Taste Life Blog

In case you need a jumpstart this summer on the projects you had on your January to do list!

1.     Procrastinators are made not born. Procrastination is learned in the family milieu, but not directly. It is one response to an authoritarian parenting style. Having a harsh, controlling father keeps children from developing the ability to regulate themselves, from internalizing their own intentions and then learning to act on them

2.     Procrastinators tell lies to themselves. Such as, “I’ll feel more like doing this tomorrow.” Or “I work best under pressure.” But in fact they do not get the urge the next day or work best under pressure.

3.     Procrastinators actively look for distractions, particularly ones that don’t take a lot of commitment on their part. Checking e-mail is almost perfect for this purpose. They distract themselves as a way of regulating their emotions such as fear of failure.

4.     Procrastination costs a lot. Your health, your relationships and can destroy teamwork in the workplace.

5.     Procrastinators can change their behavior—but doing so consumes a lot of psychic energy. And it doesn’t necessarily mean one feels transformed internally.

• Source:  Two of the leading world experts on procrastination.
• Joseph Ferrari, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at De Paul University in Chicago
• Timothy Pychyl, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada