There are many myths around procrastination. Until recently, the tendency to “procrastinate” was treated with a pinch of salt, but now it is starting to be classified as a disease of civilization. Does postponing tasks until “later” really have deeper reasons, or is it just a symptom of mere laziness?
Why do we postpone tasks for “later”?
Bad childhood experiences
Research shows that children who grow up alongside authoritarian parents are more likely to procrastinate in adulthood. Postponing things for the “later” is a passively-aggressive way to rebel; the procrastinator manifests its independence and sends a message saying that it does not agree to any attempts of external control.
Time perception problems
The longer the task completion date, the greater the certainty that we will not give up work within the specified time. Having two months at our disposal, we often postpone tasks to the last minute, hoping that we will not exceed the deadline. Many procrastinators have a hard time defining the time allowed to complete tasks. If the deadline for completion falls on the next month or year, mobilization is very difficult – after all, there is too much time and it is not worth rushing.
Stres
The stress of not fulfilling our obligations has a negative impact on the effectiveness of our work. Many people, feeling the pressure of the approaching deadline, are unable to complete the task and give it up. It is difficult to break this vicious circle – the longer we postpone the implementation of an action, the more stressed we are, and at the same time we lose the motivation to do anything, fearing that we will not perform our duties anyway.
Tendencies to limit behaviors
Borderline behavior is typical of procrastinators. Fast results versus huge effort? Most of us would like to see the positive effects of the actions taken after a short while. Unfortunately, working on yourself is a long process and requires determination.
No reflection on the future
The connection with the “future self” is a very important element of personality and character building. If we do not reflect on our future and do not feel the need to plan, we will not be able to understand why the implementation of current tasks is so important.
Treatment of procrastination
Some believe that procrastination is the product of mere laziness, while others see deeper causes of this state of affairs. The increasing pace of life, excessive workload and ubiquitous stress contribute to the development of personality disorders and mental diseases. Procrastination may or may not be a symptom of depression, social anxiety disorder, dysthymia, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In this case, drug treatment is indicated.
If this tendency is not a comorbid symptom, the only effective treatment is behavioral therapy preceded by a psychological test. The therapy of pathological procrastination is based on the gradual overcoming of difficulties, e.g. by breaking down specific tasks to be performed into prime factors. With the individual stages of work in mind, we can say which of them are the most problematic and the most troublesome. “Rewarding” is an effective method of fighting discouragement. In order to work more effectively, let us relax for a moment – after 15-20 minutes of learning, let’s reward ourselves with a little pleasure, and then return to the task.