Why Do We Procrastinate?

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Not all of us are chronic procrastinators, but we all procrastinate sometimes. But have you ever thought about why you procrastinate? Can you immediately identify certain kinds of tasks you are very likely to put off?  How about tasks you almost never put off?

Hmm.

If you’ve never thought about it, take a moment to jot down the kinds of tasks you are most likely to procrastinate. Next, determine which of the reasons below underlies why you don’t want to perform each task.

6 Reasons We Procrastinate

1. We don’t know where to begin. The task seems so big or complicated that we can’t possibly tackle it, so why bother starting? This applies to everything from starting that catering business you’ve always dreamed of to decluttering the kitchen.
2. We are overwhelmed. By too much information. By stress. Because our schedule is overbooked and we are plain old too busy to get it all done. When our brains are maxed out with busyness or worries, putting things off seems like a survival tactic. I am particularly susceptible to internet information overload. Every time I’ve tried a group with daily lessons/exercises/podcasts I find myself feeling pressured and respond by avoiding the group altogether after a few days. Sound familiar?
3. We are afraid of the results. Perhaps we are afraid doing the task will make us look bad, because we don’t think we’re good enough at it, or because we’re afraid we’ll either make mistakes or fail to achieve it. On the other hand, perhaps we are afraid that achieving the task will make us look too good, and we’ll be “rewarded” with more difficult tasks.
4. We think it will be too exhausting. We are afraid to start because we know this task will require a lot from us: time, physical energy, emotional energy, money, willpower. It’s not that we don’t want to do it, (honestly, we’re excited about it) but we find getting started intimidating because we think the cost will be high.
5. We simply have no desire to do the task. The plain and simple truth is the task does not excite us. Perhaps we hate the very idea of it. (Does anyone enjoy scrubbing toilets?) There might be several reasons we dread a task, including:
   1. We find the task boring. Housecleaning, anyone?
   2. We associate the task with something distasteful. Paying bills? A chore you did as punishment as a kid?
   3. It is way outside our comfort zone. For example, I hate making phone calls. (It’s an introvert thing.) Therefore I always procrastinate when making appointments, or doing any task that requires calling someone on the phone.
6. We don’t feel like it right now. Sometimes procrastination is all about motivation. Or rather, lack of motivation. We’re beat. In a bad mood. Whatever. We know we’re supposed to just do it, but right now we’d rather just sit and veg. But it’s OK, because we’ll feel like it tomorrow, right?

Do any—or all—of those reasons resonate with you? Can you see how identifying why you put something off might help you fight the tendency?

For example, if your problem is #1, a simple solution is to break the task into smaller, manageable chunks.

Read this post for more tips on beating procrastination.