The fashionable term "procrastination" today is called almost any state of apathy and laziness. However, science defines a very specific framework for this psychological phenomenon.
Definition of procrastination
Procrastination is a special condition in which all significant matters are involuntarily postponed until later, which leads to numerous problems. This psychological phenomenon differs from ordinary laziness in that a person in a state of procrastination is aware of the importance of completing tasks, but cannot overpower himself to complete them.
Almost every person was in a state of procrastination. Often, postponement episodes are the result of severe overwork, lack of sleep, or emotional breakdown. In such cases, episodic procrastination is "cured" by a simple restoration of a normal lifestyle: additional time for rest, sleep and relaxing leisure.
The danger lies in cases where procrastination becomes an everyday state and affects career and personal life. Wherein. procrastinator (a person who is in a state of procrastination) can for a long time hide the symptoms of the disease. For example, being under the influence of a total unwillingness to do something, the procrastinator postpones all things for later. However, as a result, it still fulfills them, but only at the last minute. Obviously, such work is often of poor quality and non-compliance with deadlines. In turn, the procrastinator himself from the outside may seem much less gifted, talented, or professional than he really is.
Causes of Procrastination
Despite the fact that in modern science the phenomenon of procrastination has not been studied much, there is a common classification of the causes of this phenomenon:
- low self-esteem;
- The pursuit of excellence;
- fear of success;
- rebellious spirit.
The most common cause of procrastination is considered to be low self-esteem. Guided by fear of not coping with the task, a person falls into a state of procrastination, putting off the frightening front of work for the longest possible time perspective. As a result, internal fears become the reason for the lack of results and the failure of the task.
The pursuit of excellence is also an occasion to fall into inaction. In such cases, the procrastinator stops the imperfection of the task or the unwillingness to do everything in the best possible way.
Fear of success can also cause procrastination. Moreover, in this case, a person will be afraid to become higher than colleagues, become the object of close attention of others or direct criticism of ill-wishers.
Least of all, procrastination occurs in the form of a person's protest before the tasks set. A critical option is the rejection of everything that concerns the so-called “system”, under which, in the eyes of the procrastinator, the whole outside world with its foundations and traditions falls.
Procrastination Control Techniques
Despite the fact that procrastination is a psychological ailment, almost all existing methods of dealing with it are tied to strengthening motivation. If a person begins to see the goal, it becomes easier for him to find the strength in himself to solve specific problems.
Psychologists also recommend regularly consolidating the achieved results with the help of small rewards: relaxation, pleasant leisure or just praise addressed to ourselves.
Much depends on planning. So, most often procrastination occurs in those people whose work is a clear cycle, where it is impossible to move on to the next task without completing the previous one. Psychologists recommend changing the methodology so that it is possible to simultaneously carry out several work on different tasks.