We all procrastinate at times, me included. While only 20% of us are chronic procrastinators, we all have temporarily avoided doing something that we knew we needed to do, at one time or another.
Before you know it that deadline creeps up on you, and zap, you go into frenzy mode. The outcome can be quite ugly, given that you don't have time to really think things through. E.g., writer's have deadlines and if they don't get the article written in time to get through the editorial process it gets published errors and all or not at all!
Contrary to popular belief, we are not born procrastinators; we learn this bad habit from our parents and social circles. For example, if a child has a controlling parent it may be that they will rebel by choosing to put off rather than do.
Why is it so easy to choose self-sabotage over self-regulation? Let's reflect on why we procrastinate. Just what causes us to put things off that we know we need to get done?
- I work better under pressure (Arousal Type)-Have you ever heard yourself or someone else say, "I work better under pressure"? That is a sure sign that they are a procrastinator. My husband uses this excuse all the time. Do you?
- This isn't important (Avoidance Type)-Convincing yourself that what you should get done is less important only aggravates the problem.
- Distractions (Decisional Type)-Looking for other things to do instead of tackling the issue is a common response. Things quickly done take the limelight, in this scenario. E.g., cleaning out your inbox, getting a snack, etc.
While for some of you, scheduling your time may be helpful, "Telling someone who procrastinates to buy a weekly planner is like telling someone with chronic depression to just cheer up," insists Joseph Ferrari, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at De Paul University.[1]
Realizing what type of procrastinator you are will better help you understand how to cope with this bad habit. You can indeed change your behavior, but it may take more than sheer will power. If you can't overcome this maladaptive habit on your own, seek help from a cognitive behavioral therapist or life coach.
When you put things off you lose more than productivity, you actually harm yourself-mentally and physically. It takes just as much energy to avoid a task as it does to do it. Procrastination saps power; completion give relief.
Don't rebel against doing, don't debate, don't delay. Do it now!
[1] Hara Estroff Marano Why We Procrastinate (Psychology Today, Jul 2005) accessed 16 November 2010, http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200507/why-we-procrastinate
© Copyright 2006 Ginger Marks
Ginger Marks is the founder of the DocUmeant Family of Companies, We Make YOU Look GOOD! For more information, visit http://www.documeantdesigns.com/. Her 2010 annual edition of Holiday Marketing Guide, Your business-marketing calendar of ideas is now available at http://www.HolidayMarketingGuide.com.
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