While everyone procrastinates occasionally, some people seem to have turned it into an art form. If you find yourself constantly pushing tasks to the last minute or struggling to get started on important projects, you might be wondering what makes a procrastinator tick. Well, let’s look at some common traits and behaviors that many procrastinators share.
1. Perfectionism
Surprisingly, many procrastinators are perfectionists. The fear of falling short of their own high standards can be paralyzing, leading them to put off work until the last possible moment. For instance, a procrastinating writer might spend days thinking about the perfect opening line instead of actually writing the article. It’s just easier not to start at all, right?
2. Poor Time Management Skills
Procrastinators often struggle with estimating how long tasks will take. They might believe they work best under pressure, leading them to leave things until the last minute. However, this often results in rushed work and missed deadlines. A classic example is the student who thinks they can write a 10-page paper the night before it’s due, only to find themselves still typing furiously as the sun comes up.
3. Easily Distracted
In the age of endless scrolling, procrastinators find it especially challenging to stay focused. They might sit down to work on a project, only to find themselves an hour later deep in a Wikipedia rabbit hole or watching cute cat videos. The ability to quickly switch between tasks, while sometimes seen as a positive trait, can be a procrastinator’s downfall when it comes to completing work.
4. Difficulty with Decision-Making
When faced with multiple options, procrastinators struggle with making decisions. They might spend so much time weighing the pros and cons that they miss opportunities or deadlines. This indecisiveness can manifest in small ways, like spending an hour deciding what to watch on Netflix, or in larger life decisions, like putting off choosing a career path.
5. Avoidance of Discomfort
Many procrastinators have a low tolerance for discomfort and will go to great lengths to avoid unpleasant tasks or feelings. Sure, this provides short-term relief but it often leads to more stress in the long run. Someone might put off going to the dentist to avoid temporary discomfort, potentially leading to more serious and painful dental issues later.
6. Difficulty Breaking Down Large Tasks
Many procrastinators feel overwhelmed by big projects and struggle to break them down into manageable steps. As a result, they may put off starting altogether, finding the task too daunting to approach. This could manifest as an artist staring at a blank canvas, unable to start because they’re thinking about painting the entire masterpiece instead of just the first stroke.
7. Emotional Regulation Issues
Contrary to popular belief, procrastination is often an emotional regulation problem rather than a time management issue. Many procrastinators use avoidance as a coping mechanism for dealing with negative emotions like boredom, anxiety, or self-doubt. For example, someone might put off going to the gym because they feel anxious about being judged, or delay starting a work project because they’re worried about failing.
8. Impulsivity
Procrastinators tend to have a harder time resisting immediate gratification in favor of long-term rewards. They might choose to watch TV or scroll through social media instead of working on an important project, even though they know it will cause problems down the road. This leads to a cycle of guilt and stress as deadlines loom closer and the work remains undone.
9. Chronic Optimism About Time
Many procrastinators share an unrealistic optimism about how much they can accomplish in a given timeframe. They consistently underestimate how long tasks will take and overestimate how much time they have left. This “planning fallacy” leads them to believe they can always catch up later, which rarely turns out to be the case.
10. Fear of Failure (or Success)
By putting things off, procrastinators can blame their poor performance on lack of time rather than lack of ability. Paradoxically, some may also fear success, worrying about the increased expectations that might come with doing well. This can lead to self-sabotage, where the procrastinator unconsciously ensures they don’t have enough time to do their best work.
11. Rebelliousness or Resentment
In some cases, procrastination is a form of passive rebellion. If someone feels they have little autonomy in their work or life, they might procrastinate as a way of asserting control or expressing resentment towards authority figures or imposed deadlines. This could look like a teenager putting off chores to annoy their parents, or an employee delaying a project to frustrate their micromanaging boss.
12. Lack of Intrinsic Motivation
Procrastinators often struggle with tasks they don’t find inherently interesting or rewarding. Without a strong internal drive to complete a task, they’re more likely to put it off in favor of more fun activities. This is why a student might procrastinate on studying for a test in a subject they dislike but have no trouble spending hours on a hobby they enjoy.
13. Seeking the Adrenaline Rush
Some procrastinators actually enjoy the intensity and excitement of racing against a deadline. They may believe they work better under pressure and deliberately create stressful situations to get that adrenaline boost. While this can sometimes lead to bursts of productivity, it’s often at the cost of quality work and personal well-being.
14. Low Self-Efficacy
Procrastinators often have low self-efficacy—they don’t believe in their ability to successfully complete tasks. This lack of confidence can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, leading to more procrastination and poorer performance. For example, a student who doesn’t believe they’re good at math might put off studying, leading to poor test results, which further reinforces their belief in their lack of ability.
15. Difficulty Prioritizing
This inability to prioritize effectively can lead to a paralysis of choice, where they end up doing nothing instead of tackling the most crucial tasks first. For instance, a procrastinator might spend hours organizing their desk or inbox while neglecting a looming project deadline. They convince themselves that these smaller tasks are necessary prerequisites to the bigger job when in reality, they’re just putting off the more challenging work
