Understanding the Psychology of Procrastination
According to Princeton University Research, procrastination does not entail the common sense of “laziness” or “poor skills” but rather more constructive psychological concepts. The idea of procrastination lies within an individual being held up to high expectations and evaluations. It seems typical to put off work with the unnerving thought of doing poorly when you are being evaluated so heavily. This effectively leads to procrastination, thus the “not having enough time” quota. With this in mind, procrastination is said to be a ‘self-projection strategy’ typically for students that do not intend to undermine their potential but to develop the idea of “not having enough time” to support how their ability is not threatened. However, with the other common conceptions, procrastination is rooted in anxiety and fear of failure. Many of those who procrastinate simply procrastinate to avoid their abilities being judged.
Conquering Procrastination
In the process of overcoming procrastination, a significant factor is initiating awareness in yourself. Recognizing your habit(s) enhances your ability to make changes for yourself. In reference to The Pull of Procrastination, the statistic exemplifies a survey concluding that about 95 percent of people admit to engaging in procrastination, “at least some of the time.” It is near if not impossible to discard procrastination altogether. However, learning to manage this area of your life helps set the ground for a more stable approach to setting and reaching goals.
Based on John Hopkins University Research, the trait of obtaining accountability is a highly encouraged ambition to enact. This can be as simple as identifying a widely recognized strategy, known as a “To-Do List.” Setting specific, straightforward, not to mention, realistic goals enables an individual to further accomplish these goals when they are manageable. In addition, the research provided by JHU suggests changing your internal dialogue. The minds of procrastinators often find themselves in a ‘forceful’ mindset to finish something. Instead, encourage yourself by implementing statements that influence your effort to complete rather than a rush to complete.
At the end of the day, it is important to recognize faults and not beat yourself up. Procrastination, unfortunately, cannot be conquered in one day. However, consistently keeping up with a simplistic routine stimulates you to find a rhythm in your dedication.
