Procrastination

With Elliot & Stella

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In one word what is procrastination?

Elliot - Emotions.

Stella - Motivation. So I think it's from motivation or lack of it to be exact. It depends on the person and how they look at the task that needs to be done.

Well that's all part of your emotions. It's all how you're feeling. You could be tired, stressed or overwhelmed and this often leads to procrastination.

I also see traits such as perfectionism or fear of failure affecting people’s work ethic, however, for me, it is more just the lack of motivation at all. I struggle to see a purpose in most of the things I do. When I’m not passionate it is difficult to put my mind towards it when there are so many other more appealing options.

But for example, when I had to do hydroponic gardening which I loved, I just struggled to sit down and make a presentation of it. Despite being something I enjoyed, it was more because of perfectionism and the pressure to do my best that I just struggled to put words down on the computer.

Yeah, thinking back to when I was younger, I had the exact same thing. My only issue was just getting started on something because of the high standards I had set for myself, which then made a small task seem overwhelming. But now that it's gone in a different direction for me. Now how I perceive the work I have to do has changed drastically.

When I have to do something creative I find natural to sit down and put lots if time into it, So I'm talking about more written assignments.

But they're all related to motivation and procrastination. Maybe it is still due to interest, because maybe you're just not interested in sitting and writing things, no matter what it is, and you're passionate about more creative things. So possibly it’s still to do with finding certain things boring.

How does procrastination connect with being lazy?

I think it connects a lot. Laziness is the lack of effort. They're both interconnected but it is something you could change easier than your emotions.

I'm going to say that laziness and procrastination are completely different because laziness is just not doing something as you can't be bothered. But procrastination is different because it's on your mind as you do intend to complete the task. However, I do agree that often being lazy is more of a choice than some of the other emotional factors. If you have an assignment, you are lazy if you either put in no effort or just don’t hand it up, however, procrastinating is putting off working on it, constantly using your energy to do other tasks, for me, until the last minute, and then there is a mad rush to complete it.

How difficult is it to overcome procrastination?

I think it would definitely be harder to address your emotional issues, but if it was simply the wrong mindset towards school the fix might be much simpler.

Yeah, I don't think procrastination is about effort or quality of work, as it has to do with the amount of time you spend on something and how long it takes to complete in general.

On the other hand, if you wait until the last minute to do an assignment it is highly likely that the quality will be effected which does make procrastination more just being lazy.

Hmm, I don’t know if I agree with that lack of effort meaning that the person is lazy. When I am procrastinating I am often focusing on completing another task, something that doesn’t overwhelm me, something that feels more achievable or rewarding. So maybe overall, it just depends on the person. So if you want to figure out the cause for your procrastination you could take a step back and see if it is affecting the quality of your work, or just how long it takes.

Short term solutions

Yeah, if you can find the source it can help you feel less overwhelmed. Though short term fixes can be great it is important to be aware that they are not properly fixing the problem. Short-term fixes like breaking tasks into smaller parts can help in the moment. But addressing the deeper emotional factors is the key to long-term success in overcoming procrastination.

In the short term, I think it helps to just dive into the task. Break it down, set small goals, and focus on one step at a time, then it feels more achievable and less overwhelming. You’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish when you get started. I think that setting a time limit to each step can help too, especially if there is a component of the task that is enjoyable, as there is a risk that too much time will be invested into that part and you could keep procrastinating about the rest.

I agree. Another good trick is to make the task more enjoyable. Like, you could study with a friend, go to a library, or add some music to create a more motivating environment.

Yeah, making it fun can help you stay engaged. But sometimes, it’s just about telling yourself that you have to get started, even if it feels like a huge task.

Long term solutions

Long-term solutions require more self-awareness and a shift in how we view our work. If you understand your own motivation and emotions, you can reduce procrastination in the future by approaching tasks with a healthier mindset.

I think developing a routine and setting clear goals helps too. If you have a plan in place, you’re less likely to put things off. Long-term, it’s about consistency and learning how to manage your distractions.

Exactly. You need to train your mind to approach tasks with less resistance. This can be achieved by setting up environments that support your goals and creating habits that make it easier to stay focused.

And sometimes, it’s about understanding that procrastination won’t disappear overnight. It’s all about finding the right balance and gradually changing how you think about work.