We’ve all been there. You have a project due, but you keep putting it off until the last minute. Or maybe you just don’t feel like doing anything at all today. Thats what we called procrastination.
Why do we procrastinate? And what can we do about it? Here, we’re exploring why some people procrastinate and what role self-esteem plays in that process (How Procrastination Affects Self-Esteem).
Is procrastination a sign of low self-esteem?
The relationship between self-esteem with procrastination
“No one is coming to save you; no one is coming to make life right for you; no one is coming to solve your problems. If you don’t do something, nothing is going to get better. The dream of a rescuer who will deliver us may offer a kind of comfort, but it leaves us passive and powerless.
Nathaniel Branden, Six Pillars of Self-Esteem
We may feel if only I suffer long enough, if only I yearn desperately enough, somehow a miracle will happen, but this is the kind of self-deception one pays for with one’s life as it drains away into the abyss of unredeemable possibilities and irretrievable days, months, decades.”
Procrastination is the habit of putting things off until the very last minute or avoiding them altogether. It can be a way to avoid doing work you don’t feel like doing, but more often than not, it’s because you want to avoid facing yourself and your weaknesses in the process.
It’s easy to blame procrastination on laziness, but there are many other reasons why people procrastinate. The most common are self-esteem issues, which can cause you to avoid doing important things in your life.
The root of procrastination comes from an area in our brain called the amygdala, the part responsible for fear and anxiety. When we have too much on our plate (or even just one thing), this part will try its best to make us anxious so that we’ll feel compelled to do something about it: go grocery shopping, clean out your closet, or get some exercise.
If you think of yourself as incapable or unlovable, then procrastinating becomes easier because it gives you an excuse to avoid dealing with your problems. It is especially true if you feel that there are no solutions to the situation at hand and that you’re just going to have to sit around and wait for whatever comes next.
It’s also important to note that not all people who procrastinate have low self-esteem; some people like themselves just fine but still choose not to do their work because they don’t want people thinking poorly of them.
If you are someone who is procrastinating, it is better to know that there are many reasons why you do it. One reason could be low self-esteem which makes people feel like their work is not as good as it could be and that they have nothing to be proud of.
Why do we procrastinate?
1. Lack of motivation
The first reason is a lack of motivation. People procrastinate because they don’t want to do something, and that feeling can be overwhelming. It can happen if you have been working on an assignment for days or weeks and suddenly realize that the deadline is approaching but have nothing left to show for it.
2. Lack of focus
The second reason is a lack of focus. Some people find it difficult to concentrate on one thing at a time when they are thinking about multiple things at once, like finishing one task before moving on to another (for example, finishing up one project before starting another).
In this case, procrastination may seem like an easier option than focusing on completing tasks from start to finish with no breaks in between them; however, this will only lead us back to our original problem: not completing anything at all.
3. Self-control issues
The third reason for procrastinating comes down to self-control issues; specifically lack thereof. This refers to people who struggle to avoid doing whatever they want without being easily distracted by shiny objects (such as social media).
4. Have a negative self-image
Do you have a negative self-image?
You may have heard of the inner critic. It’s one of the most common reasons for procrastination:
The inner critic is like a voice in your head that tells you that you’re not good enough. It can be harsh and judgmental, telling you what to do over and over again until it gets under your skin (and then stays there).
If you have a harsh inner critic, then it’s likely that your self-image is low. It can lead to procrastination and impulsive behavior like smoking cigarettes or eating sweets late at night when you should be studying for an exam. Therefore, you may also have low self-esteem because of experiences with failure or criticism from others (or even yourself).
If this sounds familiar, there are steps you can take to build up your positive view of yourself, such as writing down what makes you feel good about yourself every day and making time for exercise and relaxation each week.
5. Feeling powerless
Feeling powerless is also associated with procrastination.
When you have the feeling of being of powerless, it’s hard for you to get started on your work. After all, there are no good reasons for doing so. You may also be afraid that if you start working on something and don’t complete it, someone else will come along and finish it before you do (and they might even get credit for it!).
Feeling powerless can cause stress, anxiety, and depression, all of which are associated with procrastination.
If you’ve been struggling with procrastination, this may sound like a familiar struggle. But if you think about it, there are probably other factors at play. If you’re worried about the things that go on in your life and don’t have time to deal with them, or if you feel like no one is there to listen when you need support, those feelings could be contributing to your procrastination problem.
The good news is that many people who struggle with procrastination find ways around these issues by working through their feelings of low self-esteem or negative thoughts about themselves before they put things off for later.
To read and learn more about how to avoid procrastination – Top 17 Ways to Avoid Procrastination
How Procrastination Affects Self-Esteem
1.It Decreases Self-esteem.
You may have a hard time believing this, but procrastination can make you feel like a failure. For example, if you’re studying for an exam and find yourself wasting hours on Facebook or playing video games instead of focusing on your work, it might make you feel like a bad student.
This is because if we procrastinate, we often get distracted without noticing. After all, we think about how much better our lives would be if only we had more willpower or self-control abilities. If this sounds familiar to you, then there’s good news: procrastination doesn’t have to be as bad as it seems.
(For one who wants to know the advantages of quitting social media- Life without social media: 14 Incredible Advantages)
2. It Creates Feelings of Shame and Guilt.
Procrastination is a type of self-defeating behavior. It involves putting off an action or task due to a lack of motivation, laziness, or interest in completing it. When you procrastinate, you are unable to manage your time effectively and end up doing more harm than good in the long run. It can lead to feelings of shame and guilt, which may cause low self-esteem as well as stress-related conditions.
3.It Can Create Huge Anxiety and Worry.
Procrastination can create anxiety and worry because it causes us to think about our potential failures before trying anything new or challenging. The more often we put off important tasks until later, the more likely we’ll quit before starting at all. It also makes us feel bad about ourselves because we don’t want anyone else to see how bad we are at something important. We want them all to see how great they think we are.
Remember, worrying is a normal part of life, but when it becomes a habit, it can be destructive. If you have trouble getting things done and feel like there’s never enough time in the day to get everything done, then you may be dealing with procrastination.
Conclusion
You need to learn how to avoid procrastination, so it will not affect your self-esteem anymore.
If you want to keep your self-esteem high, one of the best things you can do is avoid procrastinating. The way that this works is by setting goals and working towards them. You can also use a calendar or planner so that everything stays organized in one place and helps you stay on track with accomplishing tasks.
Another way of avoiding procrastination is by setting reminders on your phone or computer, which will help remind you when it’s time for something important, such as completing assignments or studying for tests.
References
- The Role of Self-Esteem in Eliminating Procrastination – John Assaraf
- Academic procrastination of undergraduates: Low self-efficacy to self-regulate predicts higher levels of procrastination
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