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Procrastination: The Thief of Time
What’s Behind Procrastination?
Procrastination can be a thoroughly amusing concept, indeed.
But, as with all things humorous, there are some underlying 43
deep and darker forces. At the root of procrastination, argue
psychologists, almost always lurks some hidden fear or conflict
that urges us to put things off. A person may be obliged to
achieve certain results, but a multitude of opposing emotions
serve to short-circuit action. Although the procrastinator may
act as if the threat, fear, or conflict is gone, it’s still there—both
in the real world and in the person’s subconscious—where it
generates stress and, ultimately, corrodes success.
Time management experts have identified the eight most
typical causes of procrastination, shown in Figure 4-1.
Overwhelming
Tasks

Unpleasant Unclear
Tasks Task Flow

Fear of Unclear
Procrastination
Change Goals

Fear of Tendency to
Failure Overcommit

Addiction to
Cramming
Figure 4-1. Causes of procrastination

Internal Forces
Note that four of the causes (those in the shaded boxes) are pri-
marily inner rooted. They arise, for the most part, from the pro-
crastinator’s psyche. When we have certain tendencies or per-