Time Management - Marc Mancini
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Procrastination: The Thief of <strong>Time</strong> 43<br />
What’s Behind Procrastination?<br />
Procrastination can be a thoroughly amusing concept, indeed.<br />
But, as with all things humorous, there are some underlying<br />
deep and darker forces. At the root of procrastination, argue<br />
psychologists, almost always lurks some hidden fear or conflict<br />
that urges us to put things off. A person may be obliged to<br />
achieve certain results, but a multitude of opposing emotions<br />
serve to short-circuit action. Although the procrastinator may<br />
act as if the threat, fear, or conflict is gone, it’s still there—both<br />
in the real world and in the person’s subconscious—where it<br />
generates stress and, ultimately, corrodes success.<br />
<strong>Time</strong> management experts have identified the eight most<br />
typical causes of procrastination, shown in Figure 4-1.<br />
Overwhelming<br />
Tasks<br />
Unpleasant<br />
Tasks<br />
Unclear<br />
Task Flow<br />
Fear of<br />
Change<br />
Procrastination<br />
Unclear<br />
Goals<br />
Fear of<br />
Failure<br />
Addiction to<br />
Cramming<br />
Tendency to<br />
Overcommit<br />
Figure 4-1. Causes of procrastination<br />
Internal Forces<br />
Note that four of the causes (those in the shaded boxes) are primarily<br />
inner rooted. They arise, for the most part, from the procrastinator’s<br />
psyche. When we have certain tendencies or per-
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