Everyone is guilty of procrastinating, whether putting off school or work assignments, avoiding household chores, or delaying going to the gym. It's a universal struggle, but research has identified shared characteristics chronic procrastinators possess. When you have the identifying factors, you're one step closer to solving the problem! But remember, we're not diagnosing; we are identifying!
1. Perfectionist
Too much perfectionism can also be destructive. Hard-core perfectionists are so scared of not meeting their standards that they cannot complete tasks. It can be challenging for them to take the first step because of the fear of not being “perfect.” Because of this fear, they procrastinate and delay work as much as possible.
2. Fear of Failure and Success
Strange right? But it is true for many procrastinators. Many people fear failure because starting something new is always risky, and you're scared you might fail. However, the fear of success is also genuine. Procrastinators may feel anxious that the responsibilities and expectations associated with success may be challenging. It adds unnecessary pressure on them.
3. Bad Time Management
A widespread trait in procrastinators is a lack of time management, or they're just bad at it. They may need help estimating how much time a task requires, so they may overestimate or underestimate the time necessary to execute specific tasks. This leads to delays, or the other party might think they're too slow.
4. Low Self-Discipline
You might also notice that many procrastinators need help with self-discipline. This may present when they cannot control or regulate their emotions, needs, etc. This results in them accepting immediate gratification (impulses) without considering their long-term effects or goals. Self-discipline is essential to making the appropriate decisions.
5. Avoidance Behavior
This can be related to the fear of failure or perfectionism traits, where procrastinators avoid different behaviors or situations. The most straightforward example is their preference to engage in non-essential tasks, such as using social media for extended periods to prevent a particular task.
6. Overthinking
Though overthinking can be found in many anxious people, it is a widespread trait people have observed in procrastinators, too. If you're one, you know you tend to overanalyze every step of a task to the point where you get stuck in this never-ending loop. It leads them to never actually begin!
7. Chronic Multitasker
This is also known as the scattergun approach, which involves doing many things without an organized plan. Procrastinators attempt a similar tactic. Rather than focusing on one task at a time, they commit to multiple tasks simultaneously, affecting their overall productivity.
8. Creative Thinking
Procrastinators possess good traits. In reality, creative thinking is one of their standout strengths. Remember to underestimate their tendency to daydream because their out-of-the-box ideas often yield ingenious ideas. The only hurdle is their execution of these extraordinary ideas.
9. Night Owls
Due to their habit of leaving things to the last minute, you'll often find procrastinators working late at night. “We work better under pressure” is something they swear by. This technique may work to an extent, but it always ends in exhaustion because of the late hours they have to spend to meet deadlines.
10. Easily Distracted
Now, this is a talent. Procrastinators can find interest in anything and everything around them, especially when they have work. Anything from a fly on the wall to a sudden urge to clean their room can become the most exciting thing in their lives! Of course, this takes away their attention from the actual tasks they have at hand.
11. Indecisiveness
As is their problem with lack of commitment to tasks, they need help making decisions. This fear stems from their battle with failure or choosing the wrong option, which ends up in them delaying decisions as much as possible. Their habit of weighing every aspect of a decision makes them unable to make a solid decision when the time comes.
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12. Short-Term Pleasers
As mentioned above, procrastinators need to consider the long-term effects and outcomes of a task or action. They often need help prioritizing short-term pleasure. They prefer a quick reward instead of committing to tasks that require more mental effort and have long-term benefits.
13. Easily Bored
As much as procrastinators can be interested in everything around them, they can quickly lose interest in a task. If a task is not exciting, they'll abandon it and jump into something more exciting. This tendency to get bored with tasks quickly is why they need more time to finish assignments.
14. Over Commitment
Despite their fear of failure and success, procrastinators suffer from over commitment. This means that they are often unable to say no. They take on too many responsibilities, which only overwhelms them. Being overwhelmed is something that procrastinators don't handle well; thus, it inevitably leads them to put things off instead of getting them done.
15. Emotional Avoidance
Procrastinators habitually avoid tasks that evoke uncomfortable emotions like fear, anxiety, and frustration. Instead of facing their fears, they prevent the tasks as long as possible so they don't experience these uncomfortable emotions. It might not make sense for us, but it's a solid plan for them!
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