5 Causes of Procrastination You Should Be Aware of

We all struggle with productivity issues from time to time. It's normal to miss a few deadlines or fall behind on your deliverables once in a while. This is because you can't give 100 percent all the time, and that's completely fine.

However, things become worrisome when you consistently miss your deadlines and intentionally delay the tasks on your to-do list. Because that is generally referred to as procrastination, and it can severely hamper your productivity.

Procrastination not only affects your professional goals but also has a negative impact on your quality of life in general.

It all starts with a few difficult tasks that you avoid doing. And before you know it, you develop this habit of delaying things that don't excite you or require more effort than usual.

To overcome procrastination, it's important that you know what causes it in order to devise appropriate measures.

The causes may vary from one person to another. But there are a few things that should raise red flags for you:

1. Lack of Confidence

People tend to avoid picking up difficult tasks because they are not confident in their skills or expertise.

They often struggle with self-doubt and low self-esteem, which makes them less accepting of tasks that require more effort than usual.

The first step to overcoming this problem is being true to yourself. It all starts with acknowledging that there's something wrong in order to come up with a viable solution for the problem.

If you tend to avoid tasks because you are worried about your performance, you need to work on cultivating a positive mindset and start having a little faith in your capabilities.

Keeping good company also helps, as sharing your concerns with people you trust and getting a genuine piece of advice from someone who truly cares about your well-being go a long way.

2. Perfectionistic Tendencies

Perfection is a characteristic often idealized and desired by most people, as perfectionists tend to be the best at what they do and always strive to stand out from the crowd.

However, if you're not careful, perfectionistic tendencies may cause you to cultivate unrealistic expectations, which make it difficult for you to keep the needle moving.

Perfectionists often set standards so high that they end up falling behind on their deliverables. And that can severely affect their performance and growth.

So, it's best that you try not to be a perfectionist and just focus on doing your best. You won't know whether your work is of the best or worst quality unless you submit it. So just give it your all and try to meet the set deadlines.

Even if you fail to live up to the expectations, don't worry. Because that's how you learn and evolve to be better.

3. Fear of Failure

Fear of failure is another one of the major causes of procrastination. It's a psychological condition that develops over time due to traumatic past experiences or unpleasant recent encounters.

Fear of failure causes you to put tasks on hold because you develop the mindset that your efforts may have negative consequences.

It deprives you of focus, as each of your attempts at doing something reminds you of past mishaps or unpleasant experiences you have encountered lately.

And that may severely hinder your growth and development, not just as a professional but also as a person.

To overcome your fear of failure, it's important that you learn to have an open mind and start considering failures as opportunities to hack growth.

Think of failure as a part of the process and a lesson that makes it possible for you to maximize your efficiency. After all, victory tastes sweeter once you've tasted the bitterness of defeat.

4. Surroundings

Your surroundings have a significant influence on your tendency to procrastinate, especially if you work remotely.

Your surroundings can make you susceptible to distractions around you, which may severely hamper your productivity.

To deal with this issue, try making things time-bound and sticking to your schedule. You should also be practicing restraint to overcome temptations like checking your phone whenever you hear a notification sound or taking frequent breaks from work.

There are other things that you can try as well, such as investing in a dedicated workspace when working remotely or switching to airplane mode on your phone during work hours.

It's all about fortifying your mind and staying focused on the tasks at hand. So, you can explore different things and stick to the ones that work best for you.

5. Lack of Focus

Your ability to tap into the zone when working on something dictates your likelihood of procrastination. The easier it is for you to focus on the tasks at hand, the less likely it is for you to procrastinate.

So, if you've been struggling with procrastination lately, try working on your ability to concentrate on things that matter.

When it comes to improving your focus, what works for others may not work for you. But there are a few things you can try to see if they help. Start by turning your phone off when working.

Learn to prioritize the things you need to do, whether professional or personal, and remind yourself of what's important.

Track your time spent on different things in order to plan your day better and stay on track with your deliverables.

Be moderate with your breaks, but don't ignore them completely to give yourself the rest you deserve.

Small changes you make to your routine and the way you do things go a long way, making it easier for you to improve your focus.

It's a Wrap

There you have it. The five causes of procrastination you should be aware of.

If you've been consistently missing your deadlines and intentionally delaying things you're supposed to do, you should be wary of the aforesaid factors, as knowing what causes the problem makes it easier for you to solve it.