Dr. Sharon L. Bender
February, 2006
Procrastination Guilt
The
guilt
associated
with
procrastinating
is
something
we have
all
experienced
at one
time or
another,
and the
thought
fills us
with
anxiety.
Those of
us who
procrastinate
are
often
perceived
as being
lazy.
Such
labeling
places a
kind of
blame on
us that
can have
compounded
negative
results.
In
reality,
it’s a
matter
of how
we apply
this
seemingly
unsavory
behavior
that
counts.
We can
actually
use
procrastination
to our
benefit,
a
thought
few of
us are
able to
fathom.
In a
sense we
are
procrastinating
when we
"think
twice,
act
once" or
we
practice
"when in
doubt,
do
nothing."
These
are
forms of
procrastination
that are
proven
beneficial
behaviors.
The
problem
occurs
when we
hear
that
someone
is
putting
off
until
tomorrow
what
could be
done
today.
We
consider
that
they are
avoiding
doing a
task
that
needs to
be
accomplished
with
some
level of
haste.
Although
we have
heard
the
phrase,
“haste
makes
waste,”
we are
thought
to be
procrastinating.
Our
negative
perception
of the
term not
only
affects
our
work, it
is
accompanied
by an
array of
bad
feelings
such as
inadequacy,
self-disgust,
stress,
and
depression.
Is it
really a
matter
of poor
time
management,
the
inability
to
prioritize,
or
difficulty
concentrating,
as
perceived?
Why is
procrastinating
considered
a
personality
flaw?
 |
|
When
feeling
overloaded
or
overwhelmed
by a
task,
fearing
success
or
failure
associated
with the
task, or
just
avoiding
the
things
we
dislike
doing,
it may
be for
good
reason.
Why then
should
we be
made to
feel
guilty
about
procrastinating?
Perhaps
the
procrastinator
is
really
just a
perfectionist
or
someone
who
simply
doesn’t
have the
necessary
information
to
perform
the
task.
Perhaps
the
skills
needed
to
perform
the task
are
lacking,
or there
is
simply
little
or no
interest
in the
work at
hand.
There is
no need
to have
negative
feelings
associated
with
taking
the time
to
ponder,
think,
plan,
and
otherwise
stall
until we
are able
to
function
from a
better
vantage
point.
|
Why
should
we
operate
unprepared?
Wouldn't
it be
better
to
perform
when
appropriately
competent
to
handle
the
task?
Consider
that not
all of
us are
"early
adopters."
We may
wait
until we
feel
comfortable
embracing
a new
system
or
process,
a trait
that has
likely
aided
our
survival
throughout
our
human
history.
Waiting
until
the
right
moment
to act
can also
be
witnessed
as
beneficial
throughout
the
animal
kingdom.
A
lioness
stalks
her
prey,
staying
out of
sight,
hidden
in the
grasses,
and
waiting
for the
right
moment
to
pounce.
Her
procrastination
is well
calculated.
She
could
charge
in and
try her
luck or
wait
until
the time
is
right.
Our wise
ancestors
may have
delayed
eating
unripe,
potentially
poisonous
berries
until
they
were
safe to
consume.
Others
might
have ate
in haste
and
perished.
Perhaps
those
wise
individuals
also
dawdled
at the
water's
edge,
sensing
there
was
danger
in its
obscurity.
Standing
idly
along
the
banks
rather
than
jumping
right in
might
have
been
perceived
as an
act of
procrastination
out of
fear,
but
shouldn't
good
sense be
heeded?
Modern
humans
are not
so
different.
Procrastinating
on a
real
estate
purchase
until
the
market
appears
to
warrant
the
investment,
might
later
prove to
have
been the
instinctively
wise
decision.
Taking a
road
trip
might
have
been put
off out
of a
sense of
impending
disaster.
Later
you
learned
there
was a
serious
accident
along
the
route
you
would
have
taken.
Is our
stalling
based on
ancient
human
instinct
that
inherent
procrastinators
share?
|
Procrastination
may very
well be
a matter
of how
we
perceive
the task
at hand.
For
someone
who puts
off
doing a
task, it
may be
that it
is being
perceived
as
insurmountable,
or it is
simply
not the
most
opportune
moment
to act
upon it.
A
workaholic
may
become
paralyzed
in the
face of
high
personal
standards.
Regardless,
procrastination
can have
potentially
serious
consequences
such as
missed
opportunities,
increased
stress,
and poor
performance
records.
These
may be
born
from the
perceptions
and
presentations
of those
in a
position
to judge
us, and
so this
negative
side to
procrastinating
can
result
in
self-depression,
doubt,
and
frustration. |
|
 |
Unfortunately,
the
upside
to
procrastinating
has
gotten
little
recognition
when, in
fact,
deliberate
non-action
can be a
lifesaver.
It gives
us time
to think
before
wrongfully
jumping
into
something.
We
should
take
some
time to
reflect
and
listen
to our
instinctive
inner
voice
that
warns,
"When in
doubt,
do
nothing."
We
should
find a
quiet
place
where we
can
communicate
with
ourselves.
Pondering
enables
creativity,
healing,
and
refreshes
the
spirit.
Taking
time to
deliberate
may mean
a delay,
but it
can
result
in
becoming
better
prepared
to
accomplish
the task
at hand.
Successful
athletes
take
time to
get
psyched
for
competition.
Likewise,
those of
us who
respond
with,
“Let me
get back
to you
on
that,”
are
likely
greatly
more
satisfied
with the
decisions
we reach
after
having
had the
time to
“sleep
on it.”
It is
not a
clear-cut
matter
of poor
time
management
when we
procrastinate.
We are
not
wasting
time,
dawdling
over our
actions.
There
are a
great
many
reasons
for
putting
things
off, and
they
just
might
all be
good
ones.
 |
|
Aside
from
chronic
cases,
there
are
other
advantages
to
procrastinating
such as
reducing
stress.
In a
1997
study,
published
in
Psychological
Science,
D. M.
Tice and
R. F.
Baumeister
examined
the
relationship
between
procrastination
and
performance,
stress,
and
health
on
college
students.
Their
findings
indicated
that
procrastinating
students
do not
perceive
a
looming
deadline,
resulting
in lower
stress
levels
for
these
individuals.
The
procrastinators
claimed
that an
imposed
deadline
makes
them
more
motivated,
but it
was also
revealed
the
procrastinating
students
earned
lower
scores
than the
non-procrastinators,
perhaps
due to
underestimating
the
amount
of time
needed
to
perform
tasks.
|
Beginning
tasks
late
leaves
less
time to
make
corrections
in
performance.
However,
a
limitation
of the
study
noted
that it
is
difficult
to
obtain
accurate
input
from
procrastinators
as they
demonstrated
a lack
of
participation
interest.
Some
research
suggests
that
those
who
procrastinate
are the
less
intelligent,
whereas
contradictory
studies
have
illuminated
that
intelligence
level
does not
correlate
with
procrastination
behavior.
It is
obvious
that
much
more
research
is
needed
on the
matter
of
procrastination
in
humans.
Understanding
its
upside
may help
us to
overcome
the
stigma
associated
with the
delay in
taking
action
until we
are
better
prepared.
The
result
of a
well
conceived
action
can mean
a better
outcome
rather
than
doing
something
for the
sake of
getting
it
accomplished,
or
merely
to avoid
negative
perceptions.
Guilt-ridden
workaholics
who tend
to jump
right in
and
begin
working
without
all of
the
facts
might
benefit
from
taking a
little
time to
sort
through
the
matter
at hand,
instead
of
acting
impulsively
to avoid
a
perceived
analysis
paralysis.
There
are
likely
more
reasons
and
benefits
to
procrastinate
than we
have
otherwise
been
aware.
Perhaps
procrastination
is more
a
strategy
than a
tragedy.
Without
doubt,
there is
reason
to
believe
that
procrastination
can be
good for
us.
Sources
Image:
Hang
In There
