Procrastination Carries Big Costs
This is post 9 of my series: Inside the Mind of a Procrastinator.
There are big costs to procrastination. Health is one. Just over the course of a single academic term, procrastinating college students had such evidence of compromised immune systems as more colds and flu, more gastrointestinal problems. And they had insomnia. In addition, procrastination has a high cost to others as well as oneself; it shifts the burden of responsibilities onto others, who become resentful. Procrastination destroys teamwork in the workplace and private relationships. —Psychology Today
I have no big story to illustrate this point, but I have hundreds of regular-sized ones.
Among other things, I have:
- Failed classes for not completing any assignments
- Lost jobs for leaving work undone
- Paid financial penalties for being late with bill payments
- Insomnia
- Frequent colds and flu
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Lost friends for not holding up my end of the relationship
- Lost respect for not following through on commitments
What have I learned from all this?
- Count the cost – I focus on what procrastination is costing me. I ask, “How does it make me feel?” “How does it affect me or others?” “How important is it for me to complete this task?” Having a sense of the cost motivates me to avoid the cost.
- Use the buddy system – Having someone who will remind me –and my wife has licence to be that someone– motivates me to meet my commitments. Knowing the dog needs to be walked pushes me to get out and exercise.
- Work to deadlines – Replace “I will pay the bills soon,” with “I will pay the bills Wednesday, after supper.” You can never be sure when soon will occur, but there is no doubt when Wednesday, after supper will arrive.
- Keep it in view – My wife is the queen of sticky-note reminders. When she pastes a reminder somewhere, the task is much more likely to be completed.
As I have gotten older, I have learned some tricks that reduce or eliminate the costs associated with procrastination. I only wish I had learned them earlier.
Related Posts:
Inside the mind of a procrastinator
9 Procrastination Hacks
10 Resources to Help Overcome Procrastination
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Comments
You might enjoy this little cartoon about procrastination.
http://alittlejoyfortoday.blogspot.com/2007/10/little-laugh-at-procrastination.html
Personally, this is one of the biggest problems I have. Usually I tend to avoid things that are uncomfortable, big, or laborious… I try to countersteer, checking all the things to be done at the morning. Things that are small I do directly to get them out of my mind. Things that are important I do immediately after that (for instance taxes, bills). This helps reduces the amount on my desk… If I have two aggravating duties sometimes I make a little deal with myself: One of this I allow myself to postpone, but the other one needs to be done today…