Procrastination is the habitual avoidance of something that should be done. Everyone has procrastinated at one time or another, but for some people, the problem of procrastination frequently and significantly interferes with their lives. Procrastinators often argue they work best under pressure, but in reality, they usually never give themselves the opportunity to demonstrate what they are truly capable of doing!
What factors contribute to procrastination?
Learning to recognize which factors are influencing your tendency to procrastinate is the first step in overcoming this behavior and dealing with your task. Some of the common reasons people procrastinate are as follows:
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Time pressures, often due to poor time management skills
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Lack of interest in an assignment, course, or task
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Inability to recognize the importance or value of the task, perhaps because the relationship of the task to the goal is unclear
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Uncertainty about how to approach the task
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Fear of the size and duration of task
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Lack of prerequisite skills to complete the task
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Lack of confidence in your ability to do the task
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Fear of failure
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Lack of willpower or self-discipline
What are the potential consequences of procrastination?
Sometimes, the effects of procrastination are temporary and relatively unimportant; however, procrastination can cause significant problems in the long term. Following is a list of the effects of procrastination which may have a far-reaching influence on your life:
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Failure to complete a task
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Failure to reap the rewards, both tangible and intangible, of a task
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Lowered self-worth
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Tendency to avoid participation in future activities
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An increased tendency to procrastinate in the future
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Reduced academic, professional or personal success in the future.
