Prokrastination, Procrastination Habits That Secretly Hinder Success

Illustration of the habit of delaying work (Pexels/Ketut Subiyanto)

JAKARTA - Not infrequently someone gets caught up in the habit of procrastinating, or what is known as prokrastination. This habit is not only due to laziness, but is also influenced by various psychological factors.

Quoting from Psychology Today, on Friday, January 10, 2025, a psychologist from the University of Calgary, Dr. Piers Steel, said that prokrastination is a habit that can develop into a disturbance, if done continuously.

According to him, prokrastination in someone usually occurs because of feelings of fear of failure or anxiety about the results of their work. This habit will be increasingly difficult to stop because it has the effect of 'temporary recklessness', which can actually trigger repeated cycles of prokrastination.

Prokrastination can also be a form of diversion from anxiety. Those who delay work often have a tendency to avoid emotional stress that arises when they have to do something big or challenging.

Prokrastination habits that are continuously carried out can have a negative impact on mental health. People who are used to delay work tend to experience anxiety, stress, and decrease the level of satisfaction with life.

This happens because prokrastination is not a form of rest, but an avoidance strategy that actually adds to emotional pressure in doing the work in the future. Long-term procrastination can also lead to decreased body immunity, cause headaches, sleep disorders, and even depression.

Therefore, the habit of delaying this work must be addressed immediately. In changing this habit, the most important thing to do is change in mindset and routine.

One effective way is to break up big jobs into small tasks that are easier to manage and work on. Start with you by completing other tasks that are difficult first, so that the workload after that will feel lighter.

Applying the mindfulness method is also recommended to overcome prokrastination. Mindfulness can help a person focus more on the current task, without feeling abandoned by unnecessary final results or anxiety.