Procrastination or the art of pushing back to tomorrow what we could do today.
While some have made it a lifestyle, others on the contrary do everything not to fall into the vicious circle of procrastination.

The mechanism of procrastination:

This is a universal phenomenon that can be translated by voluntarily delaying the planned tasks that are important and this despite the consequences that may result.
Of course, reorganizing your schedule to allow more room for an important task is not necessarily procrastination.
Procrastination usually occurs for tasks deemed unpleasant, where the reward is sometimes non-existent or hardly perceptible.
This mechanism is proven by science and it results in a real conflict between what the person must do and what they actually do.

And do not think that procrastination only affects a few people.
One study showed that about 20% of the population would practice chronic procrastination.
Students are the champions of procrastination because they are between 80 and 90% to procrastinate at least an hour a day.

Procrastination, the consequences:

The consequences of procrastination are numerous and are not limited to the fact that tasks are postponed.
Indeed, procrastination is a failure of self-regulation and this is not inconsequential because it leads straight to the reduction of general well-being.
In a person who procrastinates, the levels of stress, anxiety and depression are higher.
In the case of extreme and persistent procrastination, the state of physical and mental health becomes very bad.

How to fight against procrastination?

Time and its notion play a fundamental role in procrastination. What is problematic is the often erroneous estimate of the time required to complete the task.
One can see an excess of optimism or the policy of ostrich, but in both cases, the person is struggling to confront the reality and its delay.
It is also important to know what is urgent and what is not. In other words, we prefer to tackle an easier task than the more important task with the pretext "I absolutely have to do it, it can not wait".
Finally, it is useless, even counterproductive, to say one day, I will stop procrastinating.
It is necessary to establish an action plan, analyze one's own behavior and set realistic goals.

A simple method is to establish your properties based on two factors:

  • the degree of urgency and usefulness of the task at hand
  • level of difficulty and difficulty.

By prioritizing the urgency and usefulness of the task, it will increase your motivation and confidence.
Choose the actions that you have been putting off for too long and if there are several, choose those that should require the least effort and time.