8 Examples of Procrastination and Solutions

Do you know any active procrastinators? Are you one? Do you wait until the last minute to start working on a project? It’s been on your plate for months and the due date is tomorrow! You’re not alone. Did you know Mozart procrastinated composing music? Frank Lloyd Wright procrastinated designing houses. And Steve Jobs had a procrastination problem, too!

Around 20% of U.S. adults are chronic procrastinators, according to Joseph Ferrari, a professor of psychology at DePaul University in Chicago and author of Still Procrastinating: The No Regret Guide to Getting It Done.

Carefully think about the major impact of procrastination on your life and the effect it has on both your short-term and long-term goals.

Stress levels rise when you are not prepared. Failing to meet deadlines can disappoint your manager and team. You may even lose your job. Procrastination may even start affecting your physical and mental health.

What’s the Definition of Procrastination?

Procrastination is the act of unnecessarily postponing decisions or actions. For example, an employee is procrastinating when they delay working on a task. They understand that it requires plenty of time and plays a crucial role in a larger initiative. The team is counting on them to meet the deadline. But they wait until a few days or hours before it’s due to even start.

"Never put off till to-morrow what you can do day after to-morrow just as well." —Mark Twain, parodying Benjamin Franklin

Understanding Procrastination: The Why

Why are you procrastinating? Do you find yourself browsing social media? Are you liking your friends’ Facebook posts instead of working on a project? You know you should get started, but why are you avoiding doing so? Do you have a procrastination habit?

Procrastinators let’s get started on writing a to-do list of uncompleted projects. Make a note of when you started the project and the specific reason you stopped. Look for patterns of starting and stopping the project. What are the commonalities? These are your WHYS, your examples of why you procrastinate.

Of course, these common reasons are only a sample of why some employees procrastinate. Each person will need to get to the root of their particular procrastination problems.

Procrastination Solutions

The good news is management can motivate and support procrastinators. One way is to offer bonuses and incentives for meeting tight deadlines on important tasks. For those with intrinsic motivation, challenge them to meet deadlines before the due date. Or add an element of fun to the project by seeing who on the team will finish their task first. Immediate rewards can be a huge motivator providing instant gratification!

What should you do when chronic procrastination affects the return on investment (ROI) and other team members? Management needs to draw the line. They still need to be supportive, but also to be clear about the possibility of a poor performance review if improvement is not made. Be sure to schedule periodic and scheduled accountability meetings. This will help gauge how and when things begin to go off track and how to, hopefully, head off any potential problems.

Understanding the root causes of procrastination (the “why”) can help identify the best way to overcome it.

Based on our eight procrastination examples, we also want to offer solutions. Keep in mind that some of these solutions can help right away, while others may take more time to fully address procrastination.

#1: Fear of failure or being judged

• Do you have low self-esteem?
• Do you have a genuine lack of proper training and/or the necessary skill set?
• Are you concerned about negative consequences, such as a poor performance review?

Fear of failure is a common cause of procrastination. Don’t let negative emotions take over. Reduce decision-making paralysis by actively listening and taking detailed notes. This helps ensure you don’t miss anything pertinent. Don’t make assumptions. Always ask questions when in doubt. If you still find yourself procrastinating, be transparent with your manager. Request a mentor and skill set training. You may also wish to contact your company’s employee assistance program (EAP) provider for confidential professional therapy.

#2: Fear of success or exceeding expectations

• Do you downplay your accomplishments or not communicate them?
• Are you worried you're setting yourself up for important tasks with “impossible” high standards and unrealistic expectations?
• Are you concerned about succeeding in your role? Being promoted and stepping out of your comfort zone?

Fear of success is a form of self-sabotage. Figure out why you fear succeeding. If you can’t pinpoint the issue, you may want to contact your EAP provider. Once you identify the trigger, change that fear to caution. Eventually, your cautious behavior will subside, and your procrastination behavior will be a thing of the past. Imagine your future self as a confident and successful professional. As always, it’s good to have open and honest communication with your manager.

#3: Unpleasant tasks/Negative emotions

• Do you find yourself daydreaming instead of working on important tasks?
• Are you struggling to see the value in the work and questioning whether it’s forth the effort?
• Are you uncertain where to start? Did you receive little or no direction on the project?

Take the first step by tackling your most unpleasant task—getting it out of the way will free you up to focus on the work you enjoy. Control your negative feelings by finding a positive purpose in the task. If you’re unsure how a particular task fits in with the big picture, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. Get past your negative emotions as quickly as possible and spend less time worrying and procrastinating. This will help you move forward and stop the vicious cycle.

#4: Challenging and time-consuming projects

• Do you avoid time-consuming tasks, as they are energy zappers?
• Do you feel unsure about where to start when assigned a big project? Unsure how to juggle all your other expected important tasks?
• Do you find yourself working on projects that aren’t due for weeks? Are you putting off a high-priority project that requires plenty of time to complete?

One valid reason we procrastinate is that the work is overwhelming. Our procrastination buster tips—like breaking big projects into smaller tasks and having a timeline with firm deadlines—can help you take on those tough, time-consuming jobs without falling behind on everything else. Our solutions can be motivating and help you stop procrastinating.

#5: Personality traits

• Are you always energized by the last-minute rush?
• Are you a perfectionist and everything must be 100% plus?
• Are you disorganized and not even sure what’s all on your plate?

Many procrastinators claim they do their best work under pressure. They always wait until the last minute to finish. Unfortunately, this can lead to a lack of attention to detail as you rush to meet a deadline. Not to mention the added stress put on the rest of the teams as they sit and wait. Make a concerted effort to stop these behaviors. Understand the big picture. Always focus on finishing the project as the end goal.

We should strive to do our best but don’t let perfection stop you from completing your project! Stop revising it and instead revisit with a fresh set of eyes later. This will save time in the long run. Remember draft versions are fine. No need to get it 100% right the first time.

Disorganized? Start with your workspace. Keep a schedule of projects in a visible place. Organize your computer files and emails. When you have an organized workspace, it’s much easier to focus on your priorities.

#6: Poor time management skills

• Do you have difficulty gauging how long a project will take you to complete?
• Are you constantly interrupted and not sure how to handle the interruptions?
• Do you find yourself working late at night as you did not realize the project would take this long?

Surveys show we have interruptions every 3 minutes! Phone calls, messages over Teams or Slack, emails...constant bombardment. What are we to do? If you are struggling with poor time management skills, turn your phone on silent and respond to all voicemails and emails in order of importance. In addition, time management training is in order.

We also highly recommend starting time blocking!

#7: Lack of motivation

• Do you find your task not personally meaningful?
• Was the task assigned to you without soliciting your buy-in?
• Did you say “yes” on a whim? Did it sound like an exciting project? Do you have way too much on your plate already?

Sometimes we put off a small task because it’s too boring or monotonous. You know that you must finish what you started, and you know the requirements of the job. What can you add to the project so it can be personally meaningful? Try asking questions that may spark an interest or buy-in to the task.

If you really do not have enough bandwidth, speak candidly with your manager. Set boundaries before saying yes. Ask about the workload. Check your calendar to see what other important things are due around the same time frame. Due dates too close together may cause project completion delays. Sleep on it; don’t say yes right away. Remember the importance of a healthy work/life balance.

#8: Personal life or physical health problems

• Are personal life issues causing you higher levels of stress than normal?
• Are you caring for an older parent?
• Did you recently experience a divorce or a death? Are you experiencing any mental health issues, such as depression?

Alert your manager about situations in your personal life that are causing work-related procrastination issues. You never need to share personal details unless you wish to do so but cluing your manager in to what is going on will help everyone in the long run. It’s always wise to take short breaks between important tasks. This gives you a mental break before jumping from one challenge to the next. And remember to reach out to EAP to speak with a licensed therapist.

HSI Can Help

Check out HSI’s lesson, “It’s a Problem of Motivation.” It’s a lesson on how leaders can activate our seeking system, so employees have a zest for their work. It’s an accelerating lesson that comes from a different angle and explores the brain science of motivation and harnessing that knowledge for increased productivity.

Experience HSI’s unique approach to learning with both video and article-based lessons. HSI offers a wide variety of off-the-shelf programs for employees’ diverse needs, experience levels, and personal growth. Several key topics include courses specifically about procrastination and project or time management. Here’s a small sampling:

• Project Management: Timelines
• Project Management: People Problems
• Project Management: Completing the Project
• Effective Time Management: Time Blocking and Focus Time
• Effective Time Management: Workday Planning Techniques
• Effective Time Management: The Pomodoro Technique

Many of our clients open their HSI training library for self-directed employee learning. It’s a great way to empower them and make them feel valued and motivated. Employees can choose off-the-shelf training courses best suited to their unique needs.

Don't procrastinate... request a consultation today to learn more.

Additional Resources

• Time Bandits: Overcoming Time Management Challenges
• No Motivation to Work: What Companies Can Do to Boost Employee Engagement and Productivity
• Employee Well-Being and Mental Health: Learning and Leading Toward a Mentally Healthier Workplace