Procrastination

When faced with a decision to make or a task to complete, we usually rely on our self-control in order to push ourselves to get things done. Furthermore, our motivation, which is based on the expectation of receiving some reward for our efforts, can support our self-control, and make it more likely that we will get things done in a timely manner.

However, there are also various demotivating factors that we can experience, which have an opposite effect than our motivation, meaning that they make us more likely to procrastinate.

For example, anxiety, fear of failure, and other negative emotions can cause us to delay unnecessarily, as can being given a task that is unpleasant.

There are some hindering factors that interfere with our self-control and motivation, in a way that also makes us more susceptible to procrastination.

For example, exhaustion, which occurs as a result of having to work hard all day, can make it more difficult for us to exert self-control if it’s already late at night.

Similarly, a large gap between the time when we complete a task and the time at which we will receive the reward for completing it can cause us to discount the value of this reward, which means that its motivational value will be greatly reduced.

As long as our self-control and motivation outweigh the effects of demotivating factors, despite the hindering factors that interfere with them, we manage to get our work done in a timely manner. However, when all the negative factors outweigh our self-control and motivation, we end up procrastinating, by putting off our work either indefinitely, or until some future point in time when the balance shifts in our favour.

Overall, we procrastinate because our self-control and motivation, which might be hindered by factors such as exhaustion and rewards that are far in the future, are outweighed by demotivating factors, such as anxiety and fear of failure.

The good news is there are strategies and tools available to assist you to overcome Procrastination