# Psychology of procrastination Here are a few reasons why we procrastinate. ## Perfectionist's fear The subconscious fear of failure. By putting off the task, we don't have to face the potential failure it could lead to. Symptom: wasting all your time on getting minor details "right" - Delays the task Solution: - Try to visualize the completion of the task in a positive way - Accept that perfection is a myth - Put in your best effort and realize that's all you can do ## Dreamer's lack of action Highly creative with great ideas, but can't put them to action. No goal setting after the idea has been thought of. Symptom: Aimless approach, lack of decision making and delays Solution: - After you find an idea, create a timeline of what to achieve and set milestones (target dates) ## Overwhelmed avoider A task is overwhelming, which causes us to procrastinate. The complexity of some tasks can make us lose motivation and push us to procrastinate. Symptom: Not doing what we should Solution: - Break the task down into smaller tasks and tackle each separately ## Busy bee who lacks prioritization Too many tasks and not acknowledging the difference of importance of each. Wasting time switching from one task to another or wasting too much time deciding what to do. Symptom: working all the time but not achieving much Solution: - Defining priorities (e.g., using the [[Eisenhower Matrix]]) ## Distraction-prone Distractions are another way to procrastinate. Our brains aren't able to focus for long periods of time. Thus we easily get distracted. Symptom: Opening random websites and wasting time Solution: - Be mindful of your environment and avoid distractions - Take regular breaks (e.g., using the [[Pomodoro technique]]) Tags: #psychology #procrastination #personal_development #productivity #entrepreneurship