We human beings have the habit of delaying important work until the last minute. We keep making excuses and fail to justify the adequate reasons behind them. However, psychologists and therapists have a definite term for such situations and habits of the brain. They call it procrastination, and the person enacting it is termed a “procrastinator.”
People often fail to distinguish between procrastination as a habit or a disease. Which brings us to the query what is procrastination?
While experts define procrastination as a self-defeating action, the person in concern starts to delay important tasks for short-term gains but gives up on the bigger picture of success. Most adults procrastinate and lose out on their essential work hours daily. And they do it unknowingly, acting out of habit. However, some, under the influence of clinical issues like depression, ADHD, anxiety, and low self-esteem, start working differently.
This brings us back to square one, questioning the very meaning of procrastination, whether it is a habit or a sign of some disease indicating poor mental health. Carry on with further reading and find out for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- 20% of the global population tends to procrastinate, negatively affecting their lives without understanding.
- Researchers suggest that procrastination starts with an emotional imbalance and a lack of self-control. It has little or no relation to time management.
- Also, it is often found that procrastinators are poor decision-makers. They are always in a dilemma deciding between needs and wants.
- The term “biological procrastination” exists, and people suffering have lesions and other forms of physical disorders in their brains.
- Revenge bedtime procrastination stops people from going to sleep on time. Due to the lack of free time or too much stress throughout the day, this person decides to treat themselves to some leisure activity and delay sleep.
How Do You Know That You Are Procrastinating?
Coming up across some procrastination quotes on Google will not lead you to do so. It is a general behavior in person, and when continued for a noticeable period, it gets named procrastination. So what are those behaviors? Let’s find out.
You Are Always Anxious
Feeling jittery or anxious about a particular task before it starts is normal. However, be careful with the extent of anxiety your mind can handle. The prime sign of procrastination can be thinking of a simple task and getting cold hands and feet for no reason.
Unnecessary Worry And Dissatisfaction Cripple In
You start fearing the unknown, and unnecessary anxiety cripples in. Also, one of the key signs of a procrastinator is that the person often feels incapable and inadequate. Something is wrong when you stop working on a project because you fear criticism from others.
You Resent Your Day Job
The regular task is no more fun. How do you define the same? Well, it’s easy to understand. The gym freak in you starts to find ways to avoid the place. You are finding it hard to wake up in the morning or do the regular dishes at home.
The Blame Game Is Your New Favorite
Another prime sign of procrastination is crippling anger and low acceptance of one’s mistakes. Look for signs like helplessness, boredom, and anger when working in a team. And in case you are picking up fights with your teammates for no reason.
The Perfectionist In You Has No Limits
You are finding it hard to accept the slightest mistake from your end and using it as a reason to postpone the scheduled task. You were always serious about your job, but suddenly, it is about you not making any mistakes. Think twice! Is it the real you, or is procrastination sweeping its way into your mind?
Procrastination: As Per Neurobiology
Procrastination also has relativeness to physical disorders or lesions in the human brain. In the frontal lobe – the bilateral hemisphere in globus pallidus. In the human brain, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is responsible for controlling cognitive processes. Routine functions like planning, judgment, empathy, critical thinking, and attention span are taken care of by the same.
The ability of a person to set goals and achieve the same is all about how mature their brain is and has nothing to do with social conventions. Coming to the main point, dysfunctions in the brain or the PFC part can initiate problems as it is the task of the PFC to decrease the distracting inputs from the other areas of the brain when someone is trying to focus. People who have ADHD have similar syndromes, where their PFC underperforms all the time.
On a clinical note, people detected with underperforming PFC have scientifically legitimate reasons to procrastinate.
How To Deal With Procrastination?
Well, it is not always that the procrastinator is acting purposefully or has negative intentions in mind. It is mostly a phase where the human brain finds it difficult to shred behind its comfort zone and move on with plans for the future.
So here is a complete list of all the points which you can abide by and cross-wire your brain to come out of the specific way of behavior:
- Start by acknowledging your thought processes and daily activities as they are. Measure your energy levels and find out when it is down or at their peak; Mark those timings in a daily calendar for adequate reference.
- Never indulge in self-sabotage or resentment when undergoing a phase of procrastination. It is normal for a human mind to get bored and tired, acting differently.
- If you are feeling stuck or finding it difficult to channel your emotions, seek help from a trusted family member. Also, there are various professionals out there offering necessary support as needed.
- Remember, you must be thoroughly motivated and be there for yourself throughout this entire time. Planning your day shall help! Take baby steps, and focus on your work quality rather than the outcome.
The mind has its way of dealing with stress and related changes in the surrounding. While some act actively, others feel laid down or suffocated in similar situations. However, the show must continue, and we must never abandon the goals and aspirations once planned. It is too easy to fall prey to procrastination, but the winner is the one who knows how to rise and shine.
