Procrastination is one of the biggest problems that has plagued human beings throughout the ages.
The brilliant da Vinci had a wide range of interests, but he also suffered from severe procrastination. He painted “The Last Supper” for three years, and “Mona Lisa” for four years, but in the end he left no more than 20 paintings, some of which remained unfinished until his death.
It is said that those clients who came to him to paint were very dissatisfied with this, and even Leonardo da Vinci himself was distressed by it: “Tell me, tell me, what are the things that can be done on time?”
Two senior psychologists from the University of California, Jane Bock and Lai Nora Yuan, spent more than 30 years tracking and researching procrastination sufferers all over the world, and finally wrote the book “The Psychology of Procrastination“.
Finally, the two authors found that procrastination is not simple, it is not just laziness and lack of willpower. Behind every procrastination behavior, there is a deep and complex psychological root, and then define procrastination.
define procrastination
Once you fully understand the psychological reasons for your procrastination, you can prescribe the right medicine. According to the psychological characteristics of procrastinators, we can summarize the three most common types of procrastination, which are:
· perfectionist
· passive resistance
· instant gratification
The first: perfectionistic procrastination
“Perfectionist procrastinator”. They pursue perfection and have high demands on themselves. When doing something, they must be perfect and have no flaws. If you can’t do it, it’s better not to do it. So, in order to get the perfect result, they will waste a lot of time in preparation.
In fact, it is also the kind of person who only talks and does not do.
Just like those who have high eyes and low hands. They keep imagining in their minds that they want to do things perfectly, but the result is a lack of motivation. Always fantasize about inaction, always refuse to take the first step.
For example, if you want to be proficient in the languages of other countries, but do not want to open your mouth to practice; if you want to make a blockbuster work, but find various reasons not to do it. In short, for perfectionist procrastinators, too much pursuit of “perfection” often puts them in a situation where it is difficult to “complete“.
The second type: passive resistance procrastination
People who suffer from procrastination express their resistance to each other in a negative way.
In fact, this is a “declaration of the weak”, which often occurs when children face their parents and subordinates face their bosses. Low-status people find their psychological balance through procrastination.
Such procrastination is a declaration of weakness: “Me and my last stubbornness”.
The purpose of passive-resistance procrastination is to make others feel entitled and not weak.
In fact, procrastinators sometimes fail to prove to others that they are not weak by procrastinating. This is usually a contest with one’s own heart. The mental internal friction and inner struggle are meaningless, and as a result, I make myself resist the “imaginary enemy“.
The third type: instant gratification procrastination
This is probably the most common form of procrastination.
Life is proud to be thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Procrastinate as long as you can. lack of management and control mechanisms.
Human nature is to choose the light and fear the heavy, trying to obtain satisfaction through the minimum cost.
People are often more willing to do things that don’t work hard and have results quickly; if it can’t be done in a short time, then the value of this thing in my heart will be greatly reduced, even if it will have a certain impact on his future, but continued to procrastinate.
Causes of procrastination
American psychologists believe that people fear failure, so they choose to procrastinate to avoid problems.
Some native families planted the seeds of fear in their children early, and this fear accompanied them as they grew up. Every time they encountered difficulties, they always chose to delay to avoid problems.
For example, some people are afraid of failure and have a great fear of failure, so they choose to procrastinate.
For example, people who suffer from procrastination are likely to live in a life environment of suspicion and pressure as a child. If parents always doubt their children, do not believe their children, and children lack motivation, then their ability and success or failure will depend on the joys and sorrows of their parents.
Then these children may tend to stay in the “comfort zone” – only do what they can do, other things can expose his weaknesses, these things will not be done. If they have to, they will avoid problems by procrastinating.
For example, we may deliberately procrastinate to create the illusion of busyness and cover up the fact that we are incompetent.
It’s not just the fear of failure, there are people who procrastinate because of the fear of being controlled.
Once you encounter difficulties, your time and energy become beyond your control. This secretive feeling of being “out of control” reminds people of the panic of being “over-controlled” as a child.
In overcontrolling families, where parents like to control their children, children may try to use procrastination to gain a little freedom from the parent’s tight control. So these kids grow up and continue to use procrastination to defend their little bit of freedom.
Procrastination is not just your problem, we need to look at procrastination more objectively and accept procrastination, so that we can use effective methods to overcome procrastination.
overcome procrastination
Correct the mentality
Procrastination due to fear of failure. Then we learn about failure, change our perception of failure, and keep trying through action. There’s absolutely no need to keep doing what you’re good at, it’s more meaningful to us to gain experience doing what you’re not good at.
Procrastination caused by passive resistance. You have to be clear to yourself, you may be fighting with your own heart, and you still have to do what you need to do.
Procrastination caused by instant gratification. You can calm yourself down before making a decision, and the “neuromuscular” of your brain will be exercised. Always think calmly before making a decision, and you will eventually overcome procrastination.
All in all, it is important to recognize the psychology of procrastination, and to know the psychological performance, can you more scientifically recognize your own behavior and clarify your own goals and plans.
time management
· Efficiency improvement, the direction should be right
· Efficiency is improved, the method is better
· Motivation boosts, drives execution
From a logical point of view, the direction is right, the method is good, and there is no problem with diligent efforts. When returning to real life, it is often neither effective nor difficult to persevere. The fundamental reason is that management is a means rather than an end. If the means cannot be connected with the end, no matter how good the means are, it is meaningless.
Deal with your negative emotions and accept yourself. Motivate and give feedback on your own efforts
When you adjust yourself to meet the fear of procrastination with peace of mind, the things that make you fear and cause you to procrastinate are no longer an unsolvable disaster.
Procrastination is a common weakness in people, more or less entrenched in everyone’s psyche. Faced with this weakness, we need to let go of our fear and self-hatred of it.
Only with a tolerant and optimistic attitude and calm emotions can we see why we procrastinate and deal with procrastination more effectively.
What would your life be like without procrastination?
Likely, you’d be happier, wealthier, and healthier. It’s time to act.
When you procrastinate, you waste time that could be invested into something meaningful, instead. If you can overcome this fierce enemy, you will accomplish more personally and professionally. Get the best out of your life. Don’t procrastinate on happiness, leadership or sales skills, or even your ability to think critically.
"Stop procrastination and stop mental internal friction"
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awe. . . There are indeed some problems, whether you cry or not, make trouble or not, the problem is always there.
Been following you for a long time, starting with Facebook before. Every time I read the content very seriously, and then adjust it slowly according to myself. I am considering your course and I would like to see another me.