Procrastination

Abstract

Procrastination is a well-known phenomenon that often entails negative outcomes with regard to performance and subjective well-being. In an attempt to understand the (alarming) character of procrastination, a large body of research on the causes, correlates, and consequences of procrastination has been accumulating over the last 40 years. The aim of this paper is to provide a systematic characterization of the trends in procrastination research and to suggest future directions for research and practice. The systematic characterization comprises a comparison of procrastination to functional forms of delay (referred to as strategic delay) and a presentation of the theoretical approaches to explaining procrastination. The future directions suggested pertain to the development of a differentiated understanding of procrastination and of integral interventions.

Health procrastination: The experience of 35-44 years old men

“…Sometimes men evaluate the situation in terms of pros and cons, which can be regarded as a strategic postponement mentioned by Klingsieck [5]. For example, the postponement of an operation, since it affects working capacity in the long-term.…”

“…Since it is difficult to formulate nonnecessity and non-productivity in an objective way, definitions focus more on delayed or postponed activity [5].…”

“…Taking into account everything written above, procrastination is "the voluntary delay of an intended and necessary and/or [personally] important activity, despite expecting potential negative consequences that outweigh the positive consequences of the delay" [5,9].…”

“…In the absence of a unified definition [5] the majority of researchers focus on three criteria to define procrastination: (1) activity is delayed or postponed, (2) postponement of activity is unnecessary and (3) activity is unproductive [6--8]. Since it is difficult to formulate nonnecessity and non-productivity in an objective way, definitions focus more on delayed or postponed activity [5].…”

“…Klingsieck [5], after analysis of the most popular definitions, clearly distinguishes between procrastination and functional forms of delay, like strategic delay. Taking into account everything written above, procrastination is "the voluntary delay of an intended and necessary and/or [personally] important activity, despite expecting potential negative consequences that outweigh the positive consequences of the delay" [5,9].…”