Procrastination

Procrastination can significantly impact time management.^[1]

Procrastination is the avoidance/delaying of accomplishing a task that has to be accomplished.

Causes

- According to Kendra Cherry, MSEd "One of the biggest factors contributing to procrastination is the notion that we have to feel inspired or motivated to work on a task at a particular moment."^[2] See also: Motivation

- Self-regulation problems. Some researchers indicate that procrastination is a "form of self-regulation failure characterized by the irrational delay of tasks despite potentially negative consequences."^[3]^[4]

- Cognitive distortions relating to: how long a task will take (or how much time is left to do a task) or how motivated one will be in the future to do a task.^[5]

- Procrastination is a common symptom of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (Due to self-regulation issues, etc.), depression and obsessive compulsive disorder.^[6]

- Procrastination is common among individuals who have the Jonah complex.^[7]

Procrastination management

"I have two kinds of problems: the urgent and the important. The urgent are not important, and the important are never urgent." - Dwight D. Eisenhower

- Have more of an action orientation in terms of your life

- Self-awareness as far as habits and thoughts that lead to procrastinating.

- Avoid perfectionism

- Conquer self-defeating problems such as fear, difficulty in concentrating, poor time management and indecisiveness.

- Set priorities. See: Prioritization

- Goal setting including the setting of deadlines

- Structure activities of daily life to develop positive habits

- Create an environment that eliminates/reduces distractions

- Increase self-discipline and self-control. See: Self-regulation

- Break down projects into smaller tasks. See: Project management

- Track your performance in terms of timely attainment of goals