Causes of Procrastination
What are the most common causes of procrastination? Fear of failure is frequently the primary cause. Tasks that seem difficult or overwhelming can be the objects of this fear. Rather than trying to tackle them, you just push them aside and avoid them altogether. Once this procrastination begins with one task, such as writing an article, it can become a cycle that’s repeated with other similar tasks, such as writing reports, grants, etc. It will be increasingly difficult to break this cycle. In writing, for example, “writer’s block” becomes the rationalization or justification for procrastination in any writing project. It legitimizes the procrastination.
In addition to failure, the literature identifies other possible causes:
• Fear of rejection, responsibility, criticism, disappointing others, imperfection, making a mistake, change, inadequacy, or success
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Desire for attention
• Boring or difficult tasks
• Resentment
• Unclear goals
7 Steps to Overcome Procrastination
The challenge is how to regain control and conquer the tasks that produced your procrastination. Here are seven steps you can try:
1. Identify the source of the problem
2. Break down your tasks into subtasks
3. Apply the “Swiss Cheese Method”
4. Focus on the outcomes and deadlines
5. Review your daily, weekly, and semester schedules regularly
6. Find an accountability partner
7. Reward yourself for small and large victories
My next blog will describe these 7 steps. I hope this is helpful to you or a friend who could use a bit of guidance to snap out of a procrastination rut. Let me know your thoughts. Have you tried any techniques not listed above that have worked? Please share.
COPYRIGHT © 2009 Ronald A. Berk, LLC & Coventry Press
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