Types of Procrastinators
Procrastination is the act of delaying or putting something off until the last minute, or sometimes, past its deadline. Sometimes, putting something off can be a form of self-care, and sometimes, it can be a form of self-sabotage. Understanding WHY you’re putting something off can help you identify when you’re sliding from healthy self-care into unhealthy avoidance behavior.
Here's a look into some different “types” of procrastination:
1. The Anxious Avoider:
This type of procrastinator is filled with “what-if’s”. What if I do it incorrectly? What if people don’t like it? What if I make the wrong decision? What if I haven’t researched enough? What if I buy it and then change my mind? What if it doesn’t turn out the way I hope it will? This person is filled with so much worry over what could go wrong, that they avoid it all together.
A tip to heal this:
Introduce the opposite side of the “what-if”.
Examples:
What if people don’t like it → What if it positively impacts a lot of people?
What if I make the wrong decision → What if I gain valuable information from this decision?
2. The Perfect Procrastinator:
This type of procrastinator is really hard on themselves, sets the bar unrealistically high, and always finds ways they could’ve done better; no matter the outcome. They are so consumed with fear of failure or feelings of inadequacy that they don’t even want to get started. They'll spend a lot of time planning on doing a perfect job, and then waiting until the last minute to get started so that *if* if doesn’t turn out well, they can chalk it up to a lack of time, not a lack of capability.
A tip to heal this:
Gain perspective.
1. Think of the times you’ve done a PERFECT job on something. Can you even think of any?
2. Think of the times you’ve done a very job on something. Were there any negative consequences to doing a *very good* job opposed to a *perfect* job?
Adopting a B+/A- mindset will help you to be far more productive, successful and happier than an A+ mindset will!
3. The Poor Prioritizer:
This type of procrastinator has “shiny-object syndrome”. They start many tasks, but finish few. They’ll get started on something but when a new idea, opportunity, or more appealing task or project comes along, they jump ship. They jump from task to task, have a hard time seeing things through to completion, and often adopt the liming belief “I can’t get anything done”.
A tip to heal this:
Shift your mindset from “I can’t get anything done” to “I can’t get everything done”.
If a new idea pops up that seems alluring, write it down! Keep a board with sticky notes or a journal with a running list, but the new idea or project goes to the BOTTOM of the list and only gets started once the task at hand is completed.
A bonus tip if you are someone who believes “I can’t get anything done” - start your day with a task that takes 20 minutes or less to complete. Pay a bill, take a walk, send an email or sweep the floor! See something through to help your brain see you CAN complete things.
4. The Busy Blow-er-Off-er:
This type of procrastinator “has so much to do”. They tend to be the people-pleasers who always have full plates, but empty cups. Their busy schedule and competing demands allow them to justify putting things off because they have other important things to do. It also offers them an excuse to avoid saying “no”, or admit they don’t want to do something. They may find themselves saying “I’d love to but I’m too busy” rather than “that doesn’t sound fun to me” or “sounds great, but no thanks”.
A tip to heal this:
Start saying no to things you want to say no to! Practice by saying no to small things with safe, trustworthy people in your life.
Sometimes, we have to do things we don’t want to do. So, if it’s something you can’t say no to (like something essential for your child, or a mandatory work project) – think of why you’re WILLING to do this task, even though you don’t really want to. For example, what about being a parent or working for your company do you love so much, that it makes doing this task that you don’t really love, worth it right. now.
5. The Prioritized Pause:
This type of procrastination is healthy and can be an important part of self-care and overall life success. This is when you take mental and physical inventory of where you’re at in the present moment, you assess your to-dos through a value-based lens, and you appropriately re-prioritize and put things hold as needed. This may mean you don’t get to start or finish tasks you committed to doing that day. An important step in the prioritized pause, is that you re-commit to the tasks you put off at a more appropriate time. You don’t give yourself a pass to blow it off indefinitely.
For example, if you wake ill, you clear your schedule as much as possible to give yourself space to rest and recover. You offer to reschedule any essential calls or meetings until later in the week.
A tip to heal this:
Ask yourself: Is putting this task off right now aligned with healthy re-prioritization, or aligned with unhealthy avoidance behavior?
Which of these do you see yourself in most frequently?