Table of Contents
The connection between time management and procrastination is frequently misunderstood. Because they don’t know what triggers their procrastination in the first place, people may fail to overcome it, which is one of the most significant consequences of this.
The following article can help by explaining how procrastination relates to time management. As a result, it will assist you in better-comprehending procrastination, which will assist you in overcoming it.
PROCRASTINATION
The practice of needlessly delaying choices or actions is known as procrastination. For instance, delaying starting a task until just before its due date without a valid cause, but wanting to work on it earlier, constitutes procrastination.
Procrastination is a widespread issue that affects 50% of college students and 20% of adults on a chronic basis (Dr. Shatz). It is linked to a number of problems, including decreased productivity, poorer academic achievement, worsened financial situation, decreased emotional wellness, deteriorated mental and physical health, and a delay in seeking assistance for problems.
There are several kinds of procrastination, which can happen for various reasons and result in varied outcomes. However, the main characteristics of procrastination, which apply to the majority of its forms, are as follows:
- It involves needless waiting.
- The delay typically has unavoidable negative effects on elements like the procrastinator’s performance or emotional health.
- Although not always, the delay is unintentional, which means that it happens despite the procrastinator’s best efforts to complete tasks on schedule.
Managing your time and putting things off
People that procrastinate typically don’t manage their time well. A good illustration of this would be someone who, although they should be working on a project, spends their time checking social media up until the very last minute.
Sometimes procrastination is a result of problems with time management. ‘Failure to set a self-imposed deadline for a task’ (ER, 2020), for instance, can contribute to procrastination if the person needs such a deadline in order to establish a definite intention to finish the activity. Similar to this, if someone doesn’t correctly prioritise their duties and thus doesn’t understand how crucial it is to do those chores on time, they may be more likely to put off a critical activity. Similar to how poor planning and organisation can contribute to procrastination, other time management problems can as well.
Procrastination can be decreased with good time management.
By addressing time-management problems that contribute to procrastination, such as failing to priorities tasks like marketing research paper topics, as well as other problems, effective time management can decrease procrastination (e.g., failure to regulate emotions).
For instance, breaking things down into manageable chunks is a typical time-management method. By immediately enhancing people’s time management skills, such as by assisting them in comprehending, prioritising, and planning their work, this strategy helps decrease procrastination. Additionally, by enhancing people’s ability to control their emotions, such as by assisting them in feeling more in charge of tasks that would otherwise feel overwhelming, this strategy can lessen procrastination by raising people’s self-efficacy.
Similarly, using a to-do list is a related time management strategy. Making tasks, deadlines, and goals feel more definite might help people feel more motivated to take action, which can help reduce procrastination.
Procrastination-reduction strategies for managing your time
The Time management skills for students and others listed below can help you stop putting things off:
- Set Clear Goals: Clearly define your goals and break them down into smaller, manageable tasks. This provides a sense of direction and helps you stay focused on what needs to be done.
- Prioritize Tasks: Determine the most important and urgent tasks and prioritize them accordingly. This helps you allocate your time and energy efficiently and prevents tasks from piling up.
- Create a Schedule: Establish a schedule or daily routine that includes dedicated time slots for specific tasks. This structure helps create a sense of discipline and makes it easier to stay on track. For example, when are you going to work on your academic posters designing service or go to the gym for a break?
- Break Tasks into Chunks: when you only manage your energy, not your time, large tasks can feel overwhelming and lead to procrastination. Break them down into smaller, more manageable chunks and tackle them one at a time. This makes the task less intimidating and allows for steady progress.
- Use Time-Blocking Techniques: Allocate specific blocks of time for different activities or tasks. Set a timer for each block and focus solely on that task during that time. This technique helps maintain focus and minimizes distractions.
- Eliminate Distractions: Identify and eliminate or minimize potential distractions during your work periods. Put your phone on silent, close irrelevant tabs on your computer, and create a quiet and conducive work environment.
- Practice the Pomodoro Technique: This technique involves working in 25-minute intervals (known as Pomodoros) followed by short breaks. After completing a set number of Pomodoros, take a longer break. This approach promotes focused work and regular breaks, enhancing productivity.
- Use Task-Management Tools: Utilize task-management apps or tools that help you organize and track your tasks. These tools often provide reminders, deadlines, and progress-tracking features to keep you accountable.
- Seek Accountability: Share your goals and progress with someone else, such as a friend, colleague, or mentor. This external accountability can help motivate you to stay on track and reduce procrastination.
- Practice Self-Care: Take care of your physical and mental well-being by incorporating regular breaks, exercise, healthy meals, and sufficient sleep into your routine. When you feel balanced and energized, you are less likely to succumb to procrastination.
Practical Strategies for Reducing Procrastination
Remember, reducing procrastination takes practice and self-discipline. Implementing these strategies consistently can help you manage your time effectively, increase productivity, and achieve your goals more efficiently. Also, you may use a variety of tools to put these strategies into practice. For instance by managing your schedule and setting priorities for your work.
Although the techniques in this article are primarily geared toward time management skills in the workplace or school. Some of them can also help with other issues, particularly emotion regulation (for example, when using the techniques makes you feel more in control and subsequently less anxious). Which can further help reduce procrastination). However, it may be advantageous to utilise additional anti-procrastination strategies as well, such as those that emphasise emotion control, particularly if doing so would enable you to address the particular reasons behind your procrastination more.
References
eazyresearch(2020). How to Make Progress on Your Goals When You Feel Unmotivated? https://eazyresearch.com/blog/how-to-make-progress-on-your-goals-when-you-feel-unmotivated/
Itamar Shatz. Time Management and Procrastination: How They’re Connected and Why Emotions Matter Too. https://solvingprocrastination.com/time-management/
