What Type of Procrastinator Are You? Infographic

What Type of Procrastinator Are You? Infographic

It becomes quickly evident that the harder we work, the better we are at wasting time. It’s why we are so obsessed with getting better, faster and quicker at working – but procrastination actually highlights those inner insecurities that we didn’t really know we had, or least didn’t know were holding us back.
However, what can we gain from ‘understanding’ ourselves? Firstly, it’s a big step in being able to turn a weakness into one of a strength. Conquering fears that working hard induce can bring you closer to achieving your goals. Organisation, planning and self-discipline are essential skills in being able to accomplish tasks; this is why this method can be applied to anything in life – from setting up a business to being a productive employee, as well as studying effectively and completing everyday chores.

The What Type of Procrastinator Are You? Infographic presents the four categories of the procrastinating individual: Daredevil, Self-Saboteur, Ostrich, Chicken or Perfectionist. Understanding what each of these means can lead us to understand a little more about ourselves and how we can move forward.

Categories of the procrastinating individual

• The Daredevil: To live dangerously, only starting the work when the deadline is looming. You think you show grace, but the end result is rushed and the work full of errors. Solution: Get organised and set yourself tighter deadlines.
• Self-Saboteur: You’re your own worst enemy, putting obstacles in your path to stop yourself working. That way, you can say it’s not your fault – rewarding yourself for a job left undone. Solution: plan for obstacles. List potential problems and how you can overcome them, ahead of time. Plan countermeasures, ‘Whenever I check Facebook, I take a short break.’
• Ostrich: You like to stick your head in the sand and ignore the tasks at hand – avoiding having to make decisions. If you make a decision, then you don’t risk failing or being judged. Solution: Self-talk confidently. Notice how you are talking to yourself when procrastinating. Think positively – instead of ‘I can’t’, say ‘I will’.
• Chicken: With so many choices, how are you supposed to decide? By the time you’ve made up your mind, it’s too late. You feel like you may as well put it off and let someone else choose. Solution: Swiss-cheese the big tasks. Handle the biggest tasks first by breaking them down into smaller manageable ones. Devote small amounts of time and achieve as much as you can in each to boost your momentum.
• Perfectionist: You’ll settle for nothing less than perfection – which is essentially impossible. You’re ruled by what others think of you, delaying work until you can be sure other people won’t criticise it. Solution: Keep it real! Set yourself reasonable targets. Perfection is impossible, but you can learn from mistakes.

By doing little changes we can move towards success. Set smarter deadlines and don’t rush your work. Don’t pressure yourself beyond your means. If you are someone who feels the pressure quickly, then either seek support from peers, friends and family or work to reduce the pressure – plan a new approach. Inspiration comes from success and justifies why you set out to complete this task. Just remember perfection is impossible, but doing nothing achieves nothing.