{"id":1206,"date":"2018-11-23T14:35:00","date_gmt":"2018-11-23T12:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/?p=1206"},"modified":"2023-05-04T02:00:00","modified_gmt":"2023-05-04T00:00:00","slug":"procrastination-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/productivity\/procrastination-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Procrastination Guide: Why It Happens and How to Overcome It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>According to a survey conducted by a productivity author, Darius Foroux, <a href=\"https:\/\/dariusforoux.com\/procrastination-study\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">88% of workers confirmed that they procrastinate for at least 1 hour a day<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you also tend to procrastinate \u2014 don\u2019t beat yourself up \u2014 it happens to the best of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So how do you stop procrastinating? Can delaying tasks become a huge problem for you? And more importantly, when is procrastination actually good for you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These are just some of the questions we\u2019ll answer in the text below.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll also cover:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What procrastination is and why people procrastinate,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The negative effects of procrastination,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The steps to stop delaying tasks,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expert tips and strategies to overcome procrastination, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Some procrastination examples and real-life experiences.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>So let\u2019s dive right in.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Procrastination-guide-cover.jpg\" alt=\"Procrastination guide - cover\" class=\"wp-image-18659\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Procrastination-guide-cover.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Procrastination-guide-cover-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Procrastination-guide-cover-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Procrastination-guide-cover-18x9.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-is-procrastination\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is procrastination?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As Piers Steel, a leading expert on the science of motivation, defines it in his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/6598646_The_nature_of_procrastination_a_meta-analytic_and_theoretical_review_of_quintessential_self-regulatory_failure_Psychol_Bull_133_65-94\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">paper on the nature of procrastination<\/a>, procrastination is the voluntary postponement of an unpleasant task, often against one\u2019s better judgment.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, <a href=\"https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/record\/2007-01726-002?doi=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wadkins and Schraw<\/a> (2007) further claim that procrastination happens when we work on trivial tasks instead of urgent ones or perform activities we enjoy rather than activities that we should or would like to complete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you might have guessed, procrastination is closely related to <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/managing-time\/time-management-problems\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">poor time management skills<\/a>. Luckily, there are steps you can take and strategies you can use to deal with procrastination.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.clockify.me\/en\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Manage your work hours better<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But first, let\u2019s see what types of procrastination exist before moving on to its main causes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"the-2-types-of-procrastination\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 2 types of procrastination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While the essence of the concept is always the same, not all procrastinators procrastinate to the same degree.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the frequency of occurrence, we can differentiate between:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Chronic procrastination<\/strong> \u2014 people who have constant problems tackling or finishing tasks on time, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Situational procrastination<\/strong> \u2014 people who delay work only on specific tasks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, one type of procrastinators seems to be more common than the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to research on <a href=\"https:\/\/misuse.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/error\/abuse.shtml?orig_args=\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6039828\/&amp;orig_host=www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">adult procrastination<\/a>, 20-25% of adults procrastinate chronically.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And the explanation for why there are so many chronic procrastinators could be that it\u2019s only natural to want to enjoy the present moment instead of thinking about the future version of ourselves. As a result, people tend to deliberately postpone their tasks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Like any other type of behavior, after a while, postponing tasks becomes a habit, and if the period in question is prolonged, it becomes a routine, which adds the \u201cchronic\u201d part to it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As not all people procrastinate to the same degree, there are also different <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/managing-time\/productivity-based-on-personality-type\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">personality types<\/a> who experience procrastination in different ways.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maybe you\u2019ll recognize some of your own characteristics among these procrastination styles, so let\u2019s see them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"the-6-procrastination-styles\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 6 procrastination styles<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In their book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/en\/book\/show\/635910\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>It&#8217;s About Time!: The Six Styles of Procrastination and How to Overcome Them<\/em><\/a>, psychologists Linda Sapadin and Jack Maguire talk about 6 different ways a person can procrastinate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Sapadin also explains that one person can demonstrate multiple styles of procrastination depending on what drives them to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 6 procrastination styles are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Perfectionist<\/strong> \u2014 this person delays a task because they fear they won\u2019t be able to do it perfectly. Perfectionists often set unrealistic standards for themselves and thus get overwhelmed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dreamer<\/strong> \u2014 this person likes fantasizing about completing tasks more than actually doing them. Dreamers end up having big plans but doing little about them because they get lost in their thoughts rather than taking specific steps.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Worrier<\/strong> \u2014 this person has a fear of the unknown, so the easiest way for them to \u201cdeal\u201d with this fear is not do anything or delay doing something as much as they can. Worriers lack decisiveness, so they get anxious easily.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Defier<\/strong> \u2014 this person doesn\u2019t like doing things that are expected of them to do. By delaying tasks, defiers silently express their rebellious side.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Crisis-maker<\/strong> \u2014 the crisis-maker has difficulty doing mundane tasks, so they deliberately finish the task at the last minute to make it more exciting. Consequently, working under pressure eventually makes them stressed and lowers their performance quality.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Overdoer<\/strong> \u2014 this person has a need to prove themselves to others, so they take on a lot more work than they can handle and end up being confused about their priorities. Overdoers can\u2019t <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/managing-time\/how-to-say-no-at-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">say \u201cNo\u201d<\/a> to people, so they neglect their own tasks.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that we\u2019ve covered the meaning of procrastination and its various types and styles, let\u2019s see the main reasons behind it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"why-do-people-procrastinate\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why do people procrastinate?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Low-self efficacy<\/strong> is <a href=\"https:\/\/misuse.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/error\/abuse.shtml?orig_args=\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4359724\/&amp;orig_host=www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the underlying cause behind procrastination<\/a>. When we don\u2019t believe in our ability to finish something, we develop low self-esteem, which prompts us to procrastinate on the said task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Still, procrastination is not a problem related to the modern age \u2014 even though nowadays, technology and the Internet have enabled people to be more entertained while procrastinating.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, there\u2019s evidence that this tendency to postpone our tasks dates back to the beginning of civilization.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some examples throughout distant history:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The translation of hieroglyphs from Ancient Egypt, dating back to 1400 B.C. reads: <em>\u201cFriend, stop putting off work and allow us to go home in good time.\u201d<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fast forward to 800 B.C. when Greek poet Hesioid wrote a poem <a href=\"https:\/\/people.sc.fsu.edu\/~dduke\/lectures\/hesiod1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Works and Days<\/em><\/a>, he said not to <em>\u201c\u2026put your work off \u2018till tomorrow and the day after, for a sluggish worker does not fill his barn, nor one who puts off his work.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cicero also spoke about procrastination in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.perseus.tufts.edu\/hopper\/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.02.0021%3Aspeech%3D6%3Asection%3D7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">his famous orations<\/a> against Marcus Aurelius, estimated around 44 B.C., claiming that <em>\u201cslowness and procrastination are hateful.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on these examples, we can conclude that procrastination is (and has always been) a common behavioral tendency among people \u2014 regardless of their heritage, culture, and nationality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, there are some distinctions on a more individual level \u2014 actually related to personality traits.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-personality-traits-affect-procrastination\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How personality traits affect procrastination<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>On a scientific basis, the reason why people procrastinate can be found in an individual\u2019s personality traits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a previously mentioned research paper on the nature of procrastination, Steel investigated some patterns relevant among procrastinators and connected to the OCEAN \u2014 or the Big 5 defining personality traits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>O<\/strong>penness to experience,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>C<\/strong>onscientiousness,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>E<\/strong>xtroversion,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>A<\/strong>greeableness, and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>N<\/strong>euroticism.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The results of the study show the personality traits connected to procrastination:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Low conscientiousness<\/strong> \u2014 there\u2019s a high correlation between <em>the lack of conscientiousness<\/em> and <em>the tendency to procrastinate<\/em>. It only makes sense, as conscientiousness implies diligence and the desire to do one\u2019s work well and on time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Low agreeableness<\/strong> \u2014 there\u2019s a high correlation between <em>the lack of agreeableness<\/em> and <em>the tendency to procrastinate<\/em>. Interestingly, disagreeableness is connected to traits associated with rebellion, so this group tends to procrastinate because it\u2019s hard to agree with externally imposed schedules. Moreover, the delay makes them feel like they\u2019ve reasserted autonomy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Low extroversion<\/strong> \u2014 there\u2019s a certain correlation between <em>the lack of extroversion<\/em> and <em>the<\/em> <em>tendency to procrastinate<\/em> but to a much smaller extent. The reasoning is quite simple \u2014 introversion can indicate lower engagement and energy levels.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High neuroticism<\/strong> \u2014 there\u2019s a moderate correlation between <em>neuroticism<\/em> and <em>the tendency to procrastinate<\/em>, explained by the factor of impulsiveness.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>In the end, <strong>no correlation<\/strong> was found between <em>openness to experience<\/em> and <em>the<\/em> <em>tendency to procrastinate<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"the-8-most-common-reasons-why-people-procrastinate\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 8 most common reasons why people procrastinate&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>So, it turns out that many people procrastinate. But why does that happen <em>in most cases<\/em>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are the most common reasons behind your desire to postpone or delay an activity:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Prioritization of short-term mood<\/strong> \u2014 people put off an unpleasant activity because they prefer to feel good temporarily, even at the cost of feeling much worse later on.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fear of failure and criticism<\/strong> \u2014 thinking about being criticized makes people delay submitting their task or even getting started with it because they want to avoid potential negative results.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fear of success<\/strong> \u2014 it may sound strange, but some people feel like success will mainly bring them more pressure, so they procrastinate and self-sabotage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lack of connection with the future self<\/strong> \u2014 being unable to connect emotionally with the future version of ourselves makes us prone to making bad decisions in the present, not thinking much about the consequences we\u2019ll encounter.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Low self-esteem and motivation<\/strong> \u2014 not having faith in our abilities to complete a task can be demotivating and thus cause procrastination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Depression and lack of energy<\/strong> \u2014 people who are depressed often feel exhausted and anxious, which makes them want to escape from any difficulties that dealing with tasks may bring.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Undefined goals and lack of prioritization<\/strong> \u2014 being unable to <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/managing-tasks\/reprioritizing-tasks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">prioritize<\/a> your tasks and clearly define your goals quickly leads to procrastination.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Perfectionism<\/strong> \u2014 not being able to accept anything less than perfection also triggers procrastination. People delay submitting their work for fear of it not being good enough.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-are-the-negative-effects-of-procrastination\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are the negative effects of procrastination?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Missing opportunities due to procrastination is a common practice for people around the world. Apart from making you run behind your deadlines, procrastination can also bring physical and mental health problems, as well as a poorer overall performance at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, note that procrastination in personal life is perhaps even a bigger problem than at work \u2014 as <strong>the only supervisor is the same person as the procrastinator, i.e., you<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"procrastination-causes-physical-health-problems\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Procrastination causes physical health problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the research on the <a href=\"https:\/\/misuse.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/error\/abuse.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">link between procrastination and heart problems<\/a> by Dr. Fuschia Sirois from Bishop\u2019s University, people who suffer from either hypertension or cardiovascular disease are more likely to procrastinate on their tasks (including going to the doctor on time and taking their health seriously).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the purpose of research, Sirois surveyed a group of individuals with a medical diagnosis of either hypertension or cardiovascular disease and a group of healthy individuals.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a survey she conducted, she analyzed participants\u2019 procrastination habits and traits, and how they cope with stress. It turned out that people with either hypertension or cardiovascular disease were more prone to behaviors that indicated procrastination, such as postponing tasks, self-blame, and similar, than healthy people.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dr. Sirois also explained that people who procrastinate are likely to ignore health-related behaviors like:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Going to a medical check-up,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Getting regular exercise, and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Having a good quality sleep.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Although procrastination may not directly cause hypertension or cardiovascular disease, it may indirectly affect one\u2019s health as procrastinators usually stress more and put off going to a doctor until the consequences of poor health are harder to manage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"procrastination-causes-mental-health-problems\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Procrastination causes mental health problems<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Perfectionism leads to procrastination, and procrastination leads to <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/managing-time\/time-anxiety\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">time anxiety<\/a> \u2014 i.e. the feeling that you\u2019re always wasting your time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/358226934_IMPACT_OF_STRESS_AND_ANXIETY_ON_PROCRASTINATION_AMONG_ADULTS_A_CORRELATIONAL_STUDY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">procrastination psychology<\/a>, time anxiety and stress are some of the worst consequences of procrastination. When you have a close deadline looming over you, <strong>you\u2019ll feel anxious and stressed<\/strong> because you may not be done on time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Perhaps in an effort to excuse your tardiness, you may work on making the assignment perfect and fall into a vicious circle, as perfectionism will likely hinder your ability to finish the assignment in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And, because nothing is ever perfect, you\u2019ll feel anxious and stressed \u2014 which may ultimately lead you to depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What\u2019s worse, you still won\u2019t be satisfied with your assignments and likely won\u2019t hand them in, anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"procrastination-causes-poorer-work-performance\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Procrastination causes poorer work performance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from various health problems, procrastination at work may bring you poorer performance \u2014 at least according to scientific studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.researchgate.net\/publication\/240286119_Longitudinal_Study_of_Procrastination_Performance_Stress_and_Health_The_Costs_and_Benefits_of_Dawdling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tice and Baumeister<\/a>, leaving your work for the last minute results in low-quality performance, as well as your diminished welfare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the topic of academic procrastination, <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1111\/1467-9280.00441\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ariely and Wertenbroch<\/a> add that students who are prone to bouts of procrastination tend to get lower grades than their peers who start working on their assignments on time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"procrastination-causes-people-to-make-poor-decisions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Procrastination causes people to make poor decisions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Another terribly damaging effect of procrastination is \u2014 <strong>making poor decisions<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our decisions are connected to our emotions, and procrastination can boost only the negative ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you sometimes feel like you have difficulty managing your emotions at work and don\u2019t know what to do about it, our blog post on the subject has some tips for you:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/productivity\/managing-emotions-at-work\/\" target=\"_blank\">Managing emotions at work: What you need to know<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, the very fact that you <a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s11166-017-9252-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rush into decisions<\/a> instead of taking your sweet time to properly think them through changes the criteria on which you base them. This is especially important for making financial decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To sum up, if you tend to procrastinate often, it\u2019s most likely that you aren\u2019t making the right moves and are limiting your growth as a person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"procrastination-can-have-a-bad-impact-on-other-people\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Procrastination can have a bad impact on other people<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Being a procrastinator doesn\u2019t only affect your life and habits. Quite the contrary, procrastination has <strong>a direct impact on the people surrounding you<\/strong> \u2014 your family, friends, and coworkers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ll give you an example of it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s say you and your colleague are preparing a presentation for an important meeting. Your colleague completed their part of the task, but you delayed the completion of your part and ended up coming unprepared. As a result, your procrastination did not only affect your own performance but also your colleague\u2019s reputation at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, understanding the possibility of negative consequences on other people may additionally motivate you to deal with procrastination at work and in your personal life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"procrastination-can-have-a-bad-impact-on-your-work\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Procrastination can have a bad impact on your work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When a person procrastinates at work, their habit can negatively affect a whole team, and sometimes even the entire company. Missing your deadlines can create a delay in other people\u2019s work, which is especially frustrating for those who complete their tasks on time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Procrastination at work can thus severely damage a person\u2019s reputation, but that\u2019s not the only negative consequence of postponing tasks. Procrastinators risk being perceived as slackers and untrustworthy, which may lead other team members to avoid working with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, rushing to finish the task because you overestimated your capabilities significantly <strong>increases the margin of error<\/strong>. An unintentional mistake can thus <strong>reduce the quality of the end result<\/strong>, damaging not only your own reputation but that of the company as a whole.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.clockify.me\/en\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Track productivity with Clockify<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An extreme example of this is a client leaving the company because an employee\u2019s procrastination slowed down the entire team. The procrastinator submitted their part late, which made everyone else late as a consequence, and the client found the company unreliable and unprofessional to cooperate with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"procrastination-can-have-a-bad-impact-on-your-personal-life\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Procrastination can have a bad impact on your personal life<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As in the workplace, procrastination in your personal life makes others perceive you as unreliable and untrustworthy.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You don\u2019t want to be <em>THAT<\/em> person \u2014 a procrastinator who is always late for family gatherings and important events. Tension can build up, and it can negatively affect your interpersonal relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another thing we\u2019ve mentioned is that procrastination can lead to making poor decisions, which can also lead to damaging relationships with family members, friends, and a partner.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Chronic procrastinators are also more likely to continually postpone important conversations, which can be a significant source of stress for their partner. Such a slow-burning crisis is extremely dangerous in the long run, as the issue can only grow over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And it\u2019s not only about serious talk \u2014 small issues such as constantly delaying your household chores can also lead to a huge problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, procrastination will make other people think they can\u2019t rely on you.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that we\u2019ve discussed some of the negative effects of procrastination let\u2019s see the best ways to stop procrastination (+ additional tips).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"how-do-i-stop-procrastinating\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How do I stop procrastinating?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019re on the right track of understanding why you procrastinate, you can start getting over procrastination. But overcoming procrastination doesn\u2019t happen overnight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Think of it more as a journey or developing a habit. Therefore, your approach to it should focus on one step at a time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s how you can overcome procrastination by following the 6 essential steps we\u2019ve listed below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"step-1-develop-a-structure-and-work-on-your-accountability\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step #1: Develop a structure and work on your accountability<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Micromanagement is often seen as detrimental, especially at the office \u2014 but its polar opposite in the form of a lack of structure, direction, and supervision leads people directly to procrastination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This doesn\u2019t mean that all people who stop working as soon as there is no supervisor at sight are slackers by definition. It&#8217;s just that a certain level of supervision and order goes a long way in encouraging people to be responsible and accountable with their work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Otherwise, people might fall into the well-known temptations brought to them by intriguing Facebook posts, funny Twitter tweets, and endless YouTube videos of cute puppies falling asleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For this reason, understanding how you allocate your time to different tasks and activities is the first step in developing structure. There\u2019s no doubt that time tracking software is the easiest way to gain that insight.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Clockify-time-tracker.png\" alt=\"Clockify time tracker\" class=\"wp-image-18670\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Clockify-time-tracker.png 1200w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Clockify-time-tracker-300x195.png 300w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Clockify-time-tracker-969x630.png 969w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Clockify-time-tracker-768x499.png 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Clockify-time-tracker-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">In Clockify, you can track your time and tasks\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>A time tracker, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Clockify<\/a> by <a href=\"https:\/\/cake.com\/\">CAKE.com<\/a>, can be your stepping stone in overcoming procrastination since it can help you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Streamline the order of your tasks,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Limit your distractions,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reflect on your behavior and habits, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work on improving your structure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"banner banner-dark clockify-gradient-landing-3\">\n    <div class=\"banner-text lg:pr-[6rem]\">\n        <span class=\"h4 text-lg translation-block mb-0\">Free time tracker<\/span>\n        <p class=\"translation-block mt-1 mb-3\">Time tracking software used by millions. Clockify is a time tracker and timesheet app that lets you track work hours across projects.<\/p>\n\n        <div class=\"banner-buttons d-flex gap-4 align-items-center translation-block justify-content-center justify-content-sm-start\">\n            <a class=\"bg-white rounded px-3 py-1 text-gray-dark\" href=\"https:\/\/app.clockify.me\/en\/signup\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up<\/a>\n\n                            <a class=\"button-2\" href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/apps\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <div class=\"banner-image banner-image-bottom \">\n        <picture>\n            <source srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/clockify\/landing-3@2x.png 2x\" alt=\"Illustration\"  media=\"(min-width: 1022px)\" \/>\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/cake-blog\/theme\/images\/banners\/clockify\/landing-3.png\"  alt=\"Illustration\" \/>\n        <\/picture>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n    \n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"additional-tips-for-improving-accountability\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional tips for improving accountability<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/rwe\/10.1007\/978-0-387-79061-9_1324?error=cookies_not_supported&amp;code=f0486d53-7716-44bd-8327-76b6cff10640\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the Hawthorne effect<\/a>, people who know they are being supervised are more accountable with their work \u2014 and, we can conclude, less likely to procrastinate at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, in order to avoid supervision turning into micromanagement, the best practice is to find the golden mean between the two extremes. If you are a supervisor, settle for providing some light guidance and advice, as well as clear instructions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>People get the necessary context for their work when they are aware of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What is expected of them,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What their deadlines are,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What skills they need to tackle a task,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What rewards they\u2019ll get for successful completion, and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The consequences of potential failure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Eventually, this information helps them make schedules, push forward, and stop procrastinating at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, if you are the procrastinator in question, find an accountability buddy. The very presence of another person will help you be more accountable and responsible and, naturally, less likely to procrastinate at work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"step-2-do-not-try-avoiding-unpleasant-tasks\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step #2: Do not try avoiding unpleasant tasks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, a problem or task can be difficult and with seemingly no optimal solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Other times, a task can be so lengthy and complicated that it threatens to take up most of our time. In any case, when we are faced with an unpleasant, lengthy or difficult task we don\u2019t really want to do \u2014 we usually take our time before doing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Luckily, there are ways around this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a task is not only unpleasant but also unnecessary, feel free to eliminate it \u2014 you can do this for all tasks that aren\u2019t urgent or important. Simply go over your to-do list every day, and find tasks you can eliminate, cut back on, or minimize.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"additional-tips-for-tackling-unpleasant-tasks\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional tips for tackling unpleasant tasks<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In case reducing your to-do list does not help, keep in mind the following solutions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If an unpleasant task is somewhat important and urgent, you\u2019re advised to keep it on the agenda, but try to delegate it. This can be a string of personalized emails you can ask a colleague to go through and reply to, or a sink full of dishes you can ask a family member to wash as a favor you\u2019ll return later.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you find a task unpleasant because it will take a lot of time to finish, call your friends or colleagues for help. For example, if you simply must clean up your basement (in order to avoid a rat or similar infestation in the future), ask for a favor from your friends. You\u2019ll finish faster and likely find a number of fun artifacts hidden in corners you can all laugh over. In the end, to reward your friends for their help, order a couple of pizzas and set up a movie night with drinks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If a task is almost excruciatingly unpleasant but unavoidable, try finishing it within a short time period to get it over and done with as quickly as possible. For example, if you have to write a short but detailed report, select a day when you\u2019ll tackle it, and simply power through it. You\u2019ll finish faster and feel the weight from your shoulders lifted almost in an instant.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"step-3-stop-seeing-a-deadline-as-a-distant-future\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step #3: Stop seeing a deadline as a distant future<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It seems that the more time you have to finish an assignment, the more you\u2019ll feel at ease procrastinating on it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reason this type of procrastination happens is closely related to a phenomenon called <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/managing-time\/present-bias\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>present bias<\/strong><\/a>. This phenomenon stems from the hot-cold empathy gap, proposing that <strong>our future selves usually seem so distant that we feel detached from them<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Or, as everyone\u2019s favorite cartoon dad Homer Simpson would say:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-background\" style=\"background-color:#e5f6fe\"><em>\u201cThat\u2019s a problem for future Homer! Man, I don\u2019t envy that guy!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let us provide an example of present bias \u2014 you have 2 months to finish a 15-page detailed research proposal, so you lay back, relax, and put off doing any real work on it. And sooner than you know it, it\u2019s 3 days before the deadline and you\u2019ve barely put together an outline. Ultimately, you understand what\u2019s at stake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, viewing a deadline as a distant future is sometimes a reason we procrastinate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, we find it hard to understand just how stressed, tense, or under pressure we\u2019ll feel when a future, distant deadline closes in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, the distant future tends to creep up on you as you realize that <strong>the future always turns into the present<\/strong> and that you haven\u2019t really done anything you were supposed to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip:<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you tend to adjust your pace to the workload and the amount of time you have to finish it, read our blog post about Parkinson\u2019s law and learn how you can fix that issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/managing-time\/parkinsons-law\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Parkinson\u2019s law: why you waste time and how to avoid it<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"additional-tips-for-overcoming-present-bias\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional tips for overcoming present bias<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>To make future goals seem more immediate and closer to your \u201cpresent\u201d self, start creating a step-by-step vision of how you plan to achieve your goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, to overcome present bias and enjoy the future as well, you should think about your schedule in advance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can start by practicing short-term planning and then move to creating long-term schedules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The consequences of situational procrastination usually aren\u2019t too damaging, but there\u2019s another issue related to it \u2014 doing something (procrastinating) occasionally can lead to developing a habit. So you better watch out and try to avoid procrastinating at all costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1Clockify Pro Tip:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;If you\u2019re not sure what the difference between long-term and short-term planning is, the answer lies in another one of our blog posts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/managing-tasks\/short-term-planning-and-long-term-planning\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The differences between long-term and short-term planning<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"step-4-prevent-feeling-overwhelmed-by-organizing-your-tasks\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step #4: Prevent feeling overwhelmed by organizing your tasks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes you simply have too much to do \u2014 lengthy research proposals, filling out and sending a report to your supervisor, endless meetings, business lunch, 20 important emails to respond to, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you feel swamped, it sometimes seems much more convenient to duck for cover than to dive into all that work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, instead of answering 20 important emails, you may find yourself rearranging your archived documents and cleaning up old computer files \u2014 which weren&#8217;t on your to-do list, to begin with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To avoid feeling overwhelmed, you can start taking time to plan your tasks \u2014 decide on the order in which you\u2019ll <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/managing-time\/how-to-organize-your-life\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">organize the tasks<\/a>, decide when you\u2019ll tackle them, and how much time you\u2019ll ideally spend on each.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Always make sure to define your bare minimum for the day \u2014 this is a task or two you\u2019ll absolutely finish by tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aim only to finish these crucial tasks, and do the rest if you have the time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Parsing your work into smaller chunks and more days will also help you feel less overwhelmed and more likely to <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/productivity\/stay-focused-at-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">stay focused<\/a> \u2014 decide what you\u2019ll do each day, and remember that less is always more. So, fewer tasks per day and a few dedicated hours each day will do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"additional-tips-for-organizing-your-tasks\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional tips for organizing your tasks<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">A simple but effective way to organize your tasks and also allocate your time for them is&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/productivity\/time-blocking\/\" target=\"_blank\">time blocking<\/a>&nbsp;\u2014 a time management technique where you define a specific time frame for a task and reserve a time slot for that task in your calendar.<\/span>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.clockify.me\/en\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Assign tasks with Clockify<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you complete one task, you move on to the next one, and you keep doing the same thing until you complete all the tasks you\u2019ve scheduled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Time blocking will help you do your work more efficiently because you\u2019ll know exactly how much time you have for each task, so you\u2019ll feel the urge to reach that prescribed time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some useful time blocking planner templates that you can download and use for free:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/productivity\/time-blocking-planner-templates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Time blocking planner (+ 9 free time block templates)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, by setting a certain amount of time for each task, you won\u2019t have to guess how long it will take you to complete a certain task, so you\u2019ll be able to organize your work more realistically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you need additional help with your day-to-day organization? To see what methods you can try to better plan your day, check out the blog post below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/managing-time\/plan-your-day\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to plan your day and stay organized<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"step-5-do-not-give-in-to-the-fear-of-the-unknown-and-the-fear-of-failure\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step #5: Do not give in to the fear of the unknown and the fear of failure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In order to have a task assessed, people have to finish it and hand it over for evaluation. Still, many choose to procrastinate because they fear what results and feedback they\u2019ll get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you need some useful employee performance review templates to evaluate your employees\u2019 work with ease, use these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/employee-performance-report-templates\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Free Employee Performance Report Templates<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The longer you procrastinate, the more you\u2019ll push back the moment you\u2019ll get the results, whether they turn out to be satisfactory, excellent, average, or even poor. The problem here is not knowing what to expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One deeper fear that stems from our fear of the unknown is the fear of failure \u2014 after all, if you don\u2019t do something, you can\u2019t fail at it. According to the aforementioned study on procrastination and self-efficacy, this fear is caused by low self-esteem, which leads to stressing over some impending task because we don\u2019t believe we are able to pull it off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To beat the fear of the unknown and fear of failure, first, you need to redefine your goals \u2014 instead of making \u201creach success\u201d your only goal, make \u201clearn something new\u201d your new goal. That way, even if you \u201cfail,\u201d you\u2019ll have the positive benefits of having learned something from the mistakes that led you to results you\u2019re not completely satisfied with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"additional-tips-for-beating-the-fear-of-failure\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional tips for beating the fear of failure<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Another great way of beating fear in order to avoid procrastinating on a task is to visualize your potential obstacles.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Compile a list of all the potential problems you may encounter down the road, and think up solutions for them. That way, you\u2019ll know you\u2019re covered for all potential pitfalls, so it will be less tempting to procrastinate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"step-6-let-go-of-your-perfectionism\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step #6: Let go of your perfectionism<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The other side of being afraid that we\u2019ll fail is wanting to pursue a task to perfection. So, we make changes, additions, tweak it, and polish it \u2014 and we postpone the moment when we\u2019ll call it quits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Hillary Rettig and her book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/book\/show\/13417133-the-7-secrets-of-the-prolific\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>The 7 Secrets of the Prolific: The Definitive Guide to Overcoming Procrastination, Perfectionism, and Writer\u2019s Block<\/em><\/a>, people who strive for perfectionism have a fixed mindset \u2014 they fear that their tasks will fall short of perfect, so they postpone tackling them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To help get rid of a constant need to control everything and aim for perfection, the crucial step is to admit that you\u2019re not perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you admit that you are not perfect, and that, likely, no one really is, you\u2019ll be on the best possible road to stop postponing tasks and get things done. It\u2019s because you\u2019ll know they don\u2019t need to be perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"additional-tips-for-letting-go-of-perfectionism\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Additional tips for letting go of perfectionism<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>One way to reduce perfectionism is to practice <a href=\"https:\/\/misuse.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/error\/abuse.shtml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">positive reframing<\/a> \u2014 that is, to try to overcome a challenging situation by stopping intrusive, negative thoughts that you have and replacing them with more positive ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To further explain it, reframing means changing your perception of the challenge at hand \u2014 instead of thinking <em>\u201cI can\u2019t do this task perfectly so everyone will see me as a failure\u201d<\/em> try thinking <em>\u201cThis task may not be perfect, but the feedback I\u2019ll get will help me do it better, and I\u2019ll actually learn from this experience.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This way, you\u2019ll start viewing challenges as learning opportunities and let go of your constant need for perfection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another way to reduce perfectionism is to use a task management tool such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/productivity\/eisenhower-matrix\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Eisenhower matrix<\/a>. By prioritizing tasks based on their <strong>urgency<\/strong> and <strong>importance<\/strong>, it\u2019ll be easier for you to choose which tasks to focus on first, and you\u2019ll feel less overwhelmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Eisenhower matrix separates tasks into several groups:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tasks that you\u2019ll do first \u2014 important\/urgent tasks,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tasks that you\u2019ll do later \u2014 important\/non-urgent tasks,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tasks that you can delegate \u2014 unimportant\/urgent tasks, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tasks that you can eliminate \u2014 unimportant\/non-urgent tasks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>After you see what your top priorities are (tasks that are both important and urgent), you\u2019ll be able to get on with your work more quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"proven-tips-and-strategies-on-how-to-stop-procrastinating\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Proven tips and strategies on how to stop procrastinating<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Many experts and productivity coaches have weighed in on the subject of procrastination and tried to find a solution to it, or at least some ways to deal with such a common issue.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some expert tips on procrastination, including several methods that will help you stop procrastinating. Try them out, perhaps some of them may turn out to be a perfect solution.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, there\u2019s no doubt you\u2019ll learn something about yourself during the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"tip-1-follow-the-2-minute-rule\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tip #1: Follow the 2-minute rule<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In his book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/book\/show\/40121378-atomic-habits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Atomic Habits: An Easy &amp; Proven Way to Build Good Habits &amp; Break Bad Ones<\/em><\/a>, James Clear proposes that we deal with habits we seem reluctant to embrace by tackling them only 2 minutes at a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, instead of tasking yourself to <em>\u201cRead a book chapter each night before bed,\u201d<\/em> task yourself to <em>\u201cRead one page of a book before bed.\u201d<\/em> Also, instead of tasking yourself with <em>\u201cFolding the laundry,\u201d<\/em> task yourself with <em>\u201cFolding one pair of socks.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The gist here is finding an easy pre-activity to start with before going head-on into a challenge. Subsequent activities can be more demanding, but it\u2019s important to begin with something easy. This way, you\u2019ll ease into a task and be on the best possible way to tackle it right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"tip-2-create-an-unschedule\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tip #2: Create an unschedule&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">In his book,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/en\/book\/show\/95708\" target=\"_blank\"><em>The Now Habit: A Strategic Program for Overcoming Procrastination and Enjoying Guilt-Free Play<\/em><\/a>, Neil Fiore recommends that procrastinators create \u2018unschedules\u2019 and prioritize their rest over their tasks.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is basically a <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/time-management-techniques\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">time management technique<\/a> with an unexpected twist \u2014 instead of blocking time for work activities \u2014 the ones you usually procrastinate on, block specific time in your schedule for non-work activities \u2014 hobbies, socialization, meals, exercise, and other leisure activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also, always schedule at least an hour of fun activity and take at least one day per week off from work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u2018Unschedules\u2019 follow a system that you\u2019ll want to pursue what you really have no time for from all your scheduled appointments \u2014 and in this case, it\u2019s your work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you fill your calendar with everyday activities, the small time frame you have left for your work will become evident. This approach will help you realize that you don\u2019t have nearly as much time for your projects as you originally thought, which will prompt you to use the unscheduled time in your calendar for work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"tip-3-increase-your-motivation\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tip #3: Increase your motivation&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In his book <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/en\/book\/show\/9514605\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>The Procrastination Equation: How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Stuff Done<\/em><\/a>, the already mentioned Piers Steel proposes that the key to stopping procrastination is increasing the right kind of balance for our:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Motivation,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Value,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expectancy,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Impulsiveness, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Delay.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>First, always make sure that your <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/productivity\/motivation-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>motivation for work<\/strong><\/a> is higher than your motivation for <a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/productivity\/workplace-distractions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">distractions<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, you\u2019ll first need to make an effort to understand the importance of finishing an important project proposal over the importance of watching a fun but random TV sitcom during the time you should be working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The value of the task<\/strong> quickly follows. This is your understanding of how much you enjoy a task and how much you\u2019ll enjoy the promotion once you get it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, you need to assess <strong>your expectations<\/strong>, how much you expect you\u2019ll succeed with a task, and how much you expect to be rewarded for success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What follows is <strong>your impulsiveness<\/strong> \u2014 i.e., how likely you are to focus or get distracted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The last thing you need to consider is the <strong>delay between the present time and the time when you\u2019ll have to hand over a finished assignment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For optimal motivation, work on finding a way to increase your task value and expectations and decrease impulsiveness and delay. Remember, higher value and expectations increase your motivation, and higher impulsiveness and delay decrease it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"tip-4-be-kind-to-yourself-and-learn-from-your-slip-ups\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tip #4: Be kind to yourself and learn from your slip-ups<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Having occasional slip-ups of procrastination is normal \u2014 it is just that we tend to expect our motivation levels to be high all the time, which is impossible.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, instead of hating yourself for occasionally procrastinating, try being kind to yourself and having a bit more trust that you\u2019ll do better next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a conversation with a productivity coach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCLucvoCNO9D6Os-FxoUNICg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Katy Arrington<\/a>, we learned how she deals with procrastination that stems from a lack of motivation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As she explains, the best way to beat this type of procrastination is to <strong>stay<\/strong> <strong>consistent<\/strong> and <strong>learn from your slip-ups<\/strong> instead of being harsh with yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns pro-blockquote is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"596\" height=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-596x630.jpg\" alt=\"Katy Arrington - a productivity coach\" class=\"wp-image-19244\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-596x630.jpg 596w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-284x300.jpg 284w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-768x812.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-11x12.jpg 11w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach.jpg 1163w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 596px) 100vw, 596px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cNot beating myself up when I don\u2019t stick to my plans. I evaluate and learn and move on.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>But you might wonder how to build trust in yourself that you\u2019ll actually work harder. As already mentioned, Katy practices not beating herself up and loving herself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns pro-blockquote is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"596\" height=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-596x630.jpg\" alt=\"Katy Arrington - a productivity coach\" class=\"wp-image-19244\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-596x630.jpg 596w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-284x300.jpg 284w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-768x812.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-11x12.jpg 11w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach.jpg 1163w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 596px) 100vw, 596px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cWhen you trust that on the other side of ANYTHING (making art, doing a task, making a decision) you know you will be kind to yourself, you will be doing more in a day than you do in a week.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>So even if you feel like you\u2019re just wasting your time, slip-ups are okay as long as we keep learning from them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"tip-5-let-the-unpleasant-feeling-pass-and-embrace-the-discomfort-of-failure\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tip #5: Let the unpleasant feeling pass and embrace the discomfort of failure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Being a procrastinator often brings that unpleasant feeling that we\u2019re not good enough. We also feel guilt for betraying someone\u2019s expectations if we don&#8217;t complete our tasks on time. All of these negative emotions make us want to escape when in reality, we can\u2019t.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group pro-tip\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p><strong>\ud83d\udca1 Clockify Pro Tip<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do you often feel like you\u2019re not good enough at what you do or attribute your work achievements to sheer luck? Having imposter syndrome is an unpleasant feeling, but don\u2019t worry. Our blog post on this topic will surely help you overcome it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/productivity\/imposter-syndrome-at-work\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">How to overcome imposter syndrome at work<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>By running away from the discomfort that failure brings, things can only get worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To find out what a productivity expert suggests for dealing with these negative emotions, we again asked Katy for advice, and she said that the biggest mistake is to run towards your phone or other distractions. Instead, the best way to deal with discomfort is to sit and <em>let it pass<\/em>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another great idea she mentioned is to have a few set phrases to help you through the feeling such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This is here for me,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There is learning (a lesson) in here somewhere, and<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This is what I need to become a better version of myself.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>So, the conclusion is \u2014 you should practice seeing failures as learning opportunities and try to let them go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"tip-6-try-the-idea-download-method\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tip #6: Try the \u201cidea download\u201d method<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Katy, another great way to beat procrastination is to use the \u201cidea download\u201d method:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns pro-blockquote is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"596\" height=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-596x630.jpg\" alt=\"Katy Arrington - a productivity coach\" class=\"wp-image-19244\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-596x630.jpg 596w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-284x300.jpg 284w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-768x812.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-11x12.jpg 11w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach.jpg 1163w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 596px) 100vw, 596px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cThe idea behind the \u201cidea download\u201d is to not judge our ideas when we\u2019re coming up with them. Like just get them out of your head and download them and leave the judgments to the side. The judgment slows us down SO much.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Many people who procrastinate either have low self-esteem or are too critical of their ideas, which prompts them to postpone their work. Katy believes that the most effective way to leave these ideas aside and not discard them immediately is to write them down on paper before going to bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can \u201cdownload\u201d your ideas by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Writing a journal,<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creating a to-do list, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Making a mind map.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>By writing down your ideas and putting them aside, you\u2019ll free your mind of judgment and maybe even decide later that you actually want to use them. You\u2019ll also clear your mind and make room for new ideas which could help reduce your chances of procrastinating later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"tip-7-adopt-the-good-enough-now-mantra\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tip #7: Adopt the \u201cgood enough now\u201d mantra&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Believing that you\u2019ll only be good enough when you do a certain thing or reach a certain point in the future can be pressuring and demotivating for the present version of yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Katy explains, starting from that \u201cnot good enough\u201d place is draining for our motivation. Instead, using the \u201cgood enough now\u201d mantra when you have to start a task is much more effective:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns pro-blockquote is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"596\" height=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-596x630.jpg\" alt=\"Katy Arrington - a productivity coach\" class=\"wp-image-19244\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-596x630.jpg 596w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-284x300.jpg 284w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-768x812.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach-11x12.jpg 11w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Katy-Arrington-a-productivity-coach.jpg 1163w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 596px) 100vw, 596px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cI\u2019m a huge promoter on how negative motivation doesn\u2019t work, doesn\u2019t help, and only really leads to <\/em><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/productivity\/career-burnout\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>burnout<\/em><\/a><em>. There are just so many studies out there that show that children, animals, adults all respond sooo much more to positive motivation.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>When you adopt a positive way of thinking and tell yourself that you\u2019re good enough <strong>now<\/strong> to start a task, you\u2019ll stop procrastinating much easier.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"tip-8-fail-faster-to-get-to-the-solution-quicker\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tip #8: Fail faster to get to the solution quicker<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Katy\u2019s final tip on how to stop procrastination is based on the <em>\u201ccommitting to fail until you succeed\u201d<\/em> method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And what exactly does she mean by that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, Katy claims that failing again and again actually isn\u2019t a bad thing. On the contrary, the more you fail, the more productive you\u2019ll be, and the faster you\u2019ll get to the right choice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By using a system of elimination, you\u2019ll stop yourself from getting stuck on the wrong idea or choosing the right one for hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"when-procrastination-may-be-good-for-you-inspirational-stories\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">When procrastination may be good for you: Inspirational stories<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, we\u2019ve seen why procrastination may be a problem and how to fix it. But there\u2019s the other side of the coin, too. Despite the phenomenon of procrastination often being mentioned for its detrimental effects, it actually has some benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So let\u2019s examine the 4 main reasons why and how procrastination can be beneficial for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"benefit-1-working-under-pressure-works-for-some-people\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Benefit #1: Working under pressure works for some people<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The expression <em>\u201cDeadline is the best motivation\u201d<\/em> didn\u2019t come out of nowhere. Working under pressure simply works for some people, so if you can relate to the expression, no worries.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation work on an individual level and thus dictate the difference between what works and what doesn\u2019t work for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some people manage to write bestsellers and score high on their papers simply by postponing work until the last minute \u2014 <strong>because \u201cbeing under pressure\u201d actually inspires them<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The entire idea stems from the <a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/rwe\/10.1007\/978-0-387-79948-3_1340?error=cookies_not_supported&amp;code=3c93ba04-ea15-436f-85a3-95082be3aaad\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Yerkes-Dodson Law<\/a>, which proposes that a certain level of arousal when faced with a task can help you finish that task in a more satisfying manner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, when we\u2019re a little nervous (and we\u2019re likely to be nervous over an assignment we haven\u2019t done that\u2019s due tomorrow), it\u2019s a sign that we\u2019re anxious about our results, which will usually make us work harder for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But <strong>this is true only to a certain point<\/strong> \u2014 if you\u2019re a nervous wreck, you likely won\u2019t be able to think, let alone finish a task with flying colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"benefit-2-having-less-time-for-a-task-helps-you-focus\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Benefit #2: Having less time for a task helps you focus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>When you have only a day or a couple of hours before a deadline, every inch of your body is aware that <strong>there\u2019s no room to slack away further<\/strong> \u2014 so you\u2019re almost certainly going to focus your full attention on the task in question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In turn, there\u2019ll be a lesser chance that you\u2019ll get distracted, and your invested efforts and dedication are likely to help you make the most of your task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you immerse yourself in a task as minutes and hours go by, bringing you closer to your deadline, you\u2019re also likely to work faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.clockify.me\/en\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Track tasks &amp; goals with Clockify<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"benefit-3-procrastination-encourages-you-to-tackle-other-tasks\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Benefit #3: Procrastination encourages you to tackle other tasks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Avoiding one task may inspire you to work on another. Why is that the case?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Well, in a desperate effort to avoid working on a difficult, complicated, unpleasant task, <strong>you\u2019ll likely shift your attention to other tasks<\/strong> that may not be as important but are still on your to-do list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This reason is more of an indirect benefit of procrastination, a by-product of your \u201crefusal\u201d to tackle a task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, if your \u201cworst\u201d task, or the \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/productivity\/eat-frog-technique\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">frog you should eat<\/a>\u201d includes organizing a lengthy meeting with your team over problems caused by a difficult client, then procrastinating on said task may inspire you to answer your emails, write an outline for a project proposal, think of a great idea for your next team-building outing, or simply finish some crucial private errands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may not tackle your priority task, but <strong>you\u2019ll make room in your schedule for it for another day<\/strong>. This way you\u2019ll also be able to test whether you\u2019re one of the people who perform work better when under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"benefit-4-procrastination-lowers-your-unrealistic-expectations\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Benefit #4: Procrastination lowers your unrealistic expectations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some people who fear they\u2019ll fail tweak their tasks to no end and worry about the possible outcomes. (But only if they have the time to.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though perfectionism usually leads to procrastination, at times, procrastination can actually help you drop perfectionism. When you\u2019re pressed with a looming deadline, you usually don\u2019t have time to make something perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, you\u2019ll lower your expectations but still, perhaps, score high. This is because you\u2019ve dropped the impulse to make something unrealistically perfect and focused on the gist of your problem, so you\u2019re more likely to find <strong>the easiest and most effective way to solve it<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"procrastination-examples-real-life-procrastinators-and-their-stories\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Procrastination examples: Real-life procrastinators and their stories<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Average Joes and Janes seem to procrastinate on an everyday level. But that doesn\u2019t mean famous people are exempt from the habit.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s check out some real-life examples in order to fully understand how almost everyone procrastinates, at least occasionally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"worlds-most-famous-procrastinators\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">World\u2019s most famous procrastinators<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes, procrastination happens to famous people. Many of them have procrastinated while working on matters that made them famous in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s to name a few for inspiration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"abraham-lincoln\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Abraham Lincoln&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Abraham Lincoln\u2019s Gettysburg Address is a crucial moment in American history, as far as speeches go. But, did you know that Lincoln finished the iconic address the morning he gave it? However, despite popular myths, he didn\u2019t write it on an envelope during the train ride to the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This delay in writing happened because Lincoln allegedly didn\u2019t want to write anything down before he had formulated the speech in his head. So, he only finished his closing thoughts the evening before and finalized the entire piece that very morning when the address was to take place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"wolfgang-amadeus-mozart\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was the socialite among composers. He\u2019d often go out drinking with friends to lavishing parties before premieres and stay until late. And, for at least one composition, this seemed to be the winning formula.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While they were out drinking and partying one night, it occurred to one of Mozart\u2019s friends that Mozart hadn\u2019t yet written an overture for his opera <em>Don Giovanni<\/em> \u2014 despite the fact that the premiere was scheduled for tomorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This prompted Mozart to savor a few drinks before going back to his room around midnight to compose the overture. He managed to create a beautiful piece, and it took him only 3 hours to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, his wife Constanze had to tell him fairy tales such as Cinderella, Aladdin, and the like to keep him awake long enough to finish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"leonardo-da-vinci\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Leonardo Da Vinci&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Leonardo Da Vinci is one of the most famous painters in the world today. But, during his time, he was considered unreliable by peers and patrons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He\u2019d start working on multiple projects, only to abandon them later, and he\u2019d often fail to deliver on contracts. Even though he was commissioned to finish the painting <em>Virgin on the Rocks<\/em> in 7 months, it took him 25 years to do so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 67 years of his life, he finished 15 paintings and a small number of architectural designs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, his work is now greatly appreciated, and his Mona Lisa is often considered the most famous painting in the world. As one might expect, it took him no less than 15 years to finish it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"victor-hugo\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Victor Hugo&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Victor Hugo, the famed French author, was especially notorious for his procrastination. Even though he had a strict deadline to finish <em>The Hunchback of Notre Dame<\/em>, he managed to put off doing any real work for a year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When he was given another 6-month deadline, he turned to an unusual method to help him stay focused. He locked all of his clothes away and left himself with nothing else to wear but one shawl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Considering he had no clothes to go out in, he spent the remaining time before finishing up his book naked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He managed to finish and publish the book two weeks earlier than the deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"franz-kafka\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Franz Kafka&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The Czech writer Franz Kafka used to blame his day job for taking away the time he\u2019d otherwise spend writing. But, as it turned out, this was just a clever excuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kafka\u2019s first job required him to work from 8 a.m. or 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. or 3 p.m., which was considered long in terms of day jobs of famous writers. But, Kafka later left this job in favor of one that demanded fewer working hours, leaving him with more potential time to write.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, he\u2019d usually use up this free time for a 4-hour-long nap, dinner with his family, a walk, and some exercising. Then, the time he should have been writing he mostly spent writing letters or entries in his diary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And yet, he managed to write <em>The Trial<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"margaret-atwood\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Margaret Atwood&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Margaret Atwood, the author of the now famed <em>Handmaid\u2019s Tale<\/em>, claims that procrastination is the reason she managed to write this novel (alongside her other work).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Her winning formula includes procrastinating the entire morning before settling down to work no earlier than 3 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Such a routine seems to work considering her <a href=\"https:\/\/margaretatwood.ca\/full-bibliography-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">full bibliography<\/a> contains:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>18 poetry books,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>17 novels,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>8 short fiction stories,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>8 children\u2019s books,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>10 non-fiction books,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3 graphic novels,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2 librettos,&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>3 television scripts, and&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>1 radio script thus far.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"douglas-adams\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Douglas Adams&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Apart from <em>The Hitchhiker\u2019s Guide to the Galaxy<\/em>, Douglas Adams gave us (and lived by) an insightful quote: <em>\u201cI love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He claimed to hate writing and always procrastinated to no end. However, he eventually managed to produce 9 books in his lifetime \u2014 but only because he\u2019d lock himself in a room and force his editors and publishers to watch over him to make sure that he actually worked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"truman-capote\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Truman Capote&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>And, lastly, Truman Capote, an American novelist, short story writer, playwright, and screenwriter famous for books <em>Breakfast at Tiffany\u2019s<\/em> and <em>In Cold Blood<\/em>, truly took procrastination to the extreme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One novel he signed a contract for, <em>Answered Prayers<\/em>, was scheduled to be finished by January 1968 \u2014 Capote even got $25,000 as an advance for it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When he missed that deadline, the contract was re-negotiated to a trilogy of books, slated for completion by January 1973 \u2014 with $750,000 worth of an advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But, as time went by, Capote accused his lover of stealing the manuscript (though he later all but denied the manuscript even existed), and the deadline kept being pushed back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Eventually, Capote was so overwhelmed with other projects, personal problems, the unexpected success of his previous novels, as well as his own perfectionism that he never managed to finish <em>Answered Prayers<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An unfinished version of the novel was published after his death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"procrastination-stories-of-everyday-people\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Procrastination stories of everyday people<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s not just the famous who procrastinate \u2014 it\u2019s the people around us too.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So let\u2019s hear some of their stories. Our coworker, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/pedjarodic\/\" target=\"_blank\">Predrag Rodic<\/a>, Enterprise Sales Specialist at Clockify, explains that he\u2019s actually too lazy to allow himself to procrastinate:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns pro-blockquote is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"630\" height=\"630\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Predrag-Rodic-Enterprise-Sales-Specialist-at-Clockify-630x630.jpg\" alt=\"Predrag Rodic - Enterprise Sales Specialist at Clockify\" class=\"wp-image-18653\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Predrag-Rodic-Enterprise-Sales-Specialist-at-Clockify-630x630.jpg 630w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Predrag-Rodic-Enterprise-Sales-Specialist-at-Clockify-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Predrag-Rodic-Enterprise-Sales-Specialist-at-Clockify-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Predrag-Rodic-Enterprise-Sales-Specialist-at-Clockify-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Predrag-Rodic-Enterprise-Sales-Specialist-at-Clockify-12x12.jpg 12w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Predrag-Rodic-Enterprise-Sales-Specialist-at-Clockify.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cAfter being down that rabbit hole so many times, if I ever catch myself even thinking about leaving something for tomorrow now, flashbacks of pain from piles of chores hit me harder than the pleasures of current idleness. That and being an apostle of \u2018If you can do something in less than 2 minutes, do it right away.\u2019 Now, please, don\u2019t put this in a blog or something, I have a reputation to keep.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In regard to how he tackles his tasks, VP of Engineering at Clockify, <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ljubomir-simin-83278859\/\" target=\"_blank\">Ljubomir Simin<\/a>, says that he <strong>puts an event in his calendar<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns pro-blockquote is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Ljubomir-Simin-VP-of-Engineering-at-Clockify.jpg\" alt=\"Ljubomir Simin - VP of Engineering at Clockify\" class=\"wp-image-18655\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Ljubomir-Simin-VP-of-Engineering-at-Clockify.jpg 600w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Ljubomir-Simin-VP-of-Engineering-at-Clockify-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Ljubomir-Simin-VP-of-Engineering-at-Clockify-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Ljubomir-Simin-VP-of-Engineering-at-Clockify-12x12.jpg 12w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cWhen the notification pops up, I\u2019m not only reminded, but I also have time to do it because my time has been reserved. That\u2019s how I write emails and compile reports.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A Software QA at Pumble, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/markonemet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Marko Nemet<\/a>, recalls how he battled procrastination during his studies:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns pro-blockquote is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Marko-Nemet-Software-QA-at-Pumble.jpg\" alt=\"Marko Nemet - Software QA at Pumble\" class=\"wp-image-18656\" srcset=\"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Marko-Nemet-Software-QA-at-Pumble.jpg 512w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Marko-Nemet-Software-QA-at-Pumble-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Marko-Nemet-Software-QA-at-Pumble-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Marko-Nemet-Software-QA-at-Pumble-12x12.jpg 12w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p><em>\u201cWhen I started attending law school, I knew it was too difficult for me. I used to always put off studying, telling myself that learning 30 pages a day for 10 days is enough time, then I\u2019d postpone it for a day because, in 9 days\u2019 time, I could learn up to 31-32 pages a day, and that went on until I reached 2 days. Then I\u2019d tell myself that 2 days would be enough, flicked through 150 pages, and that routine continued for two years.\u201d&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Although he graduated, Marko realized the main reason why he procrastinated for so long was that <strong>he lacked interest<\/strong> in law from the start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"in-summary-procrastination-is-an-annoying-habit-but-with-effort-it-can-be-beaten\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">In summary: Procrastination is an annoying habit, but with effort, it can be beaten<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Procrastination can happen for many reasons, such as fear of failure and lack of motivation, or it may happen that it simply isn\u2019t your day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So don\u2019t be too harsh and beat yourself up, because you\u2019ll only end up even more stressed about your deadline.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moreover, even though procrastination often gets a bad name, it is not necessarily a negative thing. Also, it can happen to anyone, from famous people we\u2019ve all heard of to everyday people, as you can conclude from the examples above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if the deadline getting closer is just stressing you out the solution is simple \u2014 crawl, walk, run. Start working on improving your self-regulation habits.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Understanding how you allocate your time to different tasks and activities is the \u201ccrawl\u201d part and, as we\u2019ve mentioned, time tracking software is the easiest way to do so.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, find the right way to manage your time, better organize your daily activities, and, most importantly, never stop believing in yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"custom-btn\"><a href=\"https:\/\/app.clockify.me\/en\/signup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Get started with Clockify<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Want to stop delaying important tasks? To find out why you procrastinate and how to overcome it, read our guide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":18660,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-productivity"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1206","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/23"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1206"}],"version-history":[{"count":94,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1206\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37591,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1206\/revisions\/37591"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18660"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1206"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1206"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/clockify.me\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}