Procrastination: The Enemy of Modern Productivity

When was the last time you felt truly in control of your life and well prepared for what lay ahead? If your answer is “a long time ago” or “almost never”, you may belong to the 30% of people who procrastinate (Steel & Ferrari, 2013).

Records of procrastination date back to ancient Egypt and Greece, yet over the past 40 years its prevalence has increased by as much as 25% (Steel & Ferrari, 2013). Research shows that procrastination is particularly widespread among students. A study conducted at Carleton University in Canada found that 80–95% of students procrastinate, and about 50% do so consistently and problematically (Steel, 2007).

How do procrastinators behave?

Procrastinators delay important tasks that cause discomfort. They miss work deadlines or submit assignments at the last minute, postpone studying for important exams, fail to pay bills on time, delay returning online purchases and are forced to keep unsuitable items, rush to buy birthday gifts just before events, forget important dates, and more. As a result, they often face problems with supervisors and partners, receive criticism, and experience constant guilt and stress.

Everyone postpones chores occasionally, but this is not procrastination—especially when postponement is a rational choice. Procrastination involves delaying important tasks that should be completed, choosing to engage in less important activities without valid reason, despite knowing there will be negative consequences.

Why do we procrastinate, even when we know it’s harmful?

Procrastination is not simply poor time management. It is a pattern of thinking and behaviour with deep psychological roots, including fear of failure, anxiety and low self-confidence.

Common causes include:

• Fear of failure – Avoiding tasks due to fear of not meeting expectations.

• Low self-confidence – Doubting one’s abilities and worth, leading to avoidance as a form of self-protection.

• Perfectionism – Setting unrealistically high standards, resulting in overwhelm and paralysis.

• Catastrophising task difficulty and consequences – Overestimating how difficult a task is and the negative outcomes of starting it, which increases fear and discomfort. Avoidance provides short-term relief but increases long-term stress.

• Need for control and intolerance of uncertainty – The desire for certainty and guaranteed success can make starting tasks difficult, as outcomes are rarely fully controllable at the beginning.

Consequences of procrastination

Procrastination can lead to reduced academic and professional performance, poorer mental health and increased stress. Research from Utrecht University shows that chronic procrastination is associated with higher stress levels and lower overall wellbeing (Van Eerde, 2003). It should therefore be taken seriously, as it is a counterproductive behaviour that unnecessarily complicates life.

We have witnessed many cases in which clients, with appropriate support and techniques, successfully overcame procrastination and achieved their goals. We hope this article helps you better understand procrastination.
If you would like to actively address procrastination in your work environment, contact us at prava.formula@pravaformula.hr.

References:

• Steel, P., & Ferrari, J. (2013). Sex, Education and procrastination: An epidemiological study of procrastinators’ characteristics from a global sample. European Journal of Personality, 27(1), 51–58. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.1851
• Sirois, F. M., & Pychyl, T. A. (2013). “Procrastination and the priority of short-term mood regulation: Consequences for future self.” Journal of Counseling Psychology, 60(2), 225-236. DOI: 10.1037/a0031663
• Stead, R., Shanahan, M. J., & Neufeld, R. W. J. (2010). “I’ll go to therapy, eventually: Procrastination, stress and mental health.” Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 33(2), 89-103. DOI: 10.1007/s10865-009-9238-5
• Steel, P. (2007). The nature of procrastination: A meta-analytic and theoretical review of quintessential self-regulatory failure. Psychological Bulletin, 133(1), 65-94.
• Van Eerde, W. (2003). Procrastination at work and time management training. The Journal of Psychology, 137(5), 421-434.