Why do today what could be put off until tomorrow? Perhaps the most common form of self-sabotage, procrastination is a concept that we are rather familiar with as college students. Psychology Today offers us ten insightful reasons as to why this has become one of our favorite ways to avoid doing those things that we would rather not do.
For some of us, it has become a lifestyle choice. We miss out on many things we would have enjoyed because the opportunity has passed us by. While many could deem this a personality trait (e.g. Jim is just the kind of person that is never on time), it does seem to have a significant impact on others that "have their lives figured out." My favorite example demonstrating this would be how one does their Christmas shopping. There are those that get it done six months beforehand, those that do it right after Thanksgiving, and others that leave it until the night before.
The article goes on to say that we as a society do not take procrastination as a serious problem. It is an issue of self-regulation. By not calling people out on their ways, we are allowing for the behavior to continue. Also, procrastination isn't an issue of time management. Procrastinators are aware of the time but are somewhat optimistic about how much they can get done. The example given here is that giving a procrastinator a daily planner is like telling a depressed individual to cheer up--it just doesn't work.
We must also take into account that procrastinators are a product of their environment. They were not born to act as they do, but they do not directly develop these behaviors from their parents. It could be that an individual displays procrastinating behaviors to rebel against what they are being forced to do by an authoritarian household figure. They may internalize what they are "supposed to do" and never learn how to regulate their own behaviors. Often times these individuals turn to friends who are accepting of their excuses for help. It must also be noted that these self-regulation problems are related to a greater probability of disengagement and substance abuse issues.
Procrastinators lie to themselves. They tell themselves that they will be more up to completing their assignment the next day when in all actuality, they know that they wont. They justify these behaviors by saying that it isn't that important that they do the task anyway. It is just a five point assignment. What difference is five points going to make? Another common excuse used is that we "work better under pressure." I have personally experienced this form of procrastination, and I find that it causes me more stress than anything else. For some reason though, I can convince myself that my best work is done right before it needs to be handed in for a grade. Perhaps I am squandering my resources as the article says?
In addition to this, there are always so many things that need to be done besides the task of priority. There are dishes in the sink to be cleaned, laundry to be folded, and rooms to be straightened up. Why on earth would I want to write an essay when I'm surrounded by this mess? We do this as a way to distract ourselves from the fear of failure we feel by putting things off until the last possible moment.
Most interestingly, there are three different types of procrastinators. First are those that seek the arousal or thrill of meeting a deadline just in the nick of time. Next are those that avoid the fear of failure or success. They are very concerned about what others think of them and would rather be blamed for lack of effort than ability. Last are those that just can't seem to make a decision. By not making a decision one way or another, they can't take the blame for the outcome of their circumstances.
To conclude, procrastination is a topic that should be taken seriously. College students demonstrating procrastinating behaviors were found to have more compromised immune systems, gastrointestinal problems, and greater instances of insomnia. Others will suffer due to our choice to put things off--in the workplace and in the classroom. In the end, we must remember that we do hold the power to change our behavior and doing so will have a great impact on how we lead our lives.
You can find this article at: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200308/procrastination-ten-things-know
For some of us, it has become a lifestyle choice. We miss out on many things we would have enjoyed because the opportunity has passed us by. While many could deem this a personality trait (e.g. Jim is just the kind of person that is never on time), it does seem to have a significant impact on others that "have their lives figured out." My favorite example demonstrating this would be how one does their Christmas shopping. There are those that get it done six months beforehand, those that do it right after Thanksgiving, and others that leave it until the night before.
The article goes on to say that we as a society do not take procrastination as a serious problem. It is an issue of self-regulation. By not calling people out on their ways, we are allowing for the behavior to continue. Also, procrastination isn't an issue of time management. Procrastinators are aware of the time but are somewhat optimistic about how much they can get done. The example given here is that giving a procrastinator a daily planner is like telling a depressed individual to cheer up--it just doesn't work.
We must also take into account that procrastinators are a product of their environment. They were not born to act as they do, but they do not directly develop these behaviors from their parents. It could be that an individual displays procrastinating behaviors to rebel against what they are being forced to do by an authoritarian household figure. They may internalize what they are "supposed to do" and never learn how to regulate their own behaviors. Often times these individuals turn to friends who are accepting of their excuses for help. It must also be noted that these self-regulation problems are related to a greater probability of disengagement and substance abuse issues.
Procrastinators lie to themselves. They tell themselves that they will be more up to completing their assignment the next day when in all actuality, they know that they wont. They justify these behaviors by saying that it isn't that important that they do the task anyway. It is just a five point assignment. What difference is five points going to make? Another common excuse used is that we "work better under pressure." I have personally experienced this form of procrastination, and I find that it causes me more stress than anything else. For some reason though, I can convince myself that my best work is done right before it needs to be handed in for a grade. Perhaps I am squandering my resources as the article says?
In addition to this, there are always so many things that need to be done besides the task of priority. There are dishes in the sink to be cleaned, laundry to be folded, and rooms to be straightened up. Why on earth would I want to write an essay when I'm surrounded by this mess? We do this as a way to distract ourselves from the fear of failure we feel by putting things off until the last possible moment.
Most interestingly, there are three different types of procrastinators. First are those that seek the arousal or thrill of meeting a deadline just in the nick of time. Next are those that avoid the fear of failure or success. They are very concerned about what others think of them and would rather be blamed for lack of effort than ability. Last are those that just can't seem to make a decision. By not making a decision one way or another, they can't take the blame for the outcome of their circumstances.
To conclude, procrastination is a topic that should be taken seriously. College students demonstrating procrastinating behaviors were found to have more compromised immune systems, gastrointestinal problems, and greater instances of insomnia. Others will suffer due to our choice to put things off--in the workplace and in the classroom. In the end, we must remember that we do hold the power to change our behavior and doing so will have a great impact on how we lead our lives.
You can find this article at: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200308/procrastination-ten-things-know
I really liked your blog, especially the catchy title. I'll admit if the title doesn't sound half way decent I'm not likely to read that particular blog, or if its long in length. Yours was sort of long in length but you made a lot of really good valid reasons that I liked. One thing I didn't necessarily agree with though was that you wrote that procrastinators lie to themselves when it comes to getting things done till the next day. While this may be true for some of us I think just like there are all kinds of people there are also all kinds of procrastinators.
This rings true to many people including my uncle Denny. When he stayed at our house one summer while my Grandma was in the hospital slowing dying of cancer my mom was spending the majority of her time driving back and forth to Mayo in Rochester, MN and in Des Moines. My mom later told me the story that she had asked him one day before leaving for the hospital if he could please mow the lawn. He stayed at our house that summer for about a month my mom said and during that time this was the only thing my mom asked him to do. My dad being a traveling food salesman and working nearly 80 hours a week and being a family man hadn't gotten around to it. And being that Denny wasn't working the month he lived with us or having to pay for his stay at our house after all he's family, my mom didn't think that this simple favor would be too much to ask. As my mom retold the story, she got home really late that night, exhausted emotionally from visiting her dying mother in the hospital and from driving that day. When she got home she found my Uncle Denny lying on the couch watching tv and guess what? He hadn't mowed the lawn. When my mom mentioned something about the lawn he said, "Don't worry Kay (my mom's name is Kayla) we'll catch it next week." At that point my mom was too tired to care whether or not the lawn got mowed. Sure enough a week later my mom was coming home on her lunch break and he was out mowing the lawn, she recalls that by then the grass had to have been at least 8-10 inches.I just don't think it bothered him that the grass was already so long, he lives in New Mexico where the grass only need mowed maybe once every three months. He obviously wasn't motivated enough or wasn't in the mood to mow the lawn so he simply cast that chore aside because in his mind watching tv seemed like a much better thing to do at the moment.
As for procrastinating everybody does it, especially in college when a 2000 word paper doesn't sound too appealing-ever! No matter what kind of mood you're in. I'm really bad at keeping up with the assigned readings simply because the professor usually gives a set schedule to read so and so pages by next Wednesday. Who really wants to read something under that kind of pressure. For me what's more successful is the non-confrontational approach. It would be better for me, personally if the professor just said on the first day of class: this is the text book you will need to read in order to be successful in this class and you will need to read all of it on your own time. For me then its like the pressures on and its all up to me when I'll read a 400 page textbook sometime during the busy semester. I do better when I work at my own pace, and when I'm not bombarded by deadlines and a set schedule. Because there are some days where you are not in the mood to read a text book as you are to start working on that 10 page paper due sometime during the end of semester. So when the teacher tells me do this, this, and this by next Thursday; will I procrastinate? Most definitely. Unless of course the assignment sounds like something I really want to do right away, which chances are it isn't that exciting like say hopping in the car and going to Target for just a few things. Bottom line: when I work at my own speed I know in the back of my mind without even writing it down in my planner what I need to accomplish and I know it will get done because I feel the need to do the work knowing that if I don't I could quite possibly fail the class.
Just lately in one of the bathroom stalls was an article printed by the University of Northern Iowa
Department of Residence about 'Why We Procrastinate' You might find the article rather interesting and very familiar if one of the reasons why we procrastinate sounds familiar to you.Since this article was more like a flyer I couldn't think of any other way to link this, so I decided to type it out word for word. (excerpt from article By the University of Buffalo Counseling Center at http://ub-counseling.buffalo.edu/stressprocrast.shtml)
William Knaus, a psychologist, estimated that 90% of college students procrastinate. Of these students, 25% are chronic procrastinators and they are usually the ones who end up dropping out of college.
What is Procrastination? Procrastination is the avoidance of doing a task which needs to be accomplished. This can lead to feelings of guilt, inadequacy, depression and self-doubt among students. Procrastination has a high potential for painful consequences. It interferes with the academic and personal success of students.
Why do Students Procrastinate?
Poor Time Management. Procrastination means not managing time wisely. You may also be overwhelmed with the task. As a result, you keep putting off your academic assignments for a later date, or spending a great deal of time with your friends and social activities, or worrying about your upcoming examination, class project and papers rather than completing them.
Difficulty concentrating. When you sit at your desk and find yourself daydreaming, staring into space, looking at pictures of your boyfriend/ girlfriend, etc., instead of doing the task. Your environment is distracting and noisy. You keep running back and forth for equipment such as pencils, erasers, dictionary, etc. Your desk is cluttered and unorganized and sometimes you sit/ lay on your bed to study or do your assignments. You probably notice that all of the examples that you have just read promote time wasting and frustration.
Fear and Anxiety. You may be overwhelmed with the task and afraid of getting a failing grade. As a result, you spend a great deal of time worrying about your upcoming exams, papers and projects, rather than completing them. Negative beliefs such as: "I cannot succeed in anything" and "I lack the necessary skills to perform the task" may allow you to stop yourself from getting work done.
Personal problems. For example, financial difficulties, problems with your boyfriend/ girlfriend, etc.
Finding the Task Boring.
Unrealistic Expectations and Perfectionism. You may believe that you MUST read everything ever written on a subject before you can begin to write your paper. You may think that you haven't done the best you possibly could do, so it's not good enough to hand in.
Fear of Failure. You may think that if you don't get an 'A', you are a failure. Or that if you fail an exam, you, as a person, are a failure, rather than that you are a perfectly ok person who has failed an exam.
I came across a quote a few years back that I read from somebody's face book and it goes something like this:
Procrastination is like masturbation, it feels good at first, but in the end you realize you're just fucking yourself.