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Procrastination test pdf


10 Worksheets & Games (PDF)

Procrastination is an interesting concept in our culture.

Perceptions of procrastination range from being the topic of jokes to being associated with mental illness (Svartdal, Granmo, & Farevaag, 2018). But what is the truth about this ubiquitous behavior?

As a college instructor, I deal with student procrastination every semester, often resulting in end-of-term complications.

I’ve been guilty of it myself. Although I’m much better than I used to be, I’m still curious about procrastination.

How does it affect wellbeing and physiology?

More importantly, how can we overcome this tendency? Is there an app for that?

To get these answers, let’s explore procrastination, beginning with the psychology of procrastination.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free. These science-based exercises explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology, including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees.

This Article Contains:

  • What Is Procrastination According to Psychology?
  • 6 Causes According to Research
  • 2 Real-Life Examples of Procrastination
  • How to Overcome Procrastination: 3 Techniques
  • Procrastination Coaching and Therapy: 2 Tips
  • Using CBT to Overcome Procrastination
  • 5 Helpful Worksheets, Apps, & Games
  • 12 Questions, Tests, & Questionnaires for Clients
  • Top 2 Books on the Topic
  • PositivePsychology.com’s Helpful Resources
  • A Take-Home Message
  • References

What Is Procrastination According to Psychology?

Procrastination has existed throughout history and across cultures, appearing in folk tales and songs. In 44 BC, the Roman politician Cicero denounced Antonius’s chronic slowness and procrastination as “hateful” (Steel, 2007).

Is procrastination merely slowness? According to Klassen, Krawchuk, and Rajani (2008, p. 916), “procrastination consists of the intentional delay of an intended course of action, in spite of an awareness of negative outcomes. ”

Reviewing the history of procrastination, Steel (2007) stated that although it has existed throughout history, it increasingly assumed negative connotations with the start of the industrial revolution.

We know that technologically advanced societies mandate various commitments and deadlines, whereas agrarian and undeveloped societies do not (Steel, 2007).

Bearing in mind the connotation of procrastination as negative, we can assume there are associated consequences.

Physiological consequences of procrastination

Procrastination is linked to higher levels of stress and lower wellbeing (Jaffe, 2013; Stead, Shanahan, & Neufeld, 2010; Hairston & Shpitalni, 2016). Specifically, “[a]nxiety and depression are positively correlated with self-report and behavioral measures of procrastination” (Stead et al., 2010, p. 175).

Hairston and Shpitalni (2016) link procrastination to negative affect and self-reported sleep disturbances.

Other adverse effects of procrastination include “increased stress, lower task performance, reduced wellbeing, regret and suffering, and risk of mental and physical illness” (Svartdal et al. , 2018, p. 2).

Considering the overall cultural condition of time poverty, why do people avoid tasks, preferring to peruse the internet or occupy themselves with Candy Crush?

6 Causes According to Research

No single cause can be attributed to procrastination.

The following is not a comprehensive list of the causes of procrastination; however, it reflects common correlations.

1. Neuroticism

Neuroticism is similar to worrying, trait anxiety, or negative affect (Steel, 2007). Subcategories of note include irrational beliefs, cognitions, or thoughts; low self-efficacy and self-esteem; self-handicapping; impulsivity, sensation seeking; and depression.

Steel’s (2007, p. 81) research shows that the correlation between procrastination and neuroticism “appears to be due almost entirely to impulsiveness.”

2. Impulsivity

Impulsive people procrastinate, preferring to focus on desires of the moment (Steel, 2007; Svartdal et al. , 2018) rather than the drudgery of tasks. This form of procrastination stems from pursuit of “immediate gratification, neglecting or ignoring longer term responsibilities” (Steel, 2007, p. 70).

3. Conscientiousness

Conscientiousness includes variables such as distractibility (self-control), poor organization (structuring and planning life), low achievement motivation (goal setting, enjoyment of performance), and a gap between intention and action (Steel, 2007).

According to Steel (2007, p. 81), “procrastination does appear to be representative of low conscientiousness and self-regulatory failure.”

4. Lack of self-confidence or low self-efficacy

Stemming from a fear of failure, both low self-efficacy and low self-esteem are associated with procrastination (Steel, 2007). Low self-efficacy is seen as irrational doubts in our ability to do well. Low self-esteem is the belief that “any failure to perform to standard suggests inadequacy as a person” (Steel, 2007, p. 69).

5. Discomfort dodging (task aversion)

Discomfort dodging includes putting off a task “because some parts of it are associated with uncomfortable and, possibly anxious, feelings” (Knaus, 1979, p. 5). The goal of discomfort dodging is to avoid bad feelings.

6. Perfectionism

In his 1979 book Do It Now, William J. Knaus included a chapter on the association between perfectionism and procrastination. He states that perfectionism is unrealistic and linked to fear of failure. Others (Dexter, 2020; Phillips, 2019) also cite perfectionism as a source of procrastination.

However, Steel (2007, p. 81), an expert in the field, gives procrastination less credit, citing, “procrastinators are actually less likely, not more, to be perfectionists.”

2 Real-Life Examples of Procrastination

Procrastination is not new and does not discriminate.

Hannah Lamarque (2017) describes some famous procrastinators that few would expect.

1. Bill Clinton

This former president was notorious for failing to follow through and being cursed by distraction. So notorious was his latent reputation that in 1994, Time Magazine published an article about it. Further, his own vice president, Al Gore, characterized him as “punctually challenged” (Lamarque, 2017).

2. Leonardo Da Vinci

One of the greatest and most well-known artists of all time also contended with procrastination. It’s hard to conceive, considering his body of work, but Da Vinci struggled with focus. The Mona Lisa, one of his most notable masterpieces, took 16 years to complete.

Other works such as the Virgin of the Rocks took 13 years. So intense was Da Vinci’s proclivity for procrastination that his own benefactor threatened bankruptcy to motivate him.

It’s reassuring to know that procrastination is an equal opportunity malady. To offer a hand to those who struggle with it, let’s review some expert advice.

How to Overcome Procrastination: 3 Techniques

One of the cinema’s favorite nannies, Mary Poppins, sings the tune Well Begun is Half Done in an effort to encourage Jane and Michael to do their chores, paving a path to the first of three recommendations.

1. The 5-minute rule

When the brain is overwhelmed by a task, it can result in anxiety and avoidance. Bariso (2021) suggests a simple technique he calls the five-minute rule.

He advises committing to the task for five minutes with the stipulation that you can quit after that time if the task is overwhelming. Also known as chunking, this method breaks tasks into feasible portions.

Because task initiation often creates the roadblock, this method helps procrastinators clear the first hurdle. Thank you, Mary Poppins.

2. Visualization (mental rehearsal)

Visualization is an ongoing process that can be productively directed (Peper, Harvey, Lin, & Duvvuri, 2014). Imagining successful completion of a task makes the realization more likely. This process is familiar to athletes and artists.

These five steps can guide the process.

  1. Think of a past behavior or conflict that ended in disappointment.
  2. Understand that under the circumstances, you handled it the only way you could.
  3. Consider, “How could I have handled this with the wisdom I have now?”
  4. Now, think back to that same situation. Immerse yourself in it as if it is recurring, using all of your senses. Be as specific as possible. This time, imagine yourself behaving masterfully.
  5. Congratulate yourself for programming your own future.

3. Mindfulness

In Unwinding Anxiety, Judson Brewer (2021) discusses both procrastination and the worry loop that leads to it.

Brewer describes the standard habit loop as trigger, behavior, result. Avoiding a project can feel better in the moment than starting it. He suggests using mindfulness to build awareness of feelings associated with procrastination.

In the future, try doing a task early or on time, noticing what that feels like. The positive feelings associated with timely task completion can be used to build a new habit loop.

This video, created for medical students, introduces a useful equation for understanding procrastination and suggests seven remedies.

Procrastination Coaching and Therapy: 2 Tips

Knowing that there are ways to overcome procrastination, here are two tips for the therapist who has to deal with this phenomenon.

1. Appreciative inquiry

Appreciative inquiry was developed by Cooperrider and Srivastva (1987), with the help of graduate students at Case Western University in the 1980s. The concept is based on “powerful assumptions about human change that are positive and life generating by nature” (Binkert & Clancy, 2011, p. 287).

This strengths-based and solution-focused paradigm is premised on human potential and social constructionism. Adherents believe that clients can reinvent themselves through language, using three fundamental principles:

  1. “what people focus on becomes their reality;
  2. the language people use creates their reality; and
  3. in every individual, something works” (Orem, Binkert, & Clancy, 2007, p. 40).

The application to coaching is realized through asking life-enhancing appreciative inquiry questions, watching for pivotal moments as clients begin to view themselves in a new light, and helping the client move forward, taking parts of their past that are positive and comforting (Binkert & Clancy, 2011).

2. Motivational interviewing

Motivational interviewing (MI) is an optimistic approach to change based on research, experience, and the belief that clients are more likely to change when they believe they can (Souders, 2019).

Drawing on the strength of self-talk, MI techniques encourage change talk. Grounded in self-determination theory, MI attends to three basic psychological needs:

  • Autonomy
  • Competency
  • Relatedness

Self-determination theory techniques are also used by professional sports coaches, such as Pete Carroll (Stetka, 2016).

This interdisciplinary method helps clients reduce ambivalence often associated with change. Its application is common in psychology and fields such as medicine and criminal justice.

This SlideShare was originally developed to help criminal justice practitioners implement MI. It explains concepts such as change talk, rolling with resistance, and using the acronym OARS.

Using CBT to Overcome Procrastination

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is another effective tool to motivate change in clients.

In CBT, the relationship between thoughts, emotions, and feelings is explored and discussed. Research shows that anxiety and avoidance may explain procrastination. As reviewed earlier, procrastination is a behavior used to avoid uncomfortable feelings (Dexter, 2020).

This therapeutic approach focuses on the present and is goal oriented. It utilizes cognition to treat emotional and behavioral disorders and operates with the premise that changes in thoughts can be highly effective for treating deep-seated issues (Orem et al. , 2007).

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy has been proven effective as a tool to improve self-esteem and self-worth (McKay & Fanning, 2016), sometimes associated with procrastination. Using the power of self-talk to recognize and tame the inner critic, this method ignites the client’s rational, healthy voice (Sutton, 2021).

5 Helpful Worksheets, Apps, & Games

Below are three worksheets to help clients work through issues related to procrastination as well as a collection of apps and therapy games.

1. Reward Replacement Worksheet

Using procrastination as their behavior change goal, clients can use the Reward Replacement Worksheet to analyze the costs and rewards of procrastination and consider behavior change.

2. Problem Solving Worksheet for Adults

This Problem Solving Worksheet helps clients identify a problem, break it into smaller steps, and set a course of action, listing the pros and cons of each option.

3. Building New Habits

Building New Habits walks clients through the habit loop, including reward implementation, creating motivation for positive action.

4. HabitHub App

HabitHub, a habit and goal tracker app, motivates clients to complete to-do lists with easy-to-understand color schemes for daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.

Task reminder options range from many to few. I have incorporated this app for health and wellness routines as well as work-related tasks. Yes, there’s an app for that.

Available for Android.
Available for iOS (coming soon).

5. Triskelion eLearning game

Triskelion from Gamelearn is a role-playing simulation course for overcoming procrastination and maximizing personal productivity and time management skills.

Students learn to plan and prioritize projects and discover techniques that can be used daily to manage tasks, improve efficiency, and achieve goals.

Request a demo.

12 Questions, Tests, & Questionnaires for Clients

As we have seen through motivational interviewing, powerful questions can lead clients to revelations, evoking new thoughts about their own potential. Below are six examples from Catherine Moore, author of 100 Most Powerful Life Coaching Questions (2019):

  1. What will success look like?
  2. How will you know you’ve achieved your goal?
  3. How might you turn these steps into a plan?
  4. How will you prepare for each step?
  5. How do you plan to motivate yourself when obstacles arise?
  6. What are some ways to motivate yourself to get started?

I’ve added four questions of my own:

  1. What one word describes how you feel during or after procrastination? Explain.
  2. What type of tasks do you tend to procrastinate on the most?
  3. If your self-talk is negative, do you know where that voice comes from?
  4. Think of a time you felt amazing about the work you do. How did it feel? Why?

These questions allow the client to reflect on emotions that when overlooked, create non-productive habit loops, keeping in mind that what gets rewarded, gets repeated.

Procrastination can be prevalent among students. This questionnaire from the Oregon State University’s Academic Success Center website, cleverly named Procrasti-Not, is geared toward students and holistic in nature. The questions seek to identify which life domains are more prone to procrastination.

Top 2 Books on the Topic

Thoroughly getting on top of a topic means extending your knowledge, and reading our recommended books are just what you need.

1.

Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastination and Get More Done in Less Time – Brian Tracy

Eat That Frog is touted as one of the most popular time management books in history and is available in 42 languages.

The author embraces the premise that hitting your most undesirable task first thing in the morning means you start the day having accomplished a great thing.

Further, Tracy addresses perseveration that leads to procrastination.

Find the book on Amazon.

2.

Unwinding Anxiety: New Science Shows How to Break the Cycles of Worry and Fear to Heal Your Mind – Judson Brewer

This book reviews the state of anxiety in current times and how anxiety drives bad habits (procrastination being one) and addictive behaviors.

Brewer presents a solution-focused program for overcoming anxiety.

Find the book on Amazon.

 

PositivePsychology.com’s Helpful Resources

We have a selection of resources that can aid mental healthcare practitioners with procrastinating clients.

The article 100 Most Powerful Life Coaching Questions [+PDF] by Catherine Moore (2019) provides helpful questions and resources for therapists, coaches, and anyone else looking to uncover issues. Moore also explains the GROW model and provides specific questions for coaching managers and leaders.

A series of simple worksheets are helpful for walking clients through individual steps toward their goal, using the acronym GROW. The worksheets include the following step-by-step process.

  • G Stands for Goal helps clients identify goals.
  • R Stands For REALITY allows clients to identify where they are with their goal and identify obstacles.
  • O Stands for Options helps clients identify options and their energy resources for reaching their goals.
  • W Stands For WAY FORWARD aids clients in setting up steps and sub-steps for reaching their goal. One of the strengths of this worksheet is the accountability piece and establishing a reward system for the accomplished goal.

If you’re looking for more science-based ways to help others enhance their wellbeing, this signature collection contains 17 validated positive psychology tools for practitioners. Use them to help others flourish and thrive.

A Take-Home Message

Surprisingly, it has been my pleasure to explore procrastination. I’ve discovered apps, worksheets, questions, books, and other valuable resources that I’ve already implemented to improve work hygiene.

In 1979, Knaus described distractions such as “chain-smoking, overeating, sleeping, playing solitaire, doing pushups” (1979, p. 21). Forty-two years later, technological advancements have situated the temptation to procrastinate in the palm of our hands – no pushups necessary.

Students have been the target of many procrastination studies, but they’re not alone.

We are all different, and when addressing the gap between intention and action, it’s vital to create a plan that suits your personality type.

This article was completed on time, and it felt like an accomplishment because for me, procrastination is no joke.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free.

  • Bariso, J. (2021, June 13). Emotionally intelligent people embrace the 5-minute rule. www.inc.com. Retrieved July 5, 2021, from https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/emotionally-intelligent-people-embrace-5-minute-rule. html
  • Binkert, J., & Clancy, A. L. (2011). Appreciative inquiry. In L. Wildflower & D. Brennan (Eds.), The handbook of knowledge-based coaching: From theory to practice. Jossey-Bass.
  • Brewer, J. A. (2021). Unwinding anxiety: New science shows how to break the cycles of worry and fear to heal your mind. Avery.
  • Cooperrider, D. L., & Srivastva, S. (1987). Appreciative inquiry in organizational life. Research in Organizational Change and Development, 1(1), 129–169.
  • Dexter, M. (2020, March 28). Social anxiety and procrastination: What “I can’t” might really mean. National Social Anxiety Center. Retrieved July 17, 2021, from https://nationalsocialanxietycenter.com/2020/03/28/social-anxiety-and-procrastination-what-i-cant-might-really-mean/
  • Hairston, I. S., & Shpitalni, R. (2016). Procrastination is linked with insomnia symptoms: The moderating role of morningness-eveningness. Personality and Individual Differences, 101, 50–56.
  • Jaffe, E. (2013, March 29). Why wait? The science behind procrastination. Association for Psychological Science. Retrieved July 5, 2021, from https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/why-wait-the-science-behind-procrastination
  • Klassen, R. M., Krawchuk, L. L., & Rajani, S. (2008). Academic procrastination of undergraduates: Low self-efficacy to self-regulate predicts higher levels of procrastination. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 33(4), 915–931.
  • Knaus, W. J. (1979). Do it now. Prentice-Hall.
  • Lamarque, H. (2017, January 12). Top 10 most famous procrastinators in the world. Career Addict. Retrieved July 21, 2021, from https://www.careeraddict.com/top-10-most-famous-procrastinators-in-the-world
  • McKay, M., & Fanning, P. (2016). Self-esteem. New Harbinger.
  • Moore, C. (2019, October 22). 100 Most powerful life coaching questions [+PDF]. PositivePsychology.com. Retrieved August 4, 2021, from https://positivepsychology.com/life-coaching-questions/
  • Orem, S. L., Binkert, J., & Clancy, A. L. (2007). Appreciative coaching: A positive process for change. Jossey-Bass.
  • Peper, E., Harvey, R., Lin, I. M., & Duvvuri, P. (2014). Increase productivity, decrease procrastination, and increase energy. Biofeedback, 42(2), 82–87.
  • Phillips, L. (2019, October 24). Procrastination: An emotional struggle. Counseling Today. Retrieved July 22, 2021, from https://ct.counseling.org/2019/10/procrastination-an-emotional-struggle/#
  • Souders, B. (2019, November 5). 17 Motivational interviewing questions and skills. PositivePsychology.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021, from https://positivepsychology.com/motivational-interviewing/
  • Stead, R., Shanahan, M. J., & Neufeld, R. W. (2010). “I’ll go to therapy, eventually”: Procrastination, stress, and mental health. Personality and Individual Differences, 49, 175–180.
  • Steel, P. (2007). The nature of procrastination: A meta-analytic and theoretical review of quintessential self-regulatory failure. Psychological Bulletin, 133(1), 65–94.
  • Stetka, B. (2016). How to coach like an Olympian. Scientific American Mind, 27(4), 45–49.
  • Sutton, J. (2021, July 24). How to boost self-esteem: 12 Simple exercises & CBT tools. PositivePsychology.com. Retrieved August 2, 2021, from https://positivepsychology.com/self-esteem-boost-exercises/
  • Svartdal, F., Granmo, S., & Farevaag, F. S. (2018). On the behavioral side of procrastination: Exploring behavioral delay in real-life Settings. Frontiers in Psychology, 9.
  • Tracy, B. (2017). Eat that frog! 21 Great ways to stop procrastinating and get more done in less time. Berrett-Koehler.

General Procrastination Scale: Development of Validity and Reliability

Home / Int. J. Med. Public Health, Vol 9, Issue 3, Jul-Sep 2019 / General Procrastination Scale: Development of Validity and Reliability

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Abstract

International Journal of Medicine and Public Health,2019,9,3,74-80.

DOI:10.5530/ijmedph.2019.3.19

Published:November 2019

Type:Original Article

General Procrastination Scale: Development of Validity and Reliability

Pragya Lodha1, Ahana Sharma1, Gale Dsouza1, Ishwari Marathe1, Shanaya Dsouza1, Shivani Rawal1, Vidhi Pandya1, Avinash De Sousa2,*

1Clinical Psychologist and Former Post Graduate Student, Maniben Nanavati Women’s College, Mumbai, Maharashtra, INDIA.

2Consultant Psychiatrist, Desousa Foundation, Mumbai, Maharashtra, INDIA.

Abstract:

Background: Procrastination, generally out, is the practice of carrying out less urgent tasks in preference to more urgent ones, or doing more pleasurable things in place of less pleasurable ones and thus putting off impending tasks to a later time. The primary objective of this paper was to establish preliminary psychometric properties of General Procrastination Scale (GPS)- validity and reliability. The scale. Methods: The final version of GPS was administered on a randomized sample of 140 participants, 69 males and 71 females between the age group of 16 to 27 years. The target population included college students and working younger adults across various regional subdivisions of the metropolitan city of Mumbai. The sample of the test was selected via a Non Probability sampling method of Quota Sampling. Results: The Split Half Reliability was calculated equivalent to 0.711, which was similarly close to the value of Cronabch’s Alpha correlation value, established at 0.714. The General Procrastination Scale was observed to be high on construct validity (0.76) when compared with performance on Lay’s scale of Procrastination. The quartile deviation value was obtained to be 8 and 3 inter quartile ranges were developed for the scale - Q1- 59, Q2- 66 and Q3- 75, where Q2 is equivalent to the median/mean of the scores on the scale. Conclusion: The test is a first of its kind, having been developed and standardized in a relatively collectivist culture and yet in a fairly modernized geographical region, opening grounds for greater research on cross cultural study of procrastination. The scale however has not been standardized on a statistically sufficient large sample of population.

Keywords:Procrastination, Reliability, Scale, Validity, Young

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Cite This Article

Vancouver Style ::

Lodha P, Sharma A, Dsouza G, Marathe I, Dsouza S, Rawal S, et al. General Procrastination Scale: Development of Validity and Reliability. International Journal of Medicine and Public Health. 2019;9(3):74-80.

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In the 70s of the last century, scientists discovered an interesting ailment that affects perfectionists and impressionable people - a tendency to constantly put off important and urgent things. The phenomenon was given the name "procrastination" (procrastination).

In another way, procrastination can be defined as self-sabotage.

Self-sabotage is insidious, it penetrates deeply into every area of ​​our lives. Many of us are prone to negative thinking and related behavior without even realizing it.

By what signs can you realize your wrong behavior and start taking action?

Procrastination is the scourge of modern man. In addition to the fact that a person cannot (and often does not want to) achieve his goals, he also suffers greatly from the “I don’t finish anything” syndrome.

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How to deal with self-sabotage

In contrast to banal laziness (a kind of self-defense of an organism in need of rest), procrastination is painful inaction .

It destroys a person, causing a depressive state: the “culprit” understands that he is doing wrong, but cannot change his behavior in any way.

As a result:

  • anxiety,
  • nervousness and
  • damaged reputation due to constant disruption of plans. nine0004

Person feels guilty , because of this he experiences constant stress, as a result of which his efficiency decreases.

Due to a decrease in productivity, things accumulate, we again violate the deadlines for completing work, again feel guilty - the circle closes.

Procrastination is observed not only in the performance of professional duties, but also in other matters that a person perceives as important: playing sports, saving money, learning foreign languages, etc.

Why do we put off important things “until later”?

Why don't we do what we should do, even if we know it's good for us?

And is it possible to somehow fight this?

Pass the self-sabotage test

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What's next?

Once you have passed the procrastination test, it will be helpful for you to have a consultation to determine your goals and how to achieve those goals. nine0009

We offer a free consultation, so sign up for a preliminary list.

When answering the questions, briefly describe your problems and your goal.

Your application will be included in the preliminary list, and our assistants (or ourselves) will contact you to clarify the date and time of the consultation.

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The test data will help you develop a program that will help you set the right goals and achieve a positive result.

The program includes identifying "what you really want".

In yoga there is a special term for this - sankalpa - a strong intention to change one's life for the better .

Don't think that this is an easy task...

But you have to take the first step sometime!

So take the test and results - write down !

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Nikolai Prokunin - certified yoga therapist, founder and head of the Prokunin School of Yoga Therapy. Nikolai is a master of oriental health practices with over 20 years of experience. Author of the book "Introduction to Yoga Therapy". Nikolai helps those people who have health problems, who are overweight, who are depressed and distrustful of themselves. His methods are based on the individual impact on your constitution. They will help to significantly improve your well-being and feel the joy of life. nine0009

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Procrastination Quiz: What kind of procrastinator are you? coaching-way.com

From time to time, each of us procrastinates (from English procrastination "to put off"; from Latin procrastinatio with the same meaning, goes back to cras "tomorrow" or crastinum "tomorrow" + pro- "for, for the sake of "). How serious this is will help you find out the test for procrastination.

We start the day with the intention of doing one thing, and we put it off until later. Then the next day. And on to next week. nine0009

It's an endless cycle of procrastination: procrastinate -> feel guilty and blame myself -> doubt myself -> feel helpless -> procrastinate. .. To begin with, a few recommendations that you need to learn in order to achieve maximum success in this.

1. Recognize that you will procrastinate

It's hard to change something in your habits if you don't realize that you really need it. That's why in one of the most effective addiction programs, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings start with people saying, "Hi, my name is Tom, I'm an alcoholic." nine0009

Of course, we don't have to go that far, but being aware of our strengths and weaknesses is the first step towards real change.

Signs that you are procrastinating:
  • Your daily to-do list is full of low priority tasks;
  • Read emails several times without making a decision on them;
  • Sit down to start a priority task and almost immediately go to make a cup of coffee;
  • Skip a task on your to-do list for the rest of the day, even if you know it's important to do it early; nine0004
  • Regularly agree to fulfill other people's minor requests instead of attending to your own important tasks;
  • Waiting for "the right mood" or "the right moment" for an important task.

If you answered "Yes" to at least 3 items, you should consider changing.

2. Be willing to change the way you approach tasks

Recognizing that we often procrastinate is a great first step, but until we dare to try new methods, it won't do any good. nine0009

Research data and psychologists' advice can be overwhelming. And if you feel overwhelmed, then the key is to take small steps and only start using the strategies that you think will have the most impact on your bottom line.

It could be a strategy you've never tried before, one you've been putting off, or perhaps one you've never heard of.

3. Identify the reasons for your procrastination

Procrastination is when you put off a task that you should be focusing on right now in favor of something that brings you more pleasure or is more convenient for you to do. It turns out that the task you put off causes you stress or discomfort. Ask yourself 2 questions: Why is this happening? And how can you make this task more enjoyable? nine0009

Still not sure if you need a change? Take the 16-question quiz (below).

Learn more