Procrastination A presentation by Jenna Cagle

Social Psychology 2013

• Procrastination effects over 20% of the population

• In 1978, 5% of the population admitted to being chronic procrastinators compared to roughly 26% of the population today.

• Between 85% and 95% of students struggle with procrastination.

What is Procrastination?

Putting off activities or tasks that were planned or scheduled for activities

that are of a lesser importance.

Effects of Procrastination

• Unhealthy amounts of stress• Not completing work on time • Poor quality work• Stress related anxiety, depression, moodiness• Weak immune system• Struggling relationships• Tasks pile up and stress increases

Procrastination is a cycle

Why does this happen?

• Life is too short to do boring things

• Fear of failure• Fear of uncertainty or

change• Lack of self-confidence• Laziness• Distractions

->Why would you want to do boring work?

->No motivation to begin working

->Not being able to focus long enough to complete tasks

->Not working in a quiet environment

The 5 Lies Procrastinators tell themselves:

• They overestimate the time they have left to perform tasks.

• They underestimate the time it takes to complete tasks.

• They overestimate how motivated they will feel the next day.

• They mistakenly think that succeeding at a task requires that they feel like doing it.

• They mistakenly believe that working when “not in the mood” is counter-productive.

Are you a Chronic Procrastinator?

• Do you say you work better under pressure?• Do you put off work because you aren’t “in

the mood”?• Do you multi-task when doing work?• Do you surround yourself with distractions

when you work? (such as TV, phone, computer)

Procrastinating vs. Prioritizing

Procrastinators put off tasks because they

don’t want to do them.

People who prioritize put off

tasks to complete ones of more

importance first.

VS.

Steps to Reverse Procrastination

1. Make a list.

2. Write your intentions.

3. Set realistic goals.

Don’t try to learn a semester’s worth of information the night before the final!

4. Break it down into specific tasks.

5. Make your task meaningful.

One homework assignment could be the difference between an A and a B

6. Promise yourself a reward.

7. Eliminate tasks you never plan to do. Be honest!

Take “climb mount Everest” off your bucket list.

8. Estimate the amount of time you think it will take you to complete a task. Be realistic.

Words of Advice

Procrastination is not an excuse for failure.Don’t let your work pile up.

Make lists and stay organized.Find motivation.

Work hard now so you can relax later.Don’t let laziness get in the way of success.