Procrastination: definition
Procrastination means putting off upcoming tasks tdespite existing opportunities and skills. The tasks are either not completed at all or only completed after a very long time (and ultimately often too late).. It is also colloquially referred to as procrastination. According to studies, pronounced procrastination behavior is associated with stress, fear and exhaustion and is perceived as very stressful. However, this doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with laziness. Rather, it is due to a lack of motivation and will. In this article we will show you how you can overcome procrastination and get started!
Procrastination: 5 different types
Using 5 different types, we will show you how procrastination manifests itself:
- The Cleaner/The Cleaner
- The cell phone addict/The cell phone addict
- The dreamy/The dreamy
- The scaremonger/The scaremonger
- The pseudo-productive/The pseudo-productive
The Cleaner/The Cleaner
You know exactly this one task is coming up, but you suddenly remember that you haven’t cleaned out your closet in a long time? You could also do laundry, clean windows or vacuum again? No question, getting things organized is an important task, but you have more important things to do at the moment. The reason for this is often that you don’t know where to start with your main task. A solution to this would be to create a step-by-step plan.
The cell phone addict/The cell phone addict
Your fingers have a mind of their own and automatically go to Instagram, Tiktok, WhatsApp and co. without you wanting them to? Then you suffer from cell phone addiction, which becomes an absolute obstacle, especially when you have important tasks to do. There is only one thing that helps: clear focus only on the task. That means: turn off your cell phone for a certain period of time. Everyone knows how hard it is to resist the addiction of the Internet, but controlled withdrawal is the best way to get ahead.
The dreamy/The dreamy
Your thoughts quickly wander and you would rather watch the clouds drift by than focus on your task? You probably find it even more difficult to concentrate on annoying tasks. The reason for this is usually a lack of motivation and a lack of inner weakness. Often it is also due to the high standards associated with it. Because the higher the demand, the more likely it is to postpone. For those who often suffer from daydreaming, morning meditation might help. Let thoughts come and go so that you can keep your head fully focused on the matter afterwards.
The scaremonger/The scaremonger
Do you realize how much you still have to do, causing you to have a panic attack and be knocked out for the rest of the day? The reason for this is that you have underestimated the scope of the task and realize that it is not that easy or quick to complete. On the other hand, it helps to deal with it early enough and develop a step-by-step plan. When you start portioning out the biggest or hardest task, the goal suddenly seems much closer and you have a sense of achievement every time – a win-win situation.
The pseudo-productive/The pseudo-productive
You suddenly think of 1000 other to-dos that need to be done? Unfortunately, this only eases our conscience. It may seem productive to do other, less important tasks instead, but you won’t make any progress on your actual task. What helps is to set priorities. To do this, use the clear division into “important” and “urgent” according to the Eisenhower principle – with this principle you can achieve great time management.
Procrastination: causes
In order to overcome procrastination, we first have to know the basic causes. It is important to know that procrastination nothing to do with laziness has to do with, but in particular with:
- the fear of mistakes,
- incorrect time management and
- the fact that you don’t see quick successes.
Fear of mistakes
The higher the number you procrastinate more often Performance requirements are – because with that are Fear of failure tied together. You need courage to dedicate yourself to such tasks. It has to These are not necessarily learning tasks, but also important conversations or conflicts that need to be resolved.
Incorrect time management
Incorrect time management is also a cause of procrastination. You take on too much and don’t really know where to start. This can often lead to overwhelm. Without a good overview, you often find yourself at a loss in terms of time.
No quick wins
Our brain enjoys regular rewards. However, when it comes to tasks like writing tax returns, that seems very far away. All you see before you is a complex, almost insoluble task that has no beginning and no end. So it’s clear that instead, you’d rather do tasks that can be done quickly and where you can immediately see results, such as cleaning or tidying up.
Overcome procrastination during your studies
Procrastination exists in every area, which can lead to numerous problems in the long term. Procrastination ultimately leads to missed deadlines or poor academic performance. Everyone has one or two modules that give them a stomach ache. That’s why preparation for the upcoming exam is delayed as much as possible. Sometimes it is even pushed off semester after semester, even though you know full well that sooner or later you won’t be able to get around it. In such cases, the most important thing is to help Study groups with fellow students. Because going through evil together is much more fun. You can also motivate each other, making learning fun. Divide your preparation into different blocks so that you have a sense of success every time – this will keep you motivated and make the end more tangible.
7 tips to overcome procrastination
Last but not least, we will give you a summary of the most important tips and immediate help to overcome procrastination so that you too can become a real doer.
- Correct and realistic time management
- Honesty with yourself
- The right mindset
- Create routines
- Step-by-step plan
- Avoid distractions
- Set highlights for your day
1. Tip: Correct and realistic time management
…is the be-all and end-all. Feel free to use the Eisenhower principle. Prioritizing tasks is one of the most important steps towards greater productivity. Be aware of everything that needs to be done and break it down into sub-tasks. The biggest mistake is that you often underestimate how much time the tasks at hand will ultimately take.
Tip 2: Be honest with yourself
Realize that in the long run you are making your life unnecessarily difficult by putting things off. In the end, you can’t get past the task and the faster it is completed, the clearer your head feels. Because if we’re honest: Nobody likes the feeling of having unpleasant tasks in the back of their minds and soothing their conscience with excuses.
3rd tip: The right mindset
Your thoughts and feelings control your actions. When you tell yourself how terrible the task is, your brain gives you that feeling too. Don’t see the task as an obstacle, but as a challenge and you’ll be overcome with ambition. With the right mindset, you can master almost anything.
Tip 4: Create routines
You often start the day motivated, but then can’t get started. Routines can create a good foundation. Don’t think about it, but tackle one task at a time, keeping the time as short as possible. The relief increases with each completed task. The important thing is to do the hardest tasks first with proper time management. However, creating routines takes time – so stay consistent.
5. Tip: Step-by-step plan
Divide large tasks into several small tasks – this helps to achieve success more quickly. This makes a tedious, confusing task more concrete and manageable. With the help of this step-by-step plan, appropriate time management and regular breaks, you can only succeed in the task – even if it took one or more weeks. The idea is that with each completed sub-task you achieve success, which ensures that you stay motivated and move closer to your goal step-by-step.
Tip 6: Avoid distractions
Distractions like cell phones can disrupt your workflow. In order to work effectively, there are certainly tactics in which you take efficient breaks and deliberately seek distance from the task – by taking a walk, for example. This way you can also provide variety. However, it is important to stick to this time management and to avoid distractions during productive work phases by putting your cell phone aside. An effective tool is the “Forest” app, where you can set study and break times. There you plant a virtual tree that only grows if you don’t leave the app on your phone.
7th tip: Set highlights for your day
Be it morning yoga, going to the gym or meeting friends. This will make it much easier for you to motivate yourself to get up in the morning to do tasks that aren’t that fun. Because you know there’s still something nice coming up that you’ll enjoy. See these activities as rewards for completing your other tasks consistently and purposefully.
Overcoming procrastination: conclusion
Procrastination aka procrastination is not an illness and has nothing to do with laziness. It’s more of a mental issue that will cause you more problems and stress in the long run than it ultimately has to be. Try to overcome procrastination with the help of the tips mentioned above and become a real doer.
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