Why do I tend to procrastinate? How do I curb it?

Answer 1

Fear of success. You fear that if you DO what you're supposed to, you'll succeed and then whatever deep-seated fears (separation from parents, increased expectations, commitment, ultimate failure) accompany that start to surface.

Another reason you procrastinate could be perfectionism, but it's often brought on by the same things (too-high expectations of parents). See link below (1). It also has steps for time management.

Other reasons for procrastination might be, lack of relevance of the task, fear of evaluation and many others. See link (2) below.

First, write down all the things on which you procrastinate. Then write a scenario in which you DON'T procrastinate and describe what will happen, following a logical sequence of events. Like this: If I DO get my papers done on time, I'll get better grades in my courses, and maybe a better job. I will then be a success.

Take note of how you FEEL as you write it. Is there fear? Annoyance? Then you must address those, possibly thru counseling.

Once you identify your fears, come up with "do-able" alternatives to procrastinating. Have friends and classmates brainstorm with you for ways to stop making excuses and to get your work done.

It'll take a while but it's worth it! After your first success, you will be less afraid and more likely to NOT put things off.

Answer 2

My daughter has the same problem. I'm not exactly sure how you can stop it. Curb it? You either stop it or you don't. You don't "curb it".
If you have something that you know has a dead-line, start working on it right away. Do a little bit at a time, then when it's due, you won't have as much work to complete.
Don't put whatever you have to do, out of eye-sight. If you have to keep looking at it, you won't forget about doing it, and you "might" start working on it.
I don't know how you can stop procrastinating, it's a choice that you're making. You have to WANT to stop. You have to MAKE yourself stop.
When you do finally stop putting things off until the last minute, you'll realize how much better you feel and you won't have that rushed feeling when you're trying to get the work done at the last minute. Your work will also be much better if you're not trying to do it at the last minute.

Answer 3

Procrastination is a bad habit, it is one of my worst ones! I hate the fact that I do it, but it is something I am working on doing better with. I also have passed this habit along to one of my kids!
No, I'm not proud of it either... so the best way to curb it is to try to list things that you are putting off... and start doing them one at a time! Don't overwhelm yourself with too many at once, but just
make an effort to do something until you finish it, and then start on another job! Soon, you will not have anything left to procrastinate for! Then after a couple of weeks, you will be so used to doing things ahead of time, or on time, you will be broken of your bad habit to put it off till later! I guess the saying is that if you do something for two weeks, it becomes a habit... and it better be a good one! ;) Good luck... and I will be working on mine right along with you!!! Thanks for giving me this needed support to help me break my bad habit too! Best wishes! ;0)

Answer 4

It's the night before the big exam, and you finally opened the book to start studying.

You know all semester long that you have three college term papers due RIGHT after Thanksgiving break, and on the way home for Thanksgiving break you're lugging two boxes of books home with you -- so that you can write all three term papers while you're at home. For four days.

It's 9:00 a.m. on April 15, and you decide it's finally time to start looking at your income tax paperwork.

Okay, those are all my stories, about me.

Why? Is it the adrenalin rush? Is it the excitement to see if you can pull through a tight deadline? Do you like the idea of succeeding in spite of the threat of big consequences if you fail, thereby calling yourself a hero?

I think all of those apply to me.

What I'm learning about myself and my procrastinating tendencies as I get older is that to some extent they come out of a "victim mentality."

"THEY" wouldn't give me enough quiet time in my room to read the books I needed to read to do my term paper. (blaming "they.")

I don't have enough time to study for my test because my parents make me do too many chores. (blaming, again.) So if I fail my test, it's really their fault, not mine.

I don't have time to tackle my taxes, balance my checkbook, or handle my finances maturely, because I'm working all the time. (The IRS doesn't buy this one.)

What it all boils down to is I'm looking to other people to take care of me and blaming them when they don't.

When I decide to take charge of my own life and get out of the victim mentality and blaming other people for my circumstances, I'll stop procrastinating.

(Okay, but I DID get A's on two of those papers, and a B on the third.)

Answer 5

To tell the truth I dont know. I have been a procastinator all my life. The only strategy that tends to work is to do something straight away.

I am not trying to be funny. I can do something as soon as it comes across my desk but find it much harder to come back to something. For example, I answered this question as soon as I saw it. If I decided to come back later, I wouldnt.

Answer 6

Because it's easier than really doing it. Curbing is rough, I just try to do what ever is first on my list, yes I make a list..

Answer 7

I'll tell you later.........but what I'd like to know...are you a Capricorn? We tend to do that.

Answer 8

Wait until the last second before trying to cure it. That's what I do!

Answer 9

eat candy when your doing boring book work and studying or whatever it is.