Procrastination is a hurdle we are all familiar with. We’ve all procrastinated on an important task at some point, whether it be a college essay or a major project for work. But why do we procrastinate, and how can we get back to being productive?
There isn’t a single answer to explain why people procrastinate. It turns out that there are multiple types of procrastination that keep us from getting our work done. We may avoid the dreaded task due to anxiety, wanting to have fun instead, because we still have plenty of time, or out of perfectionism.
You’ve probably procrastinated for all of these reasons at some point or another. Read on to learn about each type of procrastination, as well as some tips to combat them.
Procrastination Due to Anxiety
Anxious procrastination often occurs when we feel overwhelmed by the project or just don’t know where to start. Maybe you bit off more than you can chew when taking on the assignment. Or perhaps you’re juggling a multitude of other tasks as well. Either way, the idea of starting the assignment brings you anxiety, so you procrastinate to avoid the feeling.
To beat this type of procrastination, try breaking up the project into smaller, more manageable goals. This will make the task less imposing. Looking at those small goals may also give you a clear starting point if you were struggling with that as well.
It’s also essential to develop better time-management skills so that you can tackle large projects and your other responsibilities promptly. Planning ahead and focusing on manageable goals will reduce your anxiety and help beat this procrastination.
Procrastination Due to Perfectionism
Perfectionism procrastination occurs when you subconsciously believe the task needs to be done perfectly or not at all. This sets a very high standard that is difficult to meet. Since it is difficult to do anything perfectly, you’re more likely to procrastinate the project out of fear and worry that the end result will not be good enough.
The task won’t be any better if you don’t work on it at all. Allow yourself to make mistakes and know that perfectionism is a difficult and unlikely goal. Once you dive into the work and put in your best effort, you will still feel better knowing you did your best.
Procrastination Due to a Distant Deadline
Also known as “Plenty of Time” procrastination, this type occurs when the deadline is far in the future. Think back to when you were in college and knew the due date for an important paper was a month away. Did you plan ahead and start on that paper early? Probably not. If you’re like most people, you waited until a few days before– or maybe even the day it was due.
A study at Duke University found that if given the power to decide their own deadlines, students who opted for earlier deadlines scored higher on their assignments than those who waited until the end of the term. This suggests that setting earlier deadlines and ensuring you are held accountable for them could result in less procrastination and a higher quality finished project.
Procrastination Due to Having Too Much Fun
Fun procrastination occurs when you decide to do something fun instead of the task at hand. It doesn’t matter if the deadline is today or a month ahead. You would rather be having fun than working on your responsibilities.
It’s important to create a balanced schedule that allows enough time for fun and work. You need ample time to accomplish all your tasks, but you also need time to recharge and enjoy life.
Another way you can beat this type of procrastination is by rewarding yourself every time you accomplish a small goal or milestone. For example, maybe after finishing that essay, you can reward yourself by spending fifteen minutes on social media.
About The Guest Blogger
has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health-related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
