By Leah jones
National Procrastination Week is Mar. 1-14 this year. There is so much more to this issue than simply laziness. Here are some of the reasons for chronic procrastination and potential solutions.
Fear of failure or not meeting standards can cause avoidance. A feeling of inadequacy or doubt can generate stress, leading to procrastination.
Worrying about how others will perceive outcomes can create avoidant behavior. This can also be related to feelings of inadequacy, low self-esteem and even depression.
If a task feels unimportant or uninteresting, it's easy to put it off. Not getting any gratification from the thought of completing the task can make it feel impossible to begin.
Feeling like a task is too big or stressful can cause avoidance as a coping mechanism. Fear of failure, judgment, results, being exposed as a fraud and more can all arise.
Neurodivergent individuals may struggle with focus, impulse control and organization. Hyperfixation, distractions and avoidance can lead to procrastination.
Some procrastinate to avoid negative emotions, such as frustration, doubt or boredom. It can be a coping mechanism for lack of motivation and energy caused by depression.
Getting to the root cause of procrastination and not just writing it off as laziness helps to make real change with fixing the issue. Here are some other solutions that may help with managing procrastination.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help reframe negative thought patterns, build healthier habits and develop better time management skills while regulating emotions.
Author Gretchen Rubin told the New York Times that a way to make distractions less appealing is to take away the instant gratification they give through inconveniences.
Taking on a task with one manageable step at a time can make the brain feel less overwhelmed. Mentally planning ahead of time can lead to overall satisfaction and improved mood.