Can't Help Procrastinating? But Why Do We Procrastinate?

I am sure you are familiar with the most famous tip to stay productive – make a to-do list!

Every time you scratch an item off of your to-do list, you get a little rush of dopamine. Along with it comes an inevitable feeling of accomplishment as well as a minute failure when we lag behind or are unable to tick off all the tasks on the list by the end of the day. You can recall that feeling? Good. Keep reading.

The utter feeling of disappointment and anxiousness you feel as the night approaches and you still have plenty of tasks pending. 

Source: Tiny Budha

Don’t worry, I can relate too.

It makes one feel uncompetitive, lazy, and very unproductive. It’s easy to forget and overlook the tasks we have accomplished when you have even a few unattended in front of you.

You can very easily fall into the darkness, get on the verge of giving up everything or lose the willpower to continue at all because the feeling can become so overwhelming.

However, have you ever thought about why it happens?

One of the main reasons for it is that our definition of 'productivity' is wrong. 

Yes, it's right. Productivity.

According to the technical capital-driven perspective, productivity is "a ratio between the output volume and the volume of inputs. In other words, it measures how efficiently production inputs, such as labor and capital, are being used in an economy to produce a given level of output."

However, another definition of it that should be considered for personal and even professional domains is, “productivity is about doing things you love, things you know will help you grow as well as keeping the balance and occasionally picking up ‘unproductive’ things to keep yourself sane”.

We have developed the understanding that only a certain set of things are productive, whereas anything besides it is unproductive.

But we need to correct it, productivity is not about doing things obsessively, daily, or ultimately perfectly, it is all about doing things wholeheartedly, enjoying the moment you’re loving, and focusing on the process rather than looking forward to the outcome with such intensity that it sucks out all the fun out of it. 

 Note to bookworms:

Hello fellow book lovers,

I understand your obsession and in no way have the intention to question your interests. However, have a quick question, what are you feeding your tbr list that is making it grow so effectively and so spaciously on daily basis? Xoxo :D

On a serious note: have you ever wondered why is it comparatively so easy to pick up a new book while getting to the tbr list is so hard? You guessed it right – procrastination! 

 

Source: Ted Ideas

Why do we procrastinate?

There are numerous reasons and factors why a person might procrastinate. However, many of them are usually misunderstood and most of them are overly emphasized. It’s important to understand that there can be one or many reasons at work making you procrastinate from writing that assignment (or any task in general). 

Did you know there are different types of procrastinators? Learn more about your type here.

 

A brief list of those reasons is following:

1. Perfecto Virus (Perfectionist Approach) 

A very common virus that makes us weaker and vulnerable to taking each judgmental comment and even constructive criticism personally. The host wants to do everything perfectly. Consequently, stops us from doing anything out of the fear of doing it ‘imperfectly’. It is found in people of all ages, ethnicities, religions, gender, and cultures. People with this virus are most prone to procrastination because they fear the judgment of others. They make their best strategies, are habitual of overthinking every scenario to make it perfect, and prepare according to each possibility to give their best efforts to deliver the top-notched performance - an extensive process that drains them of their energy even before the event happens. 

2. Fear of Failure

The fear of judgment and failure is undoubtedly one of the most obvious and prevailing reasons for procrastination. Alike perfecto-virus, it is not confined to any one category of people, however, it is most commonly and intensely found in teenagers. 

3. Inability to prioritize things 

When our visions are unclear, it is usually very hard to prioritize things. Passion is indeed a very good quality, and the core required thing for success. But keep in mind that it is the most important but not the only thing. When goals are unidentified followed by intense passion, we urge to take up everything we can get. We fear losing the ‘right’ opportunity as we are not able to see it ourselves at the moment. Such blind effort can easily burn us out and drain us of our all energy and result in unnecessary procrastination. 

4. No Self-Control 

Self-control is hard to achieve in today’s time. We have every type of entertainment just a touch away. We are beyond borders and barriers connected with our friends and sources of entertainment. This easy access can easily lead to blind obsessions and can make us lose track of time and things. 

5. Laziness and Binge Watching 

Sometimes staying in bed and doing nothing, which can also be translated into binge-watching a series or scrolling social media platforms, especially when we have tasks at hand, (pain-pleasure principle) is all we want to do. Our technically accommodated lifestyle has robbed us of every opportunity for activity. Slow body activity and less exercise can surprisingly lower our energy level rather than keep us active. Therefore, when our natural energy reserve is low, and the mind is not actively engaged at most times, we are more likely to stay lazy and delay every task we can till we have to do it. 

6. Underlying Depression and ADHD 

Unlike a popular understanding, depressed people don’t just stay sad or cry all the time. There can be many forms of its expression and everyone can experience it differently. However, a few common symptoms are loss of interest in all life activities, low energy levels, a constant state of numbness; or not being able to feel emotions for a long time. Therefore, as may have lost interest in all activities, so you will be more likely to procrastinate on every task until the deadline. 

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can also be an effective reason behind your habit of procrastination. It is basically a disorder where you become unable to focus on one thing for a longer time and as most tasks require one to focus, it can become naturally challenging for you to stay put

(Please don't google it! Google is a very dangerous place for such concerns. You can consult a professional or study any published study in an authentic journal to help you get more clarity. But please, do not self-diagnose rigidly.) 

7. Short-term Mood Repair Approach 

As discussed above, procrastination is a perfect example of present bias, our hard-wired tendency to prioritize short-term needs ahead of long-term ones. We fail to prioritize the long-term goal and prefer to find comfort in the moment which can lead us to make many wrong decisions and trap us into a viciously confining zone of comfort for life. 

8. Abstract Goals  

Having a certain goal with a general approach is not enough to keep one driven and dedicated. You need to be specific and very clear about what you want to achieve. It could be a short as well as a long-term goal, but keeping your vision specific rather than generalizing it would help you much more in keeping yourself motivated and resultantly, avoid procrastination.  

9. Too future-oriented 

At times, we find ourselves indulged in thought and future planning. We keep thinking about how it would happen, and we realize how much incapable we are, and how much we need to learn. All this very easily overwhelms us bringing our morale down to the least level. Whereas goal orientation and future planning are important, one must find the right balance to not worry unnecessarily about the things one can't even control. 

There are a few things we can control - like our actions - however, we are never sure of their eventual consequences. We can only hope for good and have faith in Allah Almighty. Therefore, staying in the moment and working with what strengths and potential you have at the moment is the crucial and most basic part of the process.   

There is not one reason for procrastination. At times, it could be a couple of them together working their wonder, and at other times, one may dominate the rest. However, it is important and helpful to understand these reasons as it may help you recognize which one is influencing under a specific circumstance. So you can overcome it to focus and get back to your routine.