Have you ever picked down to finish a significant assignment — and afterward unexpectedly found you were transferring your documents on various online drives of work or fascinated by the YouTube post about what is going on in the existence of your #1 celebrity? Or on the other hand, maybe you unexpectedly understand that the pet should be taken care of, messages should be replied, your roof fan needs cleaning — or perhaps you should feel free to have a brisk snooze, despite the fact that it is just 11:30 a.m.? Before you know it, it is the day’s end, and your significant undertaking stays incomplete.

For some individuals, procrastination is a solid and strange power that holds them back from finishing the most earnest and significant work in their lives with a similar strength as when you attempt to bring like poles of a magnet together. Now and again, everyone leaves important work waiting on their plan for the day for a couple of hours — or days, or weeks — or even excessively long. Procrastinate is a typical, near all-inclusive wonder — which makes it even more essential to comprehend why it strikes and what to do about it.

In this blog we will underline that causes are crucial for developing effective strategies to overcome procrastination.

What is Procrastination? Understanding Its Impact on Workplace Productivity

“Procrastination is not just avoiding or delaying a task,” says David Ballard, head of the American Psychological Association’s Center for Organizational Excellence. “It also has to include an aspect that’s counterproductive, irrational or unnecessary.” Those triggers typically fall into one of four camps: expectancy, value, time or impulsivity, says Alexander Rozental, a procrastination researcher and a clinical psychologist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

In other words, “People procrastinate because of a lack of value [associated with the task]; because they expect that they’re not going to achieve the value they’re trying to achieve; because the value is too far from you in terms of time; or because you’re very impulsive as a person,” Rozental says.

Etymologically, “procrastination” is derived from the Latin verb ‘procrastinare’ — to put off until tomorrow. But it is more than just voluntarily delaying. It is also derived from the ancient Greek word akrasia — doing something against our better judgment. “It’s self-hurt,” said Dr. Wharfs Steel, an educator of persuasive brain research at the University of Calgary and the creator of “The Procrastination Equation:

How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Stuff Done.” That mindfulness is a vital piece of why dawdling causes us to feel so bad. At the point when we delay, we are not just mindful that we are maintaining a strategic distance from the errand being referred to, yet in addition that doing so is most likely an ill-conceived notion. But we do it anyway.

Did you know?

Putting off tasks often provides temporary relief from stress or discomfort, but this relief can reinforce the habit of procrastination, making it a cycle of short-term gain and long-term pain.

How to Overcome Procrastination: Psychological Strategies for Business Success

“This is why we say that Procrastinate is essentially irrational,” said Dr. Fuschia Sirois, Professor of psychology at the University of Sheffield. “It doesn’t make sense to do something you know is going to have negative consequences.”

It is not a unique character flaw or a mysterious curse. It’s a way of coping with challenging emotions and negative moods. These can include boredom, anxiety, insecurity, frustration, resentment, self-doubt, and more.

 

DO YOU KNOW? 

Studies indicate that approximately 20% of adults consistently procrastinate, affecting their productivity and mental well-being.

Dr. Tim Pychyl, a professor at Carleton University, says about managing emotions, not time. Joseph Ferrari, a professor at DePaul University, agrees. He believes that about 20 percent of people struggle with chronic procrastination.

Dr. Pychyl compares helping a chronic procrastinator to telling someone with depression to just be happy. A 2013 study by Dr. Pychyl and Dr. Sirois found that procrastination is about short-term mood relief over long-term goals. It’s about focusing on immediate mood management over task completion, Dr. Sirois explained.

How to Identify and Address Procrastination Among Employees

“Procrastination is not just avoiding or delaying a task,” says David Ballard, head of the American Psychological Association’s Center for Organizational Excellence. “It also has to include an aspect that’s counterproductive, irrational or unnecessary.”

Alexander Rozental, a researcher, says there are four main reasons for procrastinae. These are expectancy, value, time, or impulsivity.

“People procrastinate because of a lack of value [associated with the task]; because they expect that they’re not going to achieve the value they’re trying to achieve; because the value is too far from you in terms of time; or because you’re very impulsive as a person,” Rozental says.

The word “procrastination” comes from the Latin verb ‘procrastinare’ — to put off until tomorrow. It’s more than just delaying tasks. It also comes from the ancient Greek word akrasia — doing something against our better judgment.

“It’s self-hurt,” said Dr. Wharfs Steel, an educator of persuasive brain research at the University of Calgary. He wrote “The Procrastination Equation: How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Stuff Done.” Mindfulness is key to understanding why procrastinate makes us feel bad.

Procrastination is derived from the Latin prefix “pro-“, meaning “ahead,” and “crastinal,” meaning “of tomorrow”.

How Can Procrastination Tips Boost Corporate Efficiency?

Many think procrastination is harmless or even helpful. Some believe they work best under pressure. However, this is not supported by research.

Stanford philosopher John Perry argued that it can be beneficial by focusing on tasks of value. But, many psychologists disagree with this view.

They say that beneficial behaviors like thinking and prioritizing are different from true procrastination is when we fail to make progress on a task.

There are different types of procrastinators, but they all struggle with finishing tasks. Some delay due to the task itself, while others are impulsive and lack self-discipline.

Most people who delay tasks often do so due to fear or a desire for perfection. Yet, some delay because they enjoy the thrill of it. This mix of reasons has led experts to call procrastination a major self-control failure.

Timothy Pychyl from Carleton University explains it as a failure to follow through on what we know we should do. It’s the gap between what we intend to do and what we actually do.

Experts debate why this gap happens. Some say it’s because we can’t manage our time well. Others believe it’s because we struggle with our emotions. Economists tend to think it’s about time management.

Piers Steel proposed a formula for understanding procrastination in 2007. He said that we value fun activities more when we’re feeling good. But as deadlines near, we start to see the importance of hard tasks.

A study by Tice showed that mood plays a big role in procrastination. Students didn’t delay when they thought their mood was fixed. But when they thought their mood could change, especially if it was bad, they waited until the last minute.

Self-control fails when we’re in a bad mood and think we can improve it. Pychyl believes that managing our emotions is key to staying focused. When we enjoy a task, we’re less likely to procrastinate.

Did you know?

Chronic procrastination has been linked to various health problems, including increased stress, depression, and anxiety. The stress of last-minute work and unmet deadlines can exacerbate these conditions over time.

Final Thoughts on Procrastination

Most people learn from their mistakes and change their approach. But for chronic procrastinators, this feedback loop is broken. They don’t learn from their delays.

The emotional aspect of procrastinate is a big part of the problem. Trying to feel good now can stop us from learning how to avoid problems later.

Fuschia Sirois of Bishop’s University says that mood regulation is key to procrastination. If we focus too much on feeling good now, we miss out on learning how to avoid similar problems in the future.

Sirois believes that our future self is burdened by procrastination. We think our future self will handle our current emotions better. But this never happens, and we never develop the coping skills we need..

DO YOU KNOW?

AITD’s training modules incorporate the latest research in behavioral psychology to provide effective, evidence-based strategies for overcoming procrastination.

Our Solutions

How Can AITD Help You Overcome Procrastination?

Procrastination is a large workplace issue that generates stress and less work productivity. Understanding its various types and applying effective strategies can actually aid in better management of tasks. Amity Institute of Training and Development (AITD) provides essential resources and training to counter this issue and enhance work performance.

Reaching Goals with AITD: How to Overcome Procrastination in Business

AITD offers professional training to overcome procrastination. They offer programmes to build core skills. They address:

 

1. 1. Time Management Training: AITD trains employees in proper time management. This includes prioritising, goal setting, and scheduling.
   2. Stress Management Workshops: Stress and anxiety must be kept to a minimum. AITD conducts workshops on mindfulness, meditation, and relaxation.
   3. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Techniques: CBT helps identify and overcome such negative thoughts. Such are the types of thoughts which normally lead to procrastination.
   4. Personalised Coaching: AITD provides personalised coaching. This is done in order to build strategies for overcoming procrastination.

The knowledge of AITD assists organisations in overcoming procrastination. This leads to their achievement of goals.

DO YOU KNOW?

AITD offers bespoke corporate training programs designed to enhance employee productivity and reduce procrastination in the workplace.

Overcoming procrastination is vital in order to be successful. AITD can help organisations in gaining the necessary skills. Effective techniques and professional guidance can re-engineer work styles and boost productivity.

Reference Studies, Related Researches and Case Studies Conducted:

On the Behavioral Side of Procrastination: Exploring Behavioral Delay in Real-Life Settings

Study Habits and Procrastination: The Role of Academic Self-Efficacy

Understanding The Factors Influencing Academic Procrastination: A Comprehensive Review