Does procrastination have only negative consequences?
In 2007, three great men proposed three criteria for a behaviour to be classified as academic procrastination. It must be counterproductive, needless, and delaying.
Can a delay be good? Yes it can be.
You may then say, but you mentioned delay in your definition.
Unnecessary postponement, irrationality, impulsiveness are the key features here, though all this leads to delay.
When you reprioritize between task where there's low tendency to procrastinate on truly valued tasks, the situation is beyond you, it’s a response to certain demands that could present risky/negative outcomes, or require waiting for new information to arrive. I call it positive procrastination or just a delay.
It is usually seen as a negative trait due to its hindering effect on one's productivity. Can be associated with depression, low self-esteem, guilt, inadequacy, tiredness, e.t.c.
Note that procrastination can also be a form of psychological disorder and it is heritable.
WAYS TO DEAL WITH PROCRASTINATION.
We are in a world where everybody wants sharp sharp outcome and then when your goals become unattainable (perfect goal), it results in failure. perfectionism is one of the main cause of procrastination. When your goals become unrealistic, self esteem reduces, anger, unhappiness, self-doubt, and the likes sets in. With this I would say stop focusing on faults and flaws, to triumph, you've got to try, it's in the first syllable. failures do not mean the end.
If schedule format works for you, be organized, set your activities. if yours is a flexible unstructured way, do it. But allocate timing for necessary tasks.
If tiredness is your cause for procrastination, take a break, recharge, don't beat yourself.
When busyness is your excuse for not doing something, take a moment to ask yourself “what am I really avoiding”
Oh! A new task? A new idea? Tired of the present one? Don't pursue another till you finish the present one. Stay on track!
Make the rewards for taking action more immediate. Example, only watch your favourite show while ironing or doing household chores.
Make the consequence of procrastination more immediate create a consequence, if the original will take time.
Make commitments for the future. Example, set up automatic transfer of funds to your saving account. Print out the slides on your phone to curb distraction when reading.
2-minutes rule. “when you start a new habit, it should take less than two minutes to do”. Make it easy as possible. Example, “study for class” becomes “Open my notes”. “Run 3 miles” becomes “Tie my running shoes”.
Are you the “morning person” or a “night owl”? Use it well.
Be consistent.
For more understanding and research click here https://jamesclear.com/procrastination
I hope this helped, pls share and comment.
Thank you🥰.