Volume 3, No. 10 January 24, 2003
Start reading this now By Dyan Hyman How many times have you delayed starting work on a project or paper until right before it is due? Don’t worry, procrastination is a common problem both with students and with employees in the business world. Now is the best time to work on changing this negative habit, but first it is helpful to understand the common causes of procrastination. • Being overextended — Is it possible to meet all of the obligations you have? If not, what can you change? • Low motivation — Is the task relevant to you, or are you interested in the project? If not, can you make it interesting or incorporate some kind of personal reward? • Lack of training — Are you incapable of completing the task? Are you unsure of the expectations? Ask for guidance, support, or a new perspective from someone who is knowledgeable in the area. • Faulty assumptions — Are you underestimating the amount of time and effort it will take you to complete the project? Are you assuming that if you ignore it, maybe it will go away? Try sitting down and writing out each step of the task, and try to estimate the amount of time it will take you. • Perfectionism — Do you fear that you will do a less than perfect job? Is this interfering with your productivity? Remember that perfection is unobtainable. Try to assess how important the task is, and what level of performance really matters. • Avoidance of a negative experience — Do you just hate doing this specific task, but it is unavoidable? Try to make it enjoyable. If that is not possible, try doing it first to get it out of the way. Try to incorporate some of these helpful hints slowly into your work habits. If you try to change your habits all at once, you may be setting yourself up for failure. Even one small change may make a big difference. Remember, procrastination adds stress to your life. If you get things done on time you will have more time to relax and enjoy your life. If you need any additional help with time management or stress management, call the health and wellness department at 525-6971. The department is located on the fourth floor of American Hall, 7 Drayton St. Hyman is a counseling intern in the health and wellness department.
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