Procrastinators are not born. They become procrastinators.
Procrastination is a complex problem, and the approach to solving it must also be complex. Two leading experts in the world of procrastination – a philosopher with a doctoral degree and a professor of psychology, Joseph Ferrari and professor of psychology Timothy Pichil – answered the questions of Hara Estroff Marano, editor of the journal Psychology Today. As a result, we received interesting material that will help everyone to know themselves better.
1. 20% of people are chronic procrastinators
For them, procrastination is a way of life. They are late with the payment of bills and the delivery of projects. They miss concerts and often do not cash gift certificates and checks. Chronic procrastinators buy New Year’s gifts on December 31st.
2. Procrastination is not considered a problem
Of course, it’s okay if you are late all the time – everyone is used to it. And due to the fact that we will make a report on the last night and be late with his surrender, the end of the world will not come. And we also postpone calls to friends and relatives. What can happen?
And much can happen. For example, someone close can die, and we’ll only know about it in a week. Or you can be fired for delay in work. And sometimes not only you, but also a few more people for the company and inept leadership. And if for you it may not be a problem, then for someone it can become a real tragedy. So the problem is, and it is much more serious than everyone thinks.
3. Procrastination is not a problem of rational use of time or planning
Estimating the time of procrastinators and ordinary people is no different. Although chronic procrastinators are more optimistic. Dr. Ferrari believes that advising a procrastinator to buy a diary for time is the same as simply saying to cheer up someone who is in constant depression.
4. Procrastinators are not born
They become procrastinators. And the chances that a procrastinator will appear in a family with a rigid authoritarian style of government is much higher than in a more tolerant environment. This is a kind of response to the parental pressure – the action from the opposite.
In adolescence, it all turns into a riot. Friends who are more tolerant of constant delays, become the main advisers and models to follow.
5. Procrastination leads to increased consumption of alcohol
Procrastinators eventually drink more alcohol than they were going to. And all this is due to the main problem that underlies procrastination. It consists not only of starting to do something in time, but also of giving in time to the brakes.
6. Procrastinators love self-deception
Statements like “I’m not in the mood today. It will be better if we move this business to tomorrow “or” I’m better off working under pressure “are in fact the banal excuses that a person speaks to himself and others in order to explain the reasons for his laziness, inaction or unwillingness to make important decisions.
Another option of self-deception is the assertion that in a rigid time frame procrastinators become more creative. Although in fact all this is a self-hypnosis. They just squander their resources.
7. Procrastinators are constantly in an active search for distractions
And who seeks, he always finds. Even in the most unthinkable situations. Checking e-mail is the most common option, as it not only distracts from more important cases, but also provides an alibi for excuses before management.
It’s also great food for fear of failure. Because if you start doing something really important and complex, it may not work out.
8. Procrastination of procrastination
Procrastination can manifest itself in completely different ways and sometimes in very unexpected forms. People postpone anything for various reasons.
Dr. Ferrari identifies three main types of procrastinators:
- Fans of thrill are people who postpone until the last minute of the matter to feel euphoria. They like it when the heart pounding madly because of an understanding of what can not be done. In this case, a decent amount of adrenaline is injected into the blood.
- Gray mice are people who avoid fear of failure or even fear of success. They are afraid that they will not be able to cope with the task at hand and constantly look at others. Such people listen to someone else’s opinion and prefer to stay in the shade, than to break forward, making mistakes, alternating defeats with victories.
- Irresponsible – these are those who delay the decision-making because of fear of an answer for the consequences. Whoever does not make decisions, he never answers.
9. Procrastination is quite expensive
Health problems also relate to its cost. And it’s not just that if you do not delay the annual examinations from the same dentist, the costs of treatment will be much lower.
It is about the constant stress in which a person is. For example, students who constantly postpone everything and start getting ready to get drunk before a session, are more likely to suffer from problems with digestion, are more likely to suffer from colds (due to lowered immunity), they have problems with sleep more often than others.
And if you imagine working with reports that need to be submitted once a month, the consequences will indeed be catastrophic. It is also possible to add problems in relations with family, friends and colleagues because of failure to fulfill promises, shifting one’s work to someone else and a banal reluctance to take responsibility.
10. Procrastinators can change their behavior
However, this is a time-consuming and energy-intensive process. It does not mean that a person suddenly felt the internal changes and the desire to do something immediately. These changes must be complex. A well structured cognitive-behavioral therapy can help in this. The option “Change yourself” is possible only in cases that have not been opened.
In the case of the chronicle will not only sweat in the work on themselves, but also to fork out a large amount. It’s no wonder that good psychoanalysts are so popular and so expensive. If there is a demand, the offer will not keep you waiting.
We periodically linger with certain deeds and decisions. And sometimes it really poisons life. But coping with a very difficult.
For example, I feel a sense of great relief and sometimes even pride in myself when I pass the tax returns, because any interaction with our government services brings little joy. But always as far as possible delay this occupation. Why? Because I hate going there.
The last time I tried to remember the feeling of ease after the next quarterly reporting and now I’m not dragging it out, having transferred this task to the list of obligatory routine cases. Delaying the implementation of these cases is stupid.
But it’s one thing to deal with such trifles, quite another – to start making really important decisions. For example, decide to move, get involved in a new project, start your own business and so on. This is no longer a campaign in the tax. These are solutions that will change life abruptly.
The more abrupt changes, the more difficult it is to decide. Sometimes it helps to talk with a good and intelligent friend or a group of people. But in more neglected cases, professional help is really needed.
