Procrastination is the act of delaying or putting off tasks until the last minute, or past their deadline. Some define procrastination as a "form of self-regulation failure characterized by the irrational delay of tasks despite potentially negative consequences.
The word derives from the Latin procrastinare — which simply means to put off until tomorrow. Other languages also offer similar wet blanket phrases like the infamous “mañana” in Spanish or “bukra” in Arabic. But it means more than just delaying tactics or dithering.
We believe that – contrary to popular belief - procrastination is an emotion regulation problem, not a time management issue or a character flaw. Notorious procrastination is, for most people, a way of coping with challenging emotions and negative moods associated with the task that weighs down on our shoulders: anxiety, insecurity, frustration or self-doubt.
There are some quick fixes including:
- Set small goals
- Organise your tasks
- Focus your attention
- Remove distractions
- Surround yourself with reminders and inspiration
This all sounds good and well – but how can you start implementing them? This is where psychologists can help.