By: Hermekay Dehaney
The definition of procrastination is, “The act of delaying something that you should do, usually because you do not want to do it.” It’s safe to say that the majority of us have had this habit once in our lifetime, by telling ourselves, “I’ll start tomorrow,” when it comes to delaying doing our homework, chores, or studying.
It’s often frustrating dealing with such a habit, especially if you want to be a person who’s always on top of assignments, but it’s harder to say than do, which often leads to self-criticism.
But how exactly do you break free from this habit?
Well, for starters, we need to identify the six types of procrastinators. The types of procrastinators are not based on personalities, so you don’t have to fall under one specific type. Your reason for procrastinating can change based on factors and experiences on what you’re procrastinating from. So yes, it’s likely you can fall into different styles.
Knowing which one you are in that moment is a step closer to breaking the habit, as different strategies work best for different types. Here is a breakdown of the six types:
- The perfectionist: They avoid starting or finishing tasks for fear of not being able to do them perfectly. Dr. Linda Sapadin says, “The perfectionist pays too much attention to detail, and you would think a perfectionist does not procrastinate, but that’s not true because a perfectionist pays so much attention to detail that they often can’t finish a project.”
Tips: Focus on progress rather than perfection – remind yourselves that it’s okay to make mistakes. Set realistic over idealistic goals, you can start by making time limits for yourselves when doing an assignment to avoid spending a lot of time obsessing over it.
- The dreamer: Puts off tasks because they are not good at paying attention to detail. Similar to perfectionists, they have big ideas, but dreamers struggle with taking action.
Tips: Create a to-do list, make small daily goals that are achievable that are realistic, and set a realistic time to do it. That doesn’t mean giving up on your bigger long-term goals, set time apart regularly to do them, little by little, it will eventually build up over time.
- The worrier: This is usually the “what ifs”; they overthink to the point where they fear failing, so they avoid the task altogether.
Tips: A quote by George Clooney says, “The only failure is not to try.” By letting fear overthrow you, that will allow you to never see your full potential. Try to prioritize important tasks and create a clear plan. Worrying is often a sign of anxiety, so try to share concerns with trusted and supportive friends and family, or a therapist. Try to alleviate fear to the best of your ability by meditation, and journaling.
- The defier: They procrastinate because they don’t like being told what to do.
Tips: Try to turn assignments into a personal task rather than an obligation. Set a personal schedule when you want to accomplish an assignment, this tip will help you feel in control.
- Crisis-maker: They purposely put off tasks because they like the adrenaline of working under pressure.
Tips: Try to find healthier habits for using adrenaline, such as sports. Try to start assignments on time by rewarding yourself when you do. Create your own earlier deadline as well as a small competition with yourself for each task to avoid last-minute rushing.
- Over-doer: Takes on too many tasks at once, leading to a struggle to find the time to complete all of the tasks.
Tips: Try to create a to-do list, make sure to prioritize the more important tasks first such as studying for a big summative. Don’t burn yourself out, maybe set 1-2 hours a day to doing 2 assignments, make sure to give yourselves 10-15 minute breaks in between.
Staying consistent might not be easy, but when you try, you will notice a difference in your everyday life.
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