smaller tasks. In this case, the final goal remains unchanged, but it’s morally easier to begin to fulfill it.

Moreover, difficulties with small matters are not so terrible. If some task fails, you can proceed to another.

Choosing this method of combating procrastination, it should be borne in mind that dividing the task into parts must be done visually - on paper or electronic. In fact, with some practice, almost any task can be broken down into small parts.

It’s important to remember Chinese wisdom, which claims that any big way starts with a small step.

Therefore, it is worth temporarily forgetting about the ultimate goal and going towards it by performing small tasks. This will help reduce the effects of procrastination in your life.

Method 3. Resign Your Own Imperfection

Often the occurrence of procrastination is associated with the manifestation perfectionism. A person may be afraid to do something imperfect. This slows him down and prevents him from moving toward his intended goal. Meanwhile, it is better to fail at the beginning than to do nothing at all.

Lack of self-confidence can interfere with human development. As a result, he fails to achieve goals, earn income, create. It is impossible to become successful if, instead of striving for a goal, you constantly think about possible failures.

Experts recommend put up with your own imperfection and do your own thing instead of focusing on its result. Being perfect is simply impossible.

By the way, we wrote about how to attract money and luck into our lives in one of our publications - we recommend reading it.

Method 4. Learn to delegate part of the tasks or completely abandon their execution

It is not necessary to carry out absolutely all the tasks yourself. You can always delegate some of them to someone. This will save you a lot of time and effort.

For this purpose, you can use one of the options:

• seek help from relatives and friends.
• hire a specialist to perform individual tasks. Of course, you have to pay for his services.

Often manifestations of procrastination are associated with the postponement of tasks that have lost relevance. In some cases, the importance of cases is not completely lost, so a person cannot decide to refuse to perform them.

However, such tasks take time and attention of the individual. Therefore, it is important to learn how to work with them.

In order not to waste time on irrelevant matters, it is important to learn how to analyze them. Some of the tasks that have lost importance can be quickly reformulated and solved. Some cases can be completely abandoned. In this case, they will stop taking time.

A lot of tasks and small things are not very important, but they kill a huge amount of time. They must be safely abandoned, because they are capable of ruining even a very promising and profitable project.

Method 5. The workplace should be as isolated as possible.

It is important that the workplace has a minimal amount of distractions. Not worth it use a working computer to of games, correspondence in social networks and others entertainments.

Most often, procrastination due to the filling of working time with extraneous matters arises in freelancers. Working remotely, it is much more difficult to control yourself and not be distracted. This is due to the lack of authorities, which monitors the implementation of tasks.

Experts believe that often procrastination is associated with personality impulsivity. Efficiency is reduced if you are constantly surrounded by various distractions. It is important to eliminate them as much as possible not only at the workplace, but also in the computer shortcuts.

Ideally, it is good to have your own office for work. And remember that the physical order on the desktop helps to clean up your thoughts.

To compare the proposed methods of combating procrastination was easier, their main parameters are presented in the table below.

Table: “Effective ways to combat procrastination, a description of the essence of each of them”

6. Major mistakes in the fight against procrastination

Often, even those who are confident that they are well versed in the features and manifestations of procrastination make mistakes in the process of combating it. However, many of them are characteristic of a large number of personalities. Below are presented TOP 3 errorswhich are found most often.

Error number 1. Obsessed with the dangers of procrastination

Without a doubt, often procrastination is a harmful phenomenon. However, it does not make sense to focus on fighting it. Many people mistakenly believe that procrastination is an absolutely useless habit, which, moreover, can only interfere.

Meanwhile, this phenomenon manifests itself exclusively as body defensive reaction. Therefore, it is most effective to perceive procrastination as a natural manifestation. It is important to live in peace with yourself, then everything will work out regardless of obstacles.

Mistake # 2. Constant dissatisfaction with oneself

Often procrastinators are constantly dissatisfied with themselves, constantly reproach themselves. This behavior is due to the fact that a person thinks that he is doing something wrong, but is not able to overcome bad habits.

Actually, self-education is harmful. This in most cases negates all efforts. It’s much better to think about something positive. So you can avoid a depressive state.

Mistake # 3. Complete rejection of the fight against procrastination

It is not only harmful to focus on the fight against procrastination, but also completely abandon it. It is important to find harmony, to agree with yourself.

It is necessary to find an activity that will bring pleasure. At the same time, one cannot start a new occupation only for the reason that there is no desire to finish the old one.

Bad habits are worth fighting. Moreover, one cannot constantly blame oneself for inefficiency. Experts recommend Do not listen to the attainers, that is, those who assure that he does everything on time, and advise everyone to do the same. It’s important to just stop putting things off for later and get started.

Important to understand you should not spend your life on the fight against procrastination - it is better to turn it in your favor, forcing you to work for the good.

7. Answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Procrastination is a rather complex and large-scale phenomenon. Therefore, in the process of studying it, various questions may arise. So that you do not have to look for answers yourself, we respond to the most popular of them.

Question 1. Who most often becomes a procrastinator?

Despite the fact that most people can find signs of procrastination, some activities are more prone to it than others.

People who most often become procrastinators

The most popular activities in which people are most likely to put things off for later:

1. Freelancers. Those who work at home are most often exposed to the negative effects of procrastination. Freelancers do not have a clear schedule, they are faced with many distractions. Therefore, working at home is not so much a pleasure as constant work on oneself and the fight against bad habits. It is difficult to work when there is a TV, sofa and refrigerator nearby.
2. Students and schoolchildren.Most of them regularly delay homework, writing essays, term papers and dissertations. Among all generations of students, there are many who are drawn to the last.
3. People of creative professions. The work of such individuals is largely dependent on inspiration. A good result can be achieved only in the case of the right attitude, so it develops habit of waiting for inspiration. As a result, even ordinary business, urgent, are not completed on time.
4. People who do not have a strict schedule. An unstable working regime is characteristic of small business, trade, freight and passenger transportation. In such a situation, the slogan becomes - when I want, then I work. As a result, often such people simply transfer work for later until a serious money problem arises.

Question 2. What causes the procrastination process to start?

Each procrastinator is characterized by its own factors, which lead to the postponement of cases until later (the so-called triggers) Some have Email, other's - games on smartphonethird - social networks.

Experts believe that one of the most effective ways to combat procrastination is precisely minimizing the impact of triggers. Often disconnecting the Internet and mobile phone allows you to mobilize internal reserves and perform important tasks in a shorter time.

However, it’s important to understand that just by excluding the trigger, you can overcome the result of procrastination, and not its cause. In fact, the distraction itself does not put off things until later.

The procrastinator organism requires instant pleasure, and therefore triggers are activated. Relying solely on limiting distractions, a person often constantly thinks about the trigger itself, eventually losing focus on task execution.

Question 3. What is the opinion of specialists on the treatment of procrastination?

Many studies of scientists are devoted to the treatment of procrastination. Specialists usually distinguish works Paul Graham and John Perry for their accessibility and practicality.

Paul Graham - A popular businessman and programmer. Studying the possibility of increasing the effectiveness of a person, he came to the conclusion that procrastination is not curable.

At the same time, Graham is sure that from such a seemingly bad habit it is really possible to derive practical benefit. To do this, it is enough to learn how to procrastinate correctly.

According to Graham, there are 3 main types of the phenomenon under consideration:

• man does nothing;
• Having set aside all tasks, he deals with less important problems;
• Having highlighted the most urgent matter, a person performs only it.

Graham claims that beneficial procrastination - this is a process when a person begins to perform only one task, and not several at once. At the same time, it is not difficult to avoid the harmful consequences of the phenomenon - it is enough to exclude distracting factors.

John Perry - Professor at Stanford University. He also believes that procrastination can be turned to your advantage. To this end, Perry recommends using skillful self-deception.

Professor John Perry suggests the following measures:

• when compiling a to-do list, place the least relevant tasks in the first place. At the same time, important matters should be fixed in place of secondary ones.
• to increase the level of motivation, the number of cases in the daily list is proposed not to minimize, but to increase as much as possible⇑.

Despite the fact that procrastinators have a good command of self-deception, Perry's method is rather doubtful.

8. Conclusion + video on the topic

Procrastination or putting off important tasks for later often has a negative effect on human activity as a whole.However, often in the process of combating this phenomenon, a person significantly aggravates the situation.

To cope with the harmful effects of procrastination, you will have to carefully study the main features of this process.

We also recommend watching the video “Who is procrastinator and what is procrastination”, which also lists ways to combat procrastination:

This is where we finish our material.

If you have any questions, comments or additions on this topic, then write them in the comments below. Share also an article in social networks. See you on the pages of the online magazine "RichPro.ru"!

Watch the video: The ONLY way to stop procrastinating. Mel Robbins (May 2024).