What is Procrastination and its Effects

Procrastination refers to the act of intentionally and habitually putting off tasks which need to be done. People who procrastinate have a tendency to self deceive their acts by doing other tasks which are trivial or of no consequence to pass time. This is an act of keeping themselves busy so that they would have no time to do the more challenging and important tasks. In time, this becomes a bad habit that is difficult to get out of, and will affect the person’s standard of work as well as his emotions.

People who procrastinate will develop feelings of guilt and stress, as the work piles up and turn urgent. Procrastination on its own is not a dangerous habit, but it can and will lead to many negative effects if it is not nipped in the bud.

Disorganization

People who procrastinate tend to be disorganized, as they neglect the important or the urgent work in favour of other tasks. This leads to a pile up of tasks that soon turn urgent even if they are not important. This leads to the individual finding it difficult to cope and rushing to deliver the urgent tasks, with little time to properly consider or evaluate their jobs. He will soon find himself perpetually stressed, coupled with feelings of guilt and self-blame as he knows that he could have gotten these tasks done long before they became urgent.

Forgetfulness

Procrastinators usually exhibit signs of forgetfulness such as putting off simple tasks, and then forgetting about them. They tend to be distracted easily as they would rather be doing something else rather than what is important and needs to be done. 

Avoidance

Due to the fear of being unable to deliver their tasks by the deadlines, procrastinators tend to start avoiding the people they have to report to, or the location itself. For example, they may call in sick to avoid having to explain why they cannot submit their work. Oft times, people procrastinate because they feel that they cannot adequately handle or complete the task, and hence choose to avoid it altogether.

Procrastination is a habit that is difficult to spot in one’s self, as we subconsciously avoid even thinking about it being a problem, as we fear having to face up to it. It can be an indication of psychological problems, as over time the person may develop anxiety, depression or attention deficit disorder (ADD).

If you notice that your friends or loved ones are developing the habit of procrastination, you should recommend them to go for counselling. There are many techniques that can be used to overcome procrastination, but only if the individual is willing to recognize the problem and deal with it. These techniques are in the form of time management and organisation skills.