Procrastination, is a major part in some of our lives. It can hinder us from long projects like writing an essay or daily tasks like folding laundry. I certainly have an issue with procrastination as evident from the time stamp of this post. As Jane B. Burka, PhD and Lenora M. Yuen, PhD put it, procrastination is, "to postpone, putting off, defer, prolong. Forward it tomorrow, otherwise known has "Ill do it later" (5). People who procrastinate fit into two categories:
- Its a problem and it hinders me from completing task/projects i want to get done. An example of someone who is like this could be a lawyer who was disbarred becasue she missed too many court deadlines or a man whose wife left him becasue she got fed up with his procrastination at work interfering with family activities. They procrastinate until they have no time to save themselves.
- Its not a problem and i dont suffer from my procrastination. Someone who denies or doesnt believe that he/she procrastinated fits in this category. They may consistently underestimating how much time they need to complete a project. They may use distraction of social activities to procrastinate. They are about postponing now and being successful later. They dont suffer because they are enjoying the distractions.
Some people dont realize or wont accept that they procrastinate. Then next you have a project and these thoughts run through your head, youre probably a procrastinator.
The Cycle of Procrastination
- "Ill start early this time"
- "Ive got to start soon"
- "What if i dont start"
- "Theres still time"
- "Theres something wrong with me"
- "The Final Choice: To Do or Not to Do"
Every time a project comes up for school, i find some of these thoughts going through my head. I realize Im a procrastinator, not what do i do about it. I have to find out why i procrastinate. To find the root of the problem Jane B. Burka, PhD and Lenora M. Yuen, PhD say you have to think of the first time you remember procrastinating. "Perhaps procrastination gave you some special protection ins the classroom. Your teacher could say, I wish youd try harder, but could never say, You just dont have what it takes, because the teacher never saw what you had" (15-16). I dont remember, specifically, the first time I procrastinated, but i understand why I do. Personally, Im afraid of not succeeding, the fear of failure, the fear of disappointment. If I succeed then the bar of success is raised higher. In a sense, I fear success as much as I fear failure. I have to read more into the book to learn how to stop procrastinating.
Do you procrastinate? Is it an issue for you? Why do you do it?