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Attempt to recall a time when you delayed beginning on one task despite understanding there would be effects afterward. While rushing to end up the task, you most likely felt worried, guilty, and helpless, but you ‘d promise to work much better in the future. Nevertheless, the next time you had to do work, home chores, or other tasks, you more than likely found yourself succumbing to procrastination yet again. Although it’s easy to get stuck in this harmful cycle, procrastinators don’t have to live like this permanently.
In this guide, we’ll teach you our best methods on how to beat procrastination once and for all.
About Procrastination
Procrastination is the act of purposefully delaying decisions, jobs, or actions up until the very last minute. Individuals who hesitate understand they require to get things done, but because of different reasons, they get going extremely late– sometimes, so late that finishing the job on time becomes difficult.
Now, while some people hesitate only in specific situations, others can be persistent procrastinators. When this routine ends up being widespread in your life, it can disrupt your goals or perhaps your psychological well-being.
The Psychology of Procrastination
We’re all acquainted with the act of procrastination. Some more than others. And it’s no secret we have all procrastinated and continue to do so up until this day.
It is stated that a procrastinator typically delays a task for absence of better time management and interest or laziness.
However is that all there is to it? What are our inspirations for hesitating? Why do we constantly do it in spite of knowing the repercussions that include it?
Procrastination 101: Lessons From Joseph Ferrari, PhD
Joseph Ferrari, Ph.D. is a teacher of psychology at DePaul University.
An acknowledged contributor to the psychology of procrastination, his research study and work are significantly credited by the American Psychological Association (APA) too.
The American Psychological Association is a group of extremely qualified professional psychologists, students, teachers, consultants, and clinicians based in the United States. The primary pupose of APA is to further advance research study on psychology. Additionally, APA thinks that psychology, more than a science, is a way of raising well-being and health.
Apart from that, he has actually released a number of books and short articles on procrastination, providing proficiency to those who battle with it. APA reached out to Ferrari in an effort to even more comprehend the psychology behind why individuals hesitate.
The exchange dived into underlying conditions, contributions of technology, society’s function, and simple solutions to the issue.
Chronic Procrastinators Versus Non-Procrastinators
It’s obvious we all put off a task every so often.
However, that does not always specify us as procrastinators. In fact, hesitating every once in a while is thought about normal among individuals.
Feeling eliminated? We do too.
But what if not getting things done becomes a lifestyle?
That’s when chronic procrastination is available in. Once the practice of putting things off is nurtured by a person, it carries over into all aspects of their life. And this causes much more loss of inspiration, failure to achieve jobs, and more procrastination.
Individuals who procrastinate frequently obtain a ” maladaptive way of life”. Though procrastination is not considered a major condition, it does cause a number of personality changes such as:.
- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD)
- Passive-aggressive Tendencies
- Vengeance
- Obsessive-Compulsive Condition (OCD)
In contrast, what makes a non-procrastinator?
An individual who does not put things off normally has a strong sense of individuality. Non-procrastinators do not stress themselves with “social esteem”, a term used by psychologists to explain how other individuals like us.
This type of individual may still put things off every so often, but unlike a procrastinator, they do not make a practice out of it. These people are quite knowledgeable about the tasks that they have, and make the choice of acting on them consistently.
Why Are You Still Hesitating?
Everyone is rather knowledgeable about their procrastinating propensities, and yet, everyone still continues to procrastinate.
As with anything, there is a psychology behind this fact.
Lack of Interest
People often put tasks off when they have no interest in them. It’s rather simple psychology.
An uninteresting task will not initiate inspiration for the doer of the task.
Procrastinators would rather do something they enjoy instead of something that bores them. Individuals tend to confuse prioritizing lovable jobs as simply prioritizing what makes them pleased.
The underlying truth is that they are camouflaging their procrastination as such.
Stress
It is inevitable for some jobs to bring us tension. Whether it might be connected to work or school, the feeling of tension increases when a job feels all too important to ruin. Instead of getting it done to remove the stress, procrastinators ALLOW their low self-esteem get the best of them. Eventually, the job is postponed through a mindful choice to focus on other things.
One example of this is when trainees with bad grades feel dissuaded to perform jobs well. Their low self-esteem wires their brain into thinking that they are incapable of doing things well, for this reason the inactiveness to prevent the responsibility.
Technology
Unsurprisingly, technology influences lots of elements of our lives, procrastination consisted of. Research study reveals that technology can assist get things done and gotten rid of procrastination. At the same time, technology can be the reason for procrastination when not used correctly.
People do not have to mindlessly scroll through the internet for hours on end. However due to the fact that technology is so available, these propensities take place. There are technological systems we can use to prevent such meaningless scrolling too, which is why appropriate use is important to avoid procrastination.
Habit
One reason why you can’t seem to stop hesitating is you have currently formed the practice of procrastination. The important things with habits is they establish gradually and therefore can be unlearned in time as well.
When you delayed one thing after another, jobs just collect and give procrastinators much more reason to continue the behavior.
Beating Procrastination
The American Psychological Association (APA) dives even more into their exchange with Joseph Ferrari regarding procrastinators.
Ferrari specifies that hesitating resembles a phenomenon of inaction.
A task is delayed knowingly by replacing it with another less meaningful job. In some scenarios, individuals might exceed the resources that are currently available to them in an effort to postpone.
One Way to Avoid Procrastinating is by Formulating a Reward System for Yourself
Procrastinators will put the satisfaction initially without putting in the effort. Turn this around by using the benefit as inspiration to get things done. When you do this continuously, it will eventually become a way of living, for that reason getting rid of chronic procrastination.
It’s usually a psychological battle to continue constructing much healthier habits, especially when you have ended up being so accustomed to the bad ones. The reward can be as simple for as long as it gives you a sense of fulfillment and confidence to do more.
One example is maintaining a proper workout routine. Encourage yourself to not put it off by gratifying yourself with a balanced yet delicious meal after. The result will leave you fulfilled and more positive to take on another workout the next day,.
Another Method to Overcome It is by Getting the Help You Required
Feeling stuck is totally regular, however it is a completely different circumstance when you feel it continuously and find it hard to get out of. This is why asking for assistance is necessary. No one should ever feel embarrassed of it.
Assist may be in the type of treatment or just handing over the action to another person when you feel incapable. The faster you are able to address your requirement for help, the more time you will have for important matters.
Lead a Life of Action
The contributions of APA should function as a motivation for individuals who procrastinate to become more self-aware of the effects it has on their lives. When we view psychology as a means to enhance our well-being, we form more conscious efforts to sustain a better life.
The next time you consider delaying a job, think about the repercussions it might enforce not simply on that day however on your life as a whole. For more details on the subject, describe Dr. Ferrari’s in-depth discussion in the book entitled ” Still Hesitating: The No Remorse Guide to Getting It Done”.
Kinds of Procrastination
Although there are numerous kinds of procrastination, the majority of people fall under two broad classifications: Active procrastinators and passive procrastinators.
Active Procrastinators
Active procrastinators are those who think they work best under pressure. These people deliberately delay jobs because they believe taking action at the last minute will increase inspiration, effort, and quality of work.
The Problem
Nevertheless, in the long term, this can in fact lead to a great deal of added tension and greater instances of disease. When you have restricted time on your hands to deal with prospective problems, your work performance also suffers as a result.
Passive Procrastinators
On the other hand, passive procrastinators delay jobs due to the fact that they have difficulty beginning.
The Problem
Whether it’s due to a lack of inspiration, a fear of failure, bad time management skills, or something else entirely, what these types of procrastinators need is strong self-discipline to break devoid of the practice. Although this quality might be difficult to internalize, it’s absolutely possible if you pick the best tool to resolve your specific procrastination problem.
Results of Procrastination
Now, while some procrastinators understand they require to alter, others may see no factor to do so, specifically if this practice is currently a huge part of their life.
Nevertheless, procrastination includes really real consequences. Let’s discuss this completely.
Short-Term Consequences
In the short term, procrastination may eliminate pressure, however this FADES rapidly as your deadline approaches. Consequently, procrastinators typically wind up feeling extremely stressed out, guilty, and powerless. Their efficiency decreases, which adversely affects their work efficiency.
In fact, usually, college students who routinely procrastinate get lower grades, while workers who continuously delay jobs produce lower-quality output.
Ultimately, procrastinators have a much harder time reaching their objectives.
Long-Term Outcome
With persistent procrastinators, procrastination is frequently already a big part of their way of life. Besides the repercussions mentioned above, these people are likewise most likely to experience a lower lifestyle.
A few of these effects consist of:
- When you frequently fail to get things done, you put your individual and expert relationships at risk.
- Individuals who can’t depend on you are less likely to trust you, whether it be at work or in the house. Over time, this can adversely affect your emotional and social wellness.
- Individuals who hesitate are likewise more vulnerable to more health conditions, sometimes in the form of insomnia or weak body immune systems. Due to the fact that they put a lot pressure on their bodies to complete jobs in a short amount of time, their physical well-being can suffer too.
- Last but not least, procrastination can affect your mental health. Due to the fact that procrastinators are caught up in a vicious cycle, they typically seem like there is no chance out of it.
Feelings of regret and guilt can quickly translate into anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders– elements that just intensify the concern at the end of the day.
Causes of Procrastination
Knowing these harms, why do people hesitate? Is it just an absence of self-control that separates procrastinators from non-procrastinators? Well, as it ends up, it’s not that simple.
Absence of Focus
One possible cause is a lack of focus. People who do not have specific and distinct goals are far more most likely to hesitate because it is challenging for them to choose a strategy.
Let’s experiment with an example:
Imagine two students. The very first one has an objective to finish initially in her class, while the second one wishes to reserve an additional hour per day to study for her hardest class.
Which of the two trainees is more likely to procrastinate?
- Because the first student has a broader objective, he will discover it harder to postpone tasks related to it, such as studying ahead of time and sending homework early.
- On the other hand, the 2nd student has a clear job that’s more reasonable and much easier to commit to.
Therefore, a lack of vision, direction, or purpose can lead to procrastination.
Absence of Motivation
Another reason that individuals put things off is absence of inspiration. This might be due to the fact that:.
- They aren’t interested in the job
- They view no advantage to doing it
- They simply do not have the self-discipline to get going
Unless you’re exceptionally self-disciplined, some type of inspiration is necessary for you to take action. Nevertheless, the problem likewise lies in the main kind of inspiration you have. If you’re extrinsically motivated, that is, pressed to complete a job by other people or external factors, you’re more likely to procrastinate compared to someone that’s intrinsically encouraged.
After all, if you do not see meaning in the jobs you do and are driven by social pressure or the promise of a reward instead, you will certainly discover it challenging to work on these jobs right away and actively.
Low Energy
Now, what if your brain and your body just can not handle jobs that need to be done? If you feel like you could drop with fatigue at any point throughout the day, you’re most likely doing not have a lot of much-needed rest and shut-eye.
Something busy individuals in some cases do not understand is that burnout is extremely genuine.
Handling more than what you can manage can inadvertently make you a procrastinator, as your brain signals YOU REQUIRED TO SLOOOW DOWN.
In this circumstance, procrastination can be an unconscious defense reaction against too much physical and mental tension. Unless you fix the root of the issue, though, you’ll never ever break free from the hazardous cycle.
Fear of Failure
Other individuals succumb to procrastination since they have a fear of failure. Although it’s typical to feel this way sometimes, it can heavily impact your individual growth and development once it prevents you from even starting something.
How does procrastination address this worry, though?
Well, for some people, not trying ways never ever experiencing failure. Nevertheless, if you never ever give anything a shot, then there’s no chance at all that you’ll prosper. Plainly, in this case, procrastination causes a great deal of missed opportunities in life.
Low Self-Efficacy
Something closely related to fear of failure is low self-efficacy. If you have the tendency to insecurity, it can be hard for you to experiment with something NEW, scary, or various, particularly if it’s for an especially essential task.
Now that social media and online ad posts are so common, individuals are ending up being increasingly more worried with the idea of perfection. When an ad wrongly presents a perfect as reality, we get pushed to live up to those impossible standards, which adversely affects our self-regard.
Due to the fact that we seem like we’re insufficient, we rely on procrastination to prevent handling jobs that raise these concerns. Sadly, because we need to resolve them at some time, we never ever actually feel much better afterward.
Low Self-discipline
Oftentimes, low self-control also causes procrastination.
Have you ever delayed dealing with a job by going through your phone, viewing a Netflix program, or searching social networks? Although these distractions are rather appealing, non-procrastinators who have more self-control can overlook this until after they’ve finished their jobs.
This self-regulation failure can also exacerbate any of the problems on this list, that makes it doubly hard to beat procrastination. According to some researchers like Joseph Ferrari of DePaul University, this problem can be linked to poor state of mind regulation, as individuals procrastinate when they can’t keep their emotions in check.
Individuals think that by hesitating, they’re eliminating the pain and unfavorable feelings associated with the task. In reality, though, they’re just postponing the inevitable.
Prioritizing Present Benefits
Similarly, some individuals also tend to prioritize present rewards and discount rate far-off ones. This is also referred to as temporal discounting or delay discounting.
For instance, if you were provided $50 now or $100 in 4 months, which would you choose?
Individuals who put greater value on present rewards (or penalties) would probably choose alternative one, and this decision-making translates into how they total tasks too.
Picture it like this: The ‘reward’ of getting an excellent grade on your test a week away might fade in comparison to the ‘benefit’ of going out with your pals now. However, when your test is only a day away, its worth ends up being much more essential to you.
Now, listen to this:
According to a short article written in the Psychological Publication by University of Calgary teacher Piers Steel, a procrastinator prefers to do activities that provide immediate benefits rather than work on a task that would bring in a considerably bigger benefit in the long term. Clearly, it’s very easy to fall into the trap of procrastination.
Dissociation From Future Self
Another intriguing phenomenon is temporal self-discontinuity or temporal disjunction, which is when individuals see their future self as separate from their present self.
This is something Fuschia Sirois of Bishop’s University observed while studying procrastination a few years back. Have you ever put aside a task for your ‘future self’ to deal with?
Often, we may see laborious things as a future problem, when, in fact, it is still YOU who needs to tackle them in the future. In the same way, we may not have the ability to fully comprehend the effect of future benefits and punishments on our present selves, even if their consequences are extremely, extremely genuine.
We mistakenly believe that a different (possibly much better) version of ourselves will be able to achieve what we choose not to do today, even if, reasonably speaking, absolutely nothing will truly change between now and the future.
Medical Conditions
Sometimes, a procrastinator will have hidden medical issues that require more serious treatment.
People with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depression, and other psychological disorders may find it difficult to do certain jobs and activities, which is why they procrastinate.
For example, those with ADHD can not sit still and concentrate on a single job for an extended period of time, and they may keep changing jobs without finishing any of them.
- Procrastination (and other related behaviors) is among the typical symptoms of ADHD.
- On the other hand, those with anxiety lack interest and motivation in numerous elements of life.
They typically don’t have the energy to do work or even simply easy things around your house, depending on how severe their conditions are. Subsequently, they often succumb to procrastination too.
How to Stop Procrastinating
Now that you understand the aspects that impact procrastination, how do you conquer these issues and get on with life?
Well, depending on your situations, there are certain actions you can take to stop being a procrastinator.
If Your Problem Is: Absence of Focus
If you lack focus, it’s crucial that you clearly define your objectives and use time management strategies. Sometimes, it’s tough to imagine the finish line, so it assists to define just what you want to attain.
When setting goals, make sure you follow wise requirements. The word SMART stands for Specific, Quantifiable, Achievable, Pertinent, and Time-Bound.
For example, if you want to work towards improving fitness, one goal might appear like this:
” I wish to get healthier, so on January 1, I will acquire a gym membership and exercise three times a week. I aim to lose one pound of fat every 2 weeks. After 2 months, I need to lose a minimum of 4 pounds of fat.”
Since all your wanted actions and due dates are detailed above, you’re not as most likely to succumb to procrastination. It’s also an excellent idea to employ time management methods.
There are heaps to choose from: The Eisenhower Matrix, Kanban Board, and The Pomodoro Strategy, among others. By envisioning and focusing on the various tasks you need to carry out in a day, it is much easier to prevent procrastination.
Over time, as you get utilized to these methods, you might find yourself procrastinating less and less. Once you have settled into a regular routine or routine, efficiency will absolutely come a lot more naturally!
If Your Concern Is: Fear of Failure or Low Self-Esteem
Now, if you have a worry of failure, it may help to break down your objective into numerous, smaller sized subgoals.
Taking a look at the bigger photo can be an intimidating thing. However, if you focus on ONE EASY job first prior to moving on to the next, you can develop your confidence and prevent procrastination.
Keep in mind to commemorate your small triumphes too, as there are still great achievements!
Another thing you ought to do is remind yourself that it’s human to make mistakes. Attempt remembering times when you’ve succeeded after numerous failures or when you discovered something after making a mistake. These reveal you can absolutely recuperate from the negative things in life.
Remember, self-forgiveness, self-compassion, and acceptance of failure are important due to the fact that they enable you to move forward and beat procrastination.
Doing something is always much better than doing nothing at all!
If you’re having trouble controlling your thoughts and feelings, it can be smart to remain off the web also. Some online characters truly perpetuate difficult requirements of perfection, even though the truth is vice versa offline.
If Your Concern Is: Lack of Motivation or Low Self-discipline
To address this, it’s crucial to do two things: Minimize diversions and find your function. Did you know that a meta-analysis by Psychological Publication exposed that 80-95% of students routinely hesitate? This may be due to the presence of multiple distractions in trainees’ environments as well as their lack of interest in their research studies.
To prevent temptation and avoid procrastination, remove all potential diversions from your work area:.
- Switch off your phone
- Log out of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
- Lock away your television remote
As soon as these things are less accessible, you’ll discover it much easier to concentrate on the task at hand.
It also helps to determine when you’re most efficient throughout the day. Do you carry out much better at a task early in the day, throughout the afternoon, or late in the evening? If so, then:.
- Schedule work during those times and develop a regular so that it’s much easier to get into it every day.
- Next, try to lower the number of choices you need to make in a day. When you have a lot of alternatives to select from, you might experience psychological fatigue and succumb to procrastination to prevent decision-making.
For instance, if your goal is to work out at 7 AM every day, consider using your workout clothing to bed, filling your jug of water the night in the past, and putting your car keys on your bedside table.
Because everything’s well-prepared for the next day, you’re currently a couple of steps even more towards your objective.
Are you still doing not have inspiration?
Maybe you don’t understand why you’re doing the job in the first place. To prosper at anything, you need to find meaning and function in the work you do.
Once you’re fundamentally inspired, you no longer need to depend upon external factors to press you forward.
Also, remember that practically anything can be a chance to improve on yourself as an individual– isn’t that inspiration enough?
If Your Problem Is: Prioritizing Present Benefits or Dissociation From Future Self
To prevent procrastination, it’s best to create an in-depth action strategy with multiple checkpoints, to-do lists, and little rewards after finishing them.
While some can focus on the big benefit at the end of a long journey, others require SMALLER SUBTASKS to feel accomplished and stimulated. You can break up tasks any way you wish to– the form does not matter, as long as it leads up to the same end goal.
An outline of the action plan can likewise assist strengthen future tasks and bring them into your present consciousness. It’s harder to pass these off as ‘ future problems’ when they’re all set out on an immediate order of business, so try deceiving your mind into believing they need to be done right now.
Now, do not forget to insert breaks and little benefits in between too, as these inspire you to keep grinding!
When you finish a job, relax and do something fun so that you’re not mentally drained pipes when it’s time to start working again. In fact, self-care can be a very beneficial weapon against procrastination. Don’t expect your practices to alter overnight, but keep in mind, everything counts!
If Your Problem Is: Low Energy or Medical Conditions
Since these procrastination concerns belong to health and psychological science, it is essential to take care of yourself and seek expert aid if essential.
If your energy is low due to fatigue, stress, and absence of sleep, then focus on your physical health:
- Get at least 6-8 hours of sleep
- Start an exercise regular
- Drink plenty of water
- Consume a healthy, well balanced diet plan to build up your immunity
Do not forget to take breaks too– operating on low fuel will make you less efficient, more prone to mistake, and it might cause more major medical problems later on.
With that stated, just handle an affordable quantity of work that you can manage. Trust us, your client will thank you for it.
Nevertheless, if you can no longer handle your health issues on your own, then it may be time to speak with a medical professional or a medical professional for professional recommendations.
He may be able to recommend appropriate medication, start therapy, or advise other strategies to assist you stop procrastination completely.
The Best Procrastination Prices Estimate to Assist You Stop Procrastinating
Are you a persistent procrastinator? Do you find it tough to stay on top of things that need to be done by a specific deadline? Are you doing not have the drive and determination to progress?
Often, all you require is a little bit of motivation to get the ball rolling– in this case, inspiring, inspiring, and amusing procrastination prices estimate!
In this list, we have actually compiled the best procrastination quotes from authors, specialists, and politicians, to name a few, to help you stop hesitating today (not tomorrow). Enjoy!
Short Procrastination Quotes
Looking for a quick fix to your procrastination problems? Get encouragement from these short quotes about procrastination and break your bad habit.
Inspiring Procrastination Quotes
- “Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work in hand. The sun’s rays do not burn until brought to a focus.” — Alexander Graham Bell
- “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” — Anne Frank
- “Doing just a little bit during the time we have available puts you that much further ahead than if you took no action at all.” — Byron Pulsifer
- “Your mind is for having ideas, not holding them.” — David Allen
- “I’d be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I’d been given. I’d be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.” — Denzel Washington
- “Neither a wise nor a brave man lies down on the tracks of history to wait for the train of the future to run over him.” — Dwight D. Eisenhower
- “Time wasted is existence; used is life.” — Edward Young
- “Getting an idea should be like sitting on a pin; it should make you jump up and do something.”— E. L. Simpson
- “Begin to weave and God will give you the thread.” — German Proverb
- “Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today because if you enjoy it today, you can do it again tomorrow.”— James A. Michener
- “Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.” — James Baldwin
- “Procrastination is not Laziness”, I tell him. “It is fear. Call it by its right name, and forgive yourself.” — Julia Cameron
- “A year from now you may wish you had started today.” — Karen Lamb
- “Yesterday is a cancelled check. Tomorrow is a promissory note. Today is the only cash you have, so spend it wisely.” — Kim Lyons.
- “Great acts are made up of small deeds.” — Lao Tzu
- “Until you value yourself, you will not value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it.” — M. Scott Peck
- “Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.” — Marthe Troly-Curtin
- “You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
- “There are so many things that we wish we had done yesterday, so few that we feel like doing today.” — Mignon McLaughlin
- “Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” — Napoleon Hill
- “Action will destroy your procrastination” — Og Mandino
- “Nothing is less productive than to make more efficient what should not be done at all.” — Peter Drucker
- “Think of many things; do one.” — Portuguese Proverb
- “I have spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument, while the song I came to sing remains unsung.” — Rabindranath Tagore
- “If I am not for myself, who is for me? When I am for myself, what am I? If not now, when?” — Rabbi Hillel
- “How to stop procrastinating starts with believing you can overcome procrastination.” ― Robert Moment
- “Procrastination is one of the most common and deadliest of diseases and its toll on success and happiness is heavy.” —Wayne Gretzky
Humorous Procrastination Quotes
- “Procrastination is, hands down, our favorite form of self-sabotage.”— Alyce P. Cornyn-Selby
- “A perfect method for adding drama to life is to wait until the deadline looms large.”— Alyce P. Cornyn-Selby
- “I do my work at the same time each day — the last minute.” — Author Unknown
- “Procrastinator? No. I save all my homework until the last minute because then I’ll be older, and therefore wiser.” — Author Unknown
- “The two rules of procrastination: 1) Do it today. 2) Tomorrow will be today tomorrow.”— Author Unknown
- “You can’t just turn on creativity like a faucet. You have to be in the right mood. What mood is that? Last-minute panic.”— Bill Watterson
- “Procrastination is like a credit card: it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill.” — Christopher Parker
- “Work is the greatest thing in the world, so we should always save some of it for tomorrow!” — Don Herold
- “I love deadlines. I love the whooshing noise they make as they go by.” — Douglas Adams
- “Do you know what happens when you give a procrastinator a good idea? Nothing!” — Donald Gardner
- “How does a project get to be a year behind schedule? One day at a time.”— Fred Brooks
- “I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.”— Jerome K. Jerome
- “My mother always told me I wouldn’t amount to anything because I procrastinate. I said, ‘just wait.'” — Judy Tenuta
- “If it weren’t for the last minute, nothing would get done.” — Rita Mae Brown
- “Anyone can do any amount of work, provided it isn’t the work he is supposed to be doing at that moment.” — Robert Benchley
- “I’m going to stop putting things off, starting tomorrow!” — Sam Levenson
- “The scholar’s greatest weakness: calling procrastination research.” — Stephen King
- “I think of myself as something of a connoisseur of procrastination, creative and dogged in my approach to not getting things done.” — Susan Orlean
- “One of the greatest labor-saving inventions of today is tomorrow.” — Vincent T. Foss
- “The least productive people are usually the ones who are most in favor of holding meetings.” — Thomas Sowell
Procrastination Quotes to Get You Moving
- “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” ― Abraham Lincoln
- “Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.” — Abraham Lincoln
- “By what right do I, who have wasted this day, make claims on tomorrow?” ― Alain-Fournier
- “The only difference between success and failure is the ability to take action.”— Alexander Graham Bell
- “The best way to get something done is to begin.” — Author Unknown
- “When there is a hill to climb, don’t think that waiting will make it smaller.” — Author Unknown
- “Tomorrow is often the busiest day of the week.”— Author Unknown
- “You may delay, but time will not.” — Benjamin Franklin
- “A day can really slip by when you’re deliberately avoiding what you’re supposed to do.” — Bill Watterson
- “My advice is to never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time.”— Charles Dickens
- “Inspiration is for amateurs. The rest of us just show up and get to work” ― Chuck Close
- “Do first what you don’t want to do most.” ― Clifford Cohen
- “The man who waits to know everything is the man who never does anything.” ― Craig D. Lounsbrough
- “There is nothing so fatal to character as half finished tasks.” — David Lloyd George
- “You may not be punished for your procrastination, but for sure you will be punished by your procrastination.”― Debasish Mridha
- “Procrastination is the thief of time.” — Edward Young
- “Don’t wait for someone to take you under their wing. Find a good wing and climb up underneath it.”— Frank C. Bucaro
- “If you take too long in deciding what to do with your life, you’ll find you’ve done it.” ― George Bernard Shaw
- “Putting off an easy thing makes it hard, and putting off a hard one makes it impossible.”— George H. Lorimer
- “Following-through is the only thing that separates dreamers from people that accomplish great things.”— Gene Hayden
- “Often greater risk is involved in postponement than in making a wrong decision.”— Harry A. Hopf
- “Someday is not a day of the week.” ― Janet Dailey
- “Never put things off…you will wake up and find them gone.” ― James Jones
- “If you want to get ahead in life, I’ve found that perhaps the most useless word in the world is “tomorrow.” ― José N. Harris
- “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”— Jim Rohn
- “A year from now you may wish you had started today.” ― Karen Lamb
- “It is easier to resist at the beginning than at the end.” ― Leonardo da Vinci
- “Stop talking. Start walking.” — L.M. Heroux
- “Never put off till tomorrow what may be done day after tomorrow just as well.” ― Mark Twain
- “How soon ‘not now’ becomes ‘never’.” — Martin Luther
- “Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.”— Michael Landon
- “Take time to deliberate; but when the time for action arrives, stop thinking and go in.”— Napoleon Bonaparte
- “Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” — Napoleon Hill
- “Procrastination is the lazy cousin of fear. When we feel anxiety around an activity, we postpone it.” — Noelle Hancock
- “If you put off everything till you’re sure of it, you’ll never get anything done.” — Norman Vincent Peale
- “If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it.” — Olin Miller
- “Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone” ― Pablo Picasso
- “Do something instead of killing time. Because time is killing you.” ― Paulo Coelho
- “I don’t wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your mind must know it has got to get down to work.” — Pearl S. Buck
- “If you procrastinate when faced with a big difficult problem… break the problem into parts, and handle one part at a time.”— Robert Collier
- “Procrastination has robbed us of too many opportunities.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach
- “What is deferred is not avoided.” ― Thomas More
- “If you have goals and procrastination you have nothing. If you have goals and you take action, you will have anything you want.”— Thomas J. Vilord
- “Procrastination is opportunity’s natural assassin.”— Victor Kiam
- “Begin while others are procrastinating. Work while others are wishing.”— William Arthur Ward
Long Procrastination Quotes
If you need something more, check out these longer quotes to help you beat procrastination. These quotes will definitely inspire and motivate you to stop thinking and start doing!
Inspiring Procrastination Quotes
- “We shall never have more time. We have, and have always had, all the time there is. No object is served in waiting until next week or even until tomorrow. Keep going day in and day out. Concentrate on something useful. Having decided to achieve a task, achieve it at all costs.” — Arnold Bennett
- “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Author Unknown
- “Nothing in the world can take the place of perseverance. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost legendary. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Perseverance and determination alone are omnipotent.” — Calvin Coolidge
- “The habit of always putting off an experience until you can afford it, or until the time is right, or until you know how to do it is one of the greatest burglars of joy. Be deliberate, but once you’ve made up your mind -jump in.” — Charles R. Swindoll
- “One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon – instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today.”— Dale Carnegie
- “Indecisiveness and procrastination are the chosen ways of life for most people. They follow the course of least resistance, which is to do nothing. This provides a security blanket of never being wrong, never making mistakes, never being disappointed and never failing. But they will also never succeed.” — David Peoples
- “Time is an equal opportunity employer. Each human being has exactly the same number of hours and minutes every day. Rich people can’t buy more hours. Scientists can’t invent new minutes. And you can’t save time to spend it on another day. Even so, time is amazingly fair and forgiving. No matter how much time you’ve wasted in the past, you still have an entire tomorrow.” ― Denis Waitley
- “This is as true in everyday life as it is in battle: we are given one life and the decision is ours whether to wait for circumstances to make up our mind, or whether to act, and in acting, to live.” — General Omar Bradley
- “Lack of confidence, sometimes alternating with unrealistic dreams of heroic success, often leads to procrastination, and many studies suggest that procrastinators are self-handicappers: rather than risk failure, they prefer to create conditions that make success impossible, a reflex that of course creates a vicious cycle.” — James Surowiecki
- “Somebody should tell us, right at the start of our lives, that we are dying. Then we might live life to the limit, every minute of every day. Do it! I say. Whatever you want to do, do it now! There are only so many tomorrows.”— Michael Landon
- “Delaying gratification is a process of scheduling the pain and pleasure of life in such a way as to enhance the pleasure by meeting and experiencing the pain first and getting it over with. It is the only decent way to live.” — M. Scott Peck
- “The really happy people are those who have broken the chains of procrastination, those who find satisfaction in doing the job at hand. They’re full of eagerness, zest, productivity. You can be, too.”— Norman Vincent Peale
- “It was my fear of failure that first kept me from attempting the master work. Now, I’m beginning what I could have started ten years ago. But I’m happy at least that I didn’t wait twenty years.” — Paulo Coelho
- “By thinking of procrastination as the result of a human tendency to live too much in the moment, we can devise better strategies for overcoming it. If the problem is weighing present versus future costs and benefits, we need to find a way to either bring future benefits closer to the present or to magnify the costs of delayed action.” — Ray Fisman
- “Your Life Is Happening Right Now: Don’t let procrastination take over your life. Be brave and take risks. Your life is happening right now.” — Roy T. Bennett
- “The certainty that life cannot be long, and the probability that it will be much shorter than nature allows, ought to awaken every man to the active prosecution of whatever he is desirous to perform. It is true, that no diligence can ascertain success; death may intercept the swiftest career; but he who is cut off in the execution of an honest undertaking has at least the honour of falling in his rank, and has fought the battle, though he missed the victory.” — Samuel Johnson
- “If we accept and internalize the fact of our own mortality, then, by definition, we have to deal with the essential questions of how we live and spend our allotted time. We have to stop procrastinating, pretending that we have forever to do what we want to do and be what we long to be.” — Surya Das
- “To do anything in this world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can.”— Syndey Smith
- “Perhaps the most valuable result of an education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not.”— Thomas Huxley
- “He who every morning plans the transactions of that day and follows that plan carries a thread that will guide him through the labyrinth of the most busy life.”— Victor Hugo
Procrastination Quotes to Inspire & Motivate You
- “Don’t procrastinate. Putting off an unpleasant task until tomorrow simply gives you more time for your imagination to make a mountain out a possible molehill. More time for anxiety to sap your self-confidence. Do it now, brother, do it now.” — Author Unknown
- “Much of the stress that people feel doesn’t come from having too much to do. It comes from not finishing what they started.” — David Allen
- “Procrastination is the fear of success. People procrastinate because they are afraid of the success that they know will result if they move ahead now. Because success is heavy, carries a responsibility with it, it is much easier to procrastinate and live on the ‘someday I’ll’ philosophy.”— Denis Waitley
- “Procrastination is the thief of time: Year after year it steals, till all are fled, and to the mercies of a moment leaves the vast concerns of an eternal scene.” — Edward Young
- “Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand—and melting like a snowflake.”— Francis Bacon
- “If you get stuck, get away from your desk. Take a walk, take a bath, go to sleep, make a pie, draw, listen to music, meditate, exercise; whatever you do, don’t just stick there scowling at the problem. But don’t make telephone calls or go to a party; if you do, other people’s words will pour in where your lost words should be. Open a gap for them, create a space. Be patient.” ― Hilary Mantel
- “Procrastination usually results in sorrowful regret. Today’s duties put off until tomorrow give us a double burden to bear; the best way is to do them in their proper time.” — Ida Scott Taylor
- “Success is not obtained overnight. It comes in installments; you get a little bit today, a little bit tomorrow until the whole package is given out. The day you procrastinate, you lose that day’s success.” ― Israelmore Ayivor
- “So what do we do? Anything. Something. So long as we just don’t sit there. If we screw it up, start over. Try something else. If we wait until we’ve satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late.” — Lee Iacocca
- “It is only by working the rituals, that any significant degree of understanding can develop. If you wait until you are positive you understand all aspects of the ceremony before beginning to work, you will never begin to work.” ― Lon Milo DuQuette
- “If you believe you can accomplish everything by “cramming” at the eleventh hour, by all means, don’t lift a finger now. But you may think twice about beginning to build your ark once it has already started raining.” — Max Brooks
- “A primary reason people don’t do new things is because they want to do them perfectly – first time. It’s completely irrational, impractical, not workable – and yet, it’s how most people run their lives. It’s called The Perfection Syndrome.”— Peter McWlliams and John-Roger
- “Procrastination is a way for us to be satisfied with second-rate results; we can always tell ourselves we’d have done a better job if only we’d had more time. If you’re good at rationalizing, you can keep yourself feeling rather satisfied this way, but it’s a cheap happy. You’re whittling your expectations of yourself down lower and lower.” — Richard O’Conner
- “Waiting is a trap. There will always be reasons to wait – The truth is, there are only two things in life, reasons and results, and reasons simply don’t count.”— Robert Anthony
- “If you always do what is easy and choose the path of least resistance, you never step outside your comfort zone. Great things don’t come from comfort zones.” ― Roy Bennett
- “Your ideas have legs and just as they run through your head, they could be running through someone else’s head and it’s just a matter of who gets to the finish line first. Nothing is new under the sun so act on your ideas.”― Sanjo Jendayi
- “How often do you find yourself saying, “In a minute”, “I’ll get to it” or “Tomorrow’s good enough” and every other possible excuse in the book? Compare it with how often you decide it’s got to be done, so let’s get on and do it! That should tell you just how serious your procrastinating problem really is.” ― Stephen Richards
- “In a moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing to do, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”— Theodore Roosevelt
Our Final Piece of Recommendations re. quotes
It can be hard to stop procrastinating, particularly when things start accumulating on your plate. However, with the ideal mindset and sufficient effort, you can certainly leave that slump!
We hope the quotes above motivated you to beat procrastination once and for all. Do not hesitate to share your ideas and comments down below, and don’t forget to share this post if you enjoyed it!
To Sum It Up
Although procrastination is a difficult habit to break, it’s certainly possible to conquer it totally and boost your efficiency!
Simply ensure to follow these actions:.
- Understand why you hesitate. Find out what’s hindering you from making progress. Is it your mood/emotions, your physical health, a lack of direction, or something else entirely?
- Know when you hesitate. Are you most likely to hesitate at a specific time of day or under specific scenarios? Understanding the scope of the issue will assist you formulate a more reliable option.
- Produce an action strategy. Now that you know the concern, respond accordingly. Utilize any of the performance techniques above that are most ideal for your requirements. Bear in mind that this can be changed and enhanced throughout the entire process.
- Eliminate obstructions. Do your finest to lower any and all distractions in your environments. This will help you focus on your objective 100%.
- Commemorate your success. Don’t forget to reward yourself for doing a good task! Altering a habit isn’t simple, so be proud of your development– no matter how small. Being versatile and flexible to yourself will make this journey a sustainable one.
Conclusion
Now that you have all the information you require to be successful, proceed and use these strategies in your daily life. We hope this guide helped you comprehend how to get rid of procrastination and finally reach your objectives. Best of luck!