Procrastinator

Procrastinator refers to a person who habitually delays tasks that should be completed. Procrastination is the act or habit of postponing tasks despite expecting that the delay will lead to negative outcomes. The term procrastination derives from the Latin procrastinatus, pro- meaning before and cras meaning tomorrow.

Psychological explanations commonly view procrastination as a self-regulation failure or as an emotion regulation strategy to cope with negative feelings toward a task. Some researchers distinguish between active procrastination, a deliberate delay with the belief it can improve performance, and passive procrastination, an involuntary delay. Causes include fear of failure, perfectionism, task aversion, low self-efficacy, and poor time-management skills, along with environmental distractions and unclear task parameters.

Common behaviors include delaying the start of work, working under time pressure, and frequent task-switching. Procrastination can be episodic or chronic and is associated with increased stress, lower quality of work, missed deadlines, and poorer academic or occupational outcomes, as well as negative mood and reduced well-being.

Strategies to manage procrastination emphasize structure and motivation. Useful approaches include breaking tasks into small steps with clear milestones, setting specific deadlines, and using implementation intentions. Reducing distractions, aligning tasks with personal values, and employing accountability mechanisms can help. Behavioral and cognitive-behavioral techniques, coaching, and self-monitoring are commonly used for persistent procrastination, along with environmental design to support better self-control.