Is Procrastination a Problem?
Typically, procrastination is seen as a problem when it disrupts some area of a person's life. Judith Provost has proposed seven conditions that reflect a level of disruption in one's life, due to procrastination. Check this list to determine whether or not procrastination is a problem for you.
____ 1. I sometimes feel sick from the physical and psychological stress of putting off work that I know needs to be done.
____ 2. I sometimes feel depressed and not in control, having lost self-confidence and self-esteem because of my procrastinating behavior.
____ 3. Sometimes I feel paralyzed and unable to act and to make decisions.
____ 4. I feel that I have lost the respect of others because of my procrastinating behavior.
____ 5. The quality of my academic work is less than what I know I can do.
____ 6. I have had serious conflicts in my relationships because of my procrastination.
____ 7. My procrastination has created an obstacle to the achievement of my significant personal goals.
If you checked two or more of these items, procrastination seems to be affecting your life in a negative manner.
Reference: Provost, J. A. (1990),
Work, play, and type: Achieving balance in your life. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press, Inc.
Why Procrastinate?
All people procrastinate at some time or another and most are aware of how procrastination works against them. Yet, for most people, procrastination can also work for them. For instance, you can delay making decisions or doing work in order to give yourself time to get your thoughts in order. You can also choose to put off a task because it has a low priority. But, procrastination can also serve as a way to avoid something. At the time, that "something" may seem to you to be even worse than the consequences of the procrastinating behavior.
The following are six basic reasons why you may procrastinate. As you read this section, check those reasons that seem to apply the most to your situations. These categories are not mutually exclusive, thus, you may see some of yourself in more than one section.
Adapted from McNickle and Sanderson (1993) Procrastination:
Problem or Plus? Kansas State University, University Counseling
Services.
