Putting off decisions or actions is a common habit that many people struggle with. Nevertheless, there are various forms of procrastination that can arise due to various reasons and result in diverse consequences.
There are several common types of procrastination:
- Levels of procrastination can vary from mild to severe. The distinction between these varieties of delaying tasks lies in the extent of an individual’s tendency to postpone obligations and the duration of such delays, along with the impact it has on their overall well-being.
- Dealing with both short-term and long-term delays. The distinction between these varieties of delaying tasks is that acute procrastination is limited to a brief duration, while chronic procrastination endures over the long haul.
- Feeling a bit overwhelmed and indulging in some leisurely delay. The distinction between these types of procrastination lies in the underlying motivations. Anxious procrastination occurs when one delays tasks despite intending to work on them and being aware that the delay is counterproductive and illogical. On the other hand, hedonistic procrastination occurs when one voluntarily postpones tasks in favor of more enjoyable activities or simply because they do not care enough. Furthermore, individuals who tend to delay tasks can also be categorized based on various factors that contribute to their procrastination. For instance, there are those who procrastinate due to feelings of depression, while others do so because of their perfectionist tendencies, pessimistic outlook, or rebellious nature.
- Engaging in active and passive procrastination. The distinction between these forms of procrastination lies in the intention behind the delay. Active procrastination entails purposeful postponement that ultimately yields favorable results, while passive procrastination entails unintentional delay that ultimately leads to unfavorable outcomes.
- Procrastination in specific domains, such as academic, workplace, or bedtime,. The distinction between these various forms of procrastination lies in the specific areas where they manifest. Academic procrastination pertains to the postponement of academic responsibilities; workplace procrastination relates to the delay of tasks in a professional setting; and bedtime procrastination refers to the act of putting off going to sleep.
These types can also be utilized to directly categorize procrastinators, rather than categorizing people’s tendency to procrastinate. As an illustration, rather than stating that someone participates in mild procrastination, it is conceivable to describe them as a mild procrastinator. Similarly, instead of stating that someone participates in consistent delay, it’s possible to describe them as a consistent procrastinator.
Furthermore, an individual’s tendency to delay tasks can be classified based on a combination of various types of procrastination. Take, for instance, an individual who can be classified as a mild and anxious academic procrastinator or as a severe and chronic hedonistic procrastinator.
Here, you will gain insights into the different types of procrastination and discover practical ways to apply this knowledge.
Different categories of procrastination
Levels of procrastination can vary, ranging from mild to severe.
Two crucial factors that show the degree of someone’s procrastination determine the distinction between mild, average, and severe procrastination:
- The extent to which an individual delays tasks and the duration of these delays.
- The impact of a person’s procrastination can be seen in various ways, such as missed deadlines and increased stress levels.
In this context, a mild procrastinator is someone who occasionally puts things off and whose procrastination tendencies have only a minor impact. On the other hand, an average procrastinator tends to procrastinate frequently and has a moderate impact. Last but not least, a severe procrastinator is someone whose habit of procrastination has a negative impact on their life. Take the case of a mild procrastinator who tends to put off tasks every now and then but still manages to get them done within the given time frame. Then there’s the average procrastinator, who frequently delays tasks and ends up rushing to finish them just before the deadline, often feeling stressed in the process. And finally, we have the severe procrastinator who consistently puts off tasks, resulting in missed deadlines and a great deal of stress.
There are no set standards or guidelines for determining the severity of procrastination, making it difficult to categorize individuals consistently across different scenarios. For instance, it’s worth noting that an individual could be classified as a mild procrastinator in one scenario but as an average procrastinator in another, depending on the specific threshold and criteria employed for evaluation.
In addition, the assessment’s applicability may vary depending on the context. For instance, it could be based on a relative threshold that takes into account the population average rather than a fixed absolute threshold that is universally applied. For instance, if we compare someone’s procrastination to that of young students, they may be seen as an average procrastinator. However, when we compare their procrastination to that of adults in the workplace, they may be considered severe procrastinators, as adults tend to procrastinate less on average.
Nevertheless, even with the possibility of variation, there is an anticipated level of consistency when it comes to the thresholds and criteria used to classify the severity of people’s procrastination. Take, for instance, individuals who frequently delay tasks, sometimes for extended durations, and experience significant negative consequences as a result. It is improbable that they would be labeled as mild procrastinators, regardless of the standards or measures employed for evaluation.
Furthermore, when considering this classification system for delaying tasks, it is also feasible to classify the intensity of individuals’ procrastination as existing on a spectrum rather than solely consisting of distinct groups. As an illustration, individuals’ tendency to procrastinate can be assessed on a scale of 1–7, and then their score can be compared to the average score of others in the same population.
It’s worth mentioning that procrastination can be categorized based on its severity using terms such as low, moderate, and high. Likewise, the concept of pathological procrastination is occasionally employed to describe more severe cases of procrastination that are likely to be long-lasting and challenging to overcome.
Acute and chronic procrastination
The distinction between acute and chronic procrastination lies in their durations. Acute procrastination is limited to a brief period, while chronic procrastination endures over the long haul.
Take, for instance, a student who tends to delay tasks. This student may only procrastinate when faced with a specific assignment that causes them anxiety. On the other hand, another student who consistently puts off work may procrastinate on every assignment they receive during their academic journey.
There are no set rules for determining the difference between acute and chronic procrastination, making it difficult to categorize some cases as one or the other. However, it is anticipated that certain cases will be easily classified as either acute or chronic. Take the case of an individual who delays tasks for just a week; they would typically be labeled as an acute procrastinator. On the other hand, someone who consistently puts off tasks for several years would be classified as a chronic procrastinator.
Furthermore, it is crucial to note that chronic procrastination is more focused on the consistent habit of delaying tasks rather than specifically delaying them for extended periods. For instance, someone who consistently puts off tasks for short periods of time can still be considered a chronic procrastinator if this behavior persists for years.
It’s worth mentioning that chronic procrastination can also be seen as trait procrastination or dispositional procrastination, when it reflects a consistent characteristic of an individual in terms of their inclination to repeatedly engage in procrastination as a behavior. This can be compared to situational procrastination, which refers to a person’s tendency to procrastinate in certain situations. In addition, other terms are occasionally employed in this context, such as habitual procrastination and sporadic procrastination.
Anxious and hedonistic procrastination
There is a distinction between anxious and hedonistic procrastination. Anxious procrastination occurs when one puts off tasks despite intending to work on them and being aware that this delay is counterproductive and illogical. On the other hand, hedonistic procrastination happens when one voluntarily postpones tasks in favor of more enjoyable activities or simply due to a lack of concern.
Take, for instance, an individual who tends to delay tasks due to anxiety about receiving criticism from others. On the other hand, another person may put off the same task in order to enjoy leisure activities with their friends.
There are different types of procrastination, including anxious procrastination and hedonistic procrastination. A related type of delay is arousal delay, in which people purposefully put off tasks until right before the deadline in order to work under pressure or experience the rush of finishing them at the last minute (i.e., due to seeking sensation).
This classification system for procrastination and different types of delay is reminiscent of another classification system. It differentiates between avoidant procrastination, which occurs when one delays tasks out of fear and anxiety; arousal procrastination, which involves waiting until the last minute to make tasks more thrilling; and decisional procrastination, which involves difficulty making timely decisions. This is similar to other categorization schemes, although it has faced criticism.
Furthermore, it’s important to recognize that procrastination can be classified according to various underlying factors. This includes, for instance, individuals who struggle with procrastination due to depression, as well as those who procrastinate because of perfectionism, feeling overwhelmed, or a rebellious nature.
Active and passive procrastination
There is a distinction between active and passive procrastination. Active procrastination involves purposeful delay that ultimately results in positive outcomes, while passive procrastination involves unintentional delay that leads to negative consequences.
Take the case of an active procrastinator who tends to delay tasks until just before the deadline. This approach actually benefits them, as it allows them to perform better. On the other hand, a passive procrastinator takes postponing tasks to the extreme, often resulting in missed deadlines due to their anxiety.
There are two different types of procrastination that can be classified as positive and negative, or as adaptive and maladaptive. In addition, there is another form of procrastination known as traditional procrastination, while well-adjusted procrastinators engage in a different type of procrastination called active procrastination. These people frequently put off tasks, but they typically don’t suffer as a result. Active procrastination is often linked to the idea of productive procrastination, where one engages in useful tasks while putting off more pressing ones.
Furthermore, just like the contrast between anxious and hedonistic procrastination, there is also a contrast between active and passive procrastination that is linked to the criticized differentiation between avoidant procrastination, characterized by delaying tasks due to fears and anxieties, and arousal procrastination, characterized by intentionally waiting until the last minute to make tasks more thrilling.
Finally, the idea of active procrastination has faced significant criticism and scrutiny from researchers. Some argue that it involves purposeful delay, also known as strategic delay, wise delay, and sagacious delay, rather than being classified as procrastination. Others argue that it does not result in positive outcomes.
Domain-specific procrastination
This encompasses various types of procrastination, such as academic, workplace, and bedtime procrastination, each occurring in different domains. In particular:
- Academic procrastination is a common occurrence among students, where they tend to delay their academic assignments for various reasons. A classic case of academic procrastination is when a student, despite their initial intention to start earlier, needlessly puts off studying for an exam until the night before, even though they had a whole week to prepare.
- Workplace procrastination is a common occurrence where individuals tend to delay addressing their work-related responsibilities. A clear illustration of workplace procrastination is when an individual consistently delays the completion of a vital report, opting to spend their time on less significant work-related activities instead.
- Bedtime procrastination is a common behavior where individuals find themselves putting off going to bed, even when they are aware of the negative consequences it can have on their well-being. An example of delaying sleep is when someone stays up much later than planned due to spending excessive time on the internet, playing video games, or watching TV, despite not deriving much enjoyment from these activities. They are aware that this behavior will result in tiredness and frustration the following day.
Furthermore, delays can also manifest in various other areas. Take, for instance, individuals who tend to delay important responsibilities such as settling bills and tidying up their living space, or even tasks associated with the realms of commerce and literature. Just like any other task, people often delay activities related to interpersonal relationships, such as responding to messages from friends or approaching potential romantic partners.
Additional criteria can be used to further differentiate some of these types of procrastination. Take, for instance, the ability to differentiate between procrastination in the online and offline workplaces, depending on the presence of digital devices. In addition, online procrastination can also be seen as a type of social media procrastination, depending on the activities individuals partake in while putting off tasks.
Similarly, there is a way to differentiate between delaying bedtime and delaying sleep once already in bed. In addition, these two forms of delaying tasks can be seen as subcategories of sleep procrastination, which refers to putting off going to bed in general. They may also have their own variations, such as bedtime procrastination.
It’s worth mentioning that individuals may procrastinate in different areas of their lives. Some may only procrastinate in one specific domain, while others may procrastinate in multiple domains. There are also those who engage in general procrastination across a wide range of areas, or even in almost all aspects of their lives.
Alternative forms of procrastination
There are different ways to differentiate between various types of procrastination and individuals who tend to procrastinate based on a range of criteria, such as cognitive, emotional, and motivational factors. There are various types available, for instance:
- Worried and carefree procrastinators, who have different attitudes towards their habit of putting things off,.
- Procrastinators can be categorized into two groups based on their outlook on completing future tasks: those who are optimistic and those who are pessimistic.
- There are two types of procrastinators: those who are aware of their procrastination and those who are not.
- Individuals with varying personality traits, such as neuroticism and extraversion, tend to procrastinate. There are different types of individuals who tend to procrastinate for various reasons. Some of these include neurotic procrastinators, who delay tasks because of their high neuroticism; extroverted procrastinators, who put off work due to their high extraversion; anxious idealists, who fear failure and judgment; daydreamers, who easily get bored with their tasks; and avoidant postponers, who avoid tasks that they perceive as a threat to their independence.
Distinguishing between state and trait procrastination
There is a way to differentiate between procrastination as a temporary situation that individuals find themselves in (or a specific occurrence of procrastination behavior) and procrastination as a consistent personality trait that individuals exhibit chronically (in which case they are labeled as procrastinators).
Furthermore, it is worth considering alternative perspectives on procrastination, such as viewing it as a way to manage temporary mood fluctuations or as a psychological concern when it leads to problems like subpar performance or negative emotions.
Addressing various forms of procrastination
It can be quite useful to have a grasp on the various forms of procrastination, as they can stem from different factors and call for distinct remedies.
For instance, a solution that caters to the needs of an anxious procrastinator may not be as effective for a hedonistic procrastinator. Similarly, a technique that helps individuals struggling with bedtime procrastination may not be effective for those dealing with academic procrastination, and vice versa.
When attempting to address someone’s procrastination, including your own, it is helpful to begin by identifying the specific type of procrastination. This article provides valuable information on how to do so. Once the type of procrastination is determined, the next step is to understand the underlying reasons behind it and develop strategies to overcome it.
