what causes procrastination?

Question

just wondering

Answer 1

Most may just say, "yeah....laziness...", but read this.....


"Procrastination, which at first sounds like a simple behavior, is, in fact, quite complex. It involves emotions, skills, thoughts or attitudes, and factors we are unaware of. Furthermore, the causes and dynamics of putting off an important but unpleasant task vary from person to person and from task to task for the same person," states Dr. Clayton E. Tucker Ladd in Psychological Self-Help.


Ladd divides procrastinators into two main groups: "the tense-afraid types" who are filled with self-doubt, low self-esteem and fears of failure; and "the relaxed, pleasure seeking procrastinators" who are easily distracted by more pleasurable activities than the tasks which seem almost hatefully boring.


Theories on the Causes of Procrastination:


Fear of failure -- Fear of failure can be paralyzing. If you have an anxiety disorder, you may even convince yourself that failing at a small task will result in devastating consequences.

Fear of success -- Success should be a positive situation.

Perfectionism -- A perfectionist often thinks, "Why do something if it can't be done perfectly?" Perfectionism may result in well-done tasks. Unfortunately, it may also lead to an inability to start or finish tasks.

Boredom -- Perhaps you just aren't interested in the task. How do you motivate yourself to do something you dislike?

Anger -- Maybe you're angry at your spouse who happens to want you to mow the lawn, so you put it off. Procrastination can be an unhealthy way of responding to a problem in a relationship.

Lack of skills or information -- You don't start because you can't, and you're afraid to let someone know.

Poor health -- You're tired. You're ill. You have a headache. These are rational reasons for putting a task on hold. However, be sure to make a time to get back to it or designate it to someone else.

Distractions -- Distractions may be mental (you're mourning the loss of a loved one) or environmental (your neighbor is playing loud music) or physical (you're too hungry to concentrate).

There you have it my friends!

Answer 2

Procrastination is something that people do either because they are lazy, fear something, or the people are just plain late all the time in doing things. I think we all have a little bit procrastination in us, sometimes it is hard to get everything done.

Answer 3

I'll answer this one tomorrow.
It could be having everything done leaves a person nothing to look forward to. You have to start looking for things to do or you might become bored because nothing is happening. It becomes a habit or fixation.
And by taking things a little slower, you can enjoy the moment a little more.
Maybe the question is why people don't appreciate the moment they're in until it becomes a memory they can reminisce about.

Answer 4

A person with no ambition, drive, passion or goals can easily become a procrastinator. If you have a spark for living, then your energy level will lead you the way to doing many things. But one main factor can be depression and low self esteem with yourself and your surroundings.

Answer 5

some of the following cld be the factors:

1. Uncertainity and a sense of insecurity.
2. not being able to get connected to the HERE & NOW
3. a haunch, an intuition that waiting for some more time, would bring in better options/ situation.

Answer 6

um, i'll get around to telling you tomorrow. :)

I think there could be several reasons.

Some people perform better under the pressure of a deadline. Even if they attempt to complete something early, they cannot truly focus on it.

Some people prioritize according to when the final action or event is due, without determining that intermediate steps may need to be completed even earlier to ensure that all is done on time.

Some people wait until the last minute because they really don't want to do it, but are forced to do it by law or other outside pressure.

Answer 7

I love to procrastinate, but I keep putting it off.

Answer 8

whats a procrastination

Answer 9

laziness. If people were always motivated, then we would be a much more productive race. Maybe more crazed but also more productive. It's also the body saying "I need to stop and take a break." Burnout.

Answer 10

Intelligence. Smart people can see all the possibilities, implications, potential problems of every action under consideration... it all seems too daunting, so they put it off instead.