Procrastination

Procrastination is the act of delaying or postponing tasks or actions. It is a common human experience involving delay in everyday chores or even high-priority tasks. It can lead to feelings of guilt, inadequacy, depression and self-doubt.

Definition

Procrastination is derived from the Latin verb procrastinare, which means deferred until tomorrow. It is the avoidance of doing a task that needs to be accomplished by a certain deadline. It could be further stated as a habitual or intentional delay of starting or finishing a task despite knowing it might have negative consequences.

Causes

Procrastination can be further explained with a combination of biological factors, psychological factors, and environmental factors. Some psychologists cite such behavior as a mechanism for coping with the anxiety associated with starting or completing any task or decision.

Effects

Procrastination can lead to increased stress, health problems, and poorer performance. Procrastinators tend to have more sleep issues and experience lower well-being.

Management

Various strategies have been proposed to deal with procrastination. Breaking a large task into smaller tasks can reduce procrastination. Other strategies include keeping a to-do list, using time effectively, and setting personal deadlines.

See also

• Time management
• Motivation
• Self-regulation theory
• Decision making
• Cognitive psychology

External links

• Psychology Today: Procrastination

Procrastination Resources
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