More interestingly, people between 14 and 29 years old are the most likely to postpone their responsibilities. Regarding gender, men are 17% more likely to procrastinate than women (46%). “David Kahneman’s theory in “Thinking, Fast and Slow” helps explain this phenomenon,” she told Bored Panda. “People tend to procrastinate on tasks that require slow, deliberate thinking, as these tasks demand more cognitive effort and willpower. Tasks that are straightforward and require fast thinking are easier to start and complete. The minority who rarely procrastinate possess the necessary willpower, often driven by intrinsic motivation, and have developed practical strategies to manage demanding tasks effectively, allowing them to stay focused and productive.”
Instead, “A common reason for procrastination is the feeling of being overwhelmed by urgent tasks, which leads to neglecting more important but less urgent activities,” Kondekar says. “People often engage in busy work, carrying a sense of guilt for not addressing higher-priority tasks. Recognizing this pattern involves reflecting on how one prioritizes tasks and acknowledging when busywork is used as an avoidance strategy.” In it, she distinguishes 6 styles of procrastination, and once a person knows which of them they are, they can start changing how they think, speak, and act. Another style is the worrier who embraces security, which often causes fear of risk and change. Therefore, they avoid completing tasks so they don’t have to leave their comfort zone and dive into the ‘unknown.’ “The worrier is so anxious they ask themselves ‘what if’ a lot. They’re cautious. Because of that, they’re afraid to step down and actually do what needs to be done,” said Sapadin. “They spend too much time thinking about the anxiety of the piece.” Experts recommend replacing such standards with more realistic ones while allowing oneself to make mistakes. Avoiding all-or-nothing thinking, giving yourself a time frame to do something, and sticking to it can also help. For this style of delaying, it’s advised to differentiate between dreams and goals and approach the aim with six concrete questions: what, when, where, who, why, and how. Writing out plans into a timeline and going into detail with each step might help stick to deadlines better. This style of procrastinator has to find internal motivation to work when there’s no pressure, so they don’t become dependent on deadlines. If a person has this mindset, they should find positive ways to feel in control. One way to do so is by trying to work with advisors and authority figures who can help guide them through more conventional processes of working. These people need to start saying ‘no’ when it’s necessary and learn to focus on the important tasks first. Introducing time management techniques like the Pomodoro Technique or apps that can break down larger tasks into smaller, not-so-overwhelming chunks. Follow Bored Panda on Google News! Follow us on Flipboard.com/@boredpanda! Please use high-res photos without watermarks Ooops! Your image is too large, maximum file size is 8 MB.
