There are lots of ways to avoid success, but the most sure-fire way is procrastination.  Procrastination is the habit of putting off important, challenging tasks by killing time with less stressful activities:  Email, Twitter, Facebook, food and Netflix; the excuses and delays can be endless.  Procrastinators sabotage themselves.

According to Joseph Ferrari, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Psychology at De Paul University in Chicago and Timothy Pychyl, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Psychology at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada:

• 20% of people identify themselves as chronic procrastinators.
• We don’t consider this a serious problem in our culture, but procrastination is a profound issue of lack of self-regulation and self-discipline.
• Procrastination is not a problem of time management or planning.  Rather, it is the result of ingrained habits and being overly optimistic about what they can accomplish.
• Procrastinators are made, not born.  Procrastination is learned in the family environment.
• Procrastinators tell lies to themselves; “I’ll feel more like doing this tomorrow.”  “I work better under pressure.”
• Procrastinators actively look for distractions. Checking email is a perfect excuse for this purpose.
• There are huge costs to procrastination – Health is one. College students who procrastinated had more colds and flu, more gastrointestinal problems and more insomnia.
• Procrastination destroys teamwork in the workplace as it shifts responsibilities onto others who become resentful.  It causes stress in personal relationships as well.
• With self-discipline and self-awareness, Procrastinators can change their behavior – but doing so may be daunting.

If you are a procrastinator or know one, share this blog with them.  It may not change their procrastinating ways, but perhaps they’ll get the hint and work on it!
The road is easier together,

Linda