The word procrastination is derived from “pro” i.e. Latin for in favor of and “castings” i.e. of tomorrow. As a term, it, therefore, refers to avoiding a task till some unstated point in time. One may put off a task due to various reasons like tending to something important, to get more time to plan the activity at hand, or even because they don’t have the resources to complete a task presently. But procrastination is distinct from such occurrences, as it involves actively avoiding a task despite potential negative or unwanted consequences.
Procrastination is also not about poor time management. The essential element is that a person chooses to do something else or even nothing, instead of taking on a pending task, despite having ample time.
Academic procrastination1 is a common phenomenon. In this, a student knows he or she must attend to an academic task that needs completion within a stipulated time limit. And yet, students end up failing to perform the task in the given time period. In fact, studies have shown that academic procrastination is a common element of student life with up to 95% of students claiming to have procrastinated at least some point in their life.
A major part of deciding how much procrastination works and doesn’t is related to its consequences. We all avoid some things we need to get done for various reasons. We lack interest in them, find them boring, want to attend a more fun activity, etc. Such occurrences are pretty harmless and can be managed in the long run. But, consistently indulging in such behavior is not fruitful either. This is because procrastination has been found to be linked to higher stress levels, feelings of shame as well as lowered performance levels.
So why do people procrastinate?
The answer to this, though not exact, can be manifold. Fearing that once a task is done and you will be judged for it, can lead to delaying the task. Some people find themselves doing this out of concern of being considered a failure at a task. In some ways, poor management skills and self-discipline can make a task overwhelming and may lead to putting it off until later. In addition, issues in prioritizing things can also lead to procrastination.
The question that some of us are faced with is how to deal with procrastination as a habit. Like any habit, consistent efforts are required to avoid procrastinating. Some ways to do so include:
