Ever find yourself scrolling through social media or organizing your workspace instead of diving into an important project? That’s what we call procrastination. Procrastination is a curious behavior that many of us engage in, often to our own detriment. This irrational behavior is not just a matter of poor time management but a complex interaction between our conscious and subconscious minds.
In this post, we’ll discuss procrastination, its causes and consequences, types of procrastinators and ways to overcome this unhelpful habit.
What is procrastination?
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, to procrastinate is “to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done” and it comes from the Latin prefix pro-, meaning “forward,” and crastinus, “of tomorrow.
However, procrastination is more complex than you’d imagine. It’s not only a behavior and a habit. It’s also the mind’s deceptive safety mechanism.
When we procrastinate, our subconscious mind is often at play, trying to protect us from perceived threats.
Let’s imagine a young man at a high school dance thinking about asking his crush for a dance. As he walks towards her, his conscious mind is flooded with concerns like, “What if she rejects me?” while his subconscious, driven by survival instincts, views these concerns as real dangers that need to be avoided. Halfway across the floor, he sees his best friend and thinks, “I should talk to him first.” Phew! Safe again!
This exaggerated scenario describes a common miscommunication between our conscious and subconscious minds. Our conscious desires can be overridden by the subconscious need to avoid perceived dangers, even when those dangers are entirely irrational. This is the essence of procrastination.
Procrastination is a glitch in our mental programming that needs to be updated for optimal performance, which is something we focus on through our Inspired Performance Program (TIPP).
Why do we procrastinate?
At its core, procrastination is often driven by fear—whether it’s the fear of failure, rejection, or even success. These fears can sneak up on us, causing us to delay tasks that matter most.
Take the fear of failure, for example. It’s not just about worrying that we’ll mess up; it’s the deep, often unconscious, belief that if we don’t try, we won’t have to face the pain of falling short. For some, this is tied to past experiences where perfection was expected, making anything less than perfect feel like a failure.
On the flip side, there’s the fear of rejection. This fear is more external, driven by what others might think or say. It’s why we sometimes avoid tasks that could put us in a position where others might judge us. Imagine delaying a project because you’re worried about how your boss or clients might react to the final result. The thought of criticism or rejection can be paralyzing, leading to endless delays.
And then there’s the fear of success—a fear that’s often overlooked. Success might sound like something we all want, but for procrastinators, it can bring its own set of anxieties. Success can lead to higher expectations, more responsibilities, and the pressure to keep up the good work. This can be daunting, leading to procrastination as a way to avoid these new, uncomfortable feelings.
I worked with a successful woman who shared her struggles with constant procrastination, despite running a successful business. She couldn’t figure out why she was doing it, nor how to stop this behavior. Interestingly, it came back to her early childhood experiences, with her mother, a school principal.
Whenever my client would do her homework, she would bring it to her mother for review, and it would result in her mother using a red pen to underline mistakes. Although her mother intended to help her, the woman perceived it as criticism, causing her to develop a defensive mechanism against such disapproval.
In her perception, her mother’s actions were critical, but in reality, her mother was trying to provide constructive help. Unfortunately, this misunderstanding led the woman to associate bringing work for review with emotional pain.
Consequently, she adopted a strategy of procrastination to delay facing potential criticism. As a child she learned that if she could put something off long enough, she didn’t have to deal with the pain.
This approach allowed her to avoid the discomfort associated with corrections. However, it created new challenges as she often dealt with tasks at the last minute.
My client’s procrastination wasn’t a deliberate, conscious action; rather, it was a subconscious effort by her mind to protect her from emotional pain. The mind naturally seeks ways to avoid pain, and in her case, procrastination served as a coping mechanism to protect against perceived criticism and its associated discomfort.
Procrastination and perfectionism
For many procrastinators, perfectionism is a big part of the problem. The idea of doing something perfectly or not at all can be so overwhelming that it’s easier to put things off. This mindset often stems from early life experiences where high standards were the norm, and anything less was met with criticism or disappointment. Over time, this creates a cycle where the fear of not being perfect leads to procrastination, which in turn reinforces the belief that it’s safer to delay than to try and possibly fail.
Although perfectionism can stem from childhood, it’s important to note that this isn’t always the result of poor parenting. Often, children misinterpret well-meaning encouragement as disapproval, leading to a lifelong struggle with perfectionism and procrastination.
Types of procrastinators
Procrastination is not a one-size-fits-all behavior. Research has identified different types of procrastinators:
- Active Procrastinators: These individuals deliberately delay tasks, believing they work better under pressure. They often manage to meet deadlines and perform well, despite their last-minute approach.
- Passive Procrastinators: These individuals postpone tasks because they are paralyzed by indecision or fear. They struggle with completing tasks on time, often leading to stress and subpar performance.
- Decisional Procrastinators: This type of procrastination involves delaying decision-making, particularly under stress. It often manifests in significant life decisions rather than day-to-day tasks.
Breaking free from procrastination
As we wrap up, remember that procrastination is not about being lazy or unmotivated. It’s a complex, fear-driven behavior rooted in our subconscious mind. Understanding this irrationality is the first step towards overcoming it and unlocking a more productive and fulfilling life.
Procrastinators often judge themselves harshly, perpetuating a cycle of self-blame and further procrastination. However, research suggests that self-forgiveness and self-compassion can be powerful tools for breaking this cycle. By acknowledging mistakes, experiencing regret, and then moving towards self-acceptance, procrastinators can begin to heal from the negative effects of this behavior.
Programs like the Inspired Performance Program (TIPP) are designed to help individuals clear these mental glitches and reprogram their minds for peak performance. By addressing the root causes of procrastination, such as fear and perfectionism, individuals can free themselves from the chains of procrastination and achieve their full potential.
TIPP is specifically designed to help reset your mind and restore your body to optimal states of health, performance, and wellness so you can achieve your full potential.
Ready for a reset? Book a call with a TIPP advisor today.
