How Do You Rate on Procrastination?

Procrastination is delaying the accomplishment of something that should be done.  Among all things that keep us from being productive, procrastination, at least to me, is the most insidious due to the fact that it is a learned habit that is developed over years.  It creeps in without detection and infects people with no immediate symptoms.  It isn’t until much later that problems arise that can be traced back to this disease.  We find ourselves in a productivity hole, with many overdue tasks mounting to the point that it seems impossible to dig ourselves out from under them.  Some people find that their job security has been compromised due to their deep-rooted procrastination.

Where do you stand with procrastination?  It has been said that one cannot get to a destination, even with a map, until one knows where one is.  In other words, we cannot begin to beat the habit of procrastination until we find how ingrained it is.  Over at the Psychology Today web site, there is a procrastination quiz that one can take and get a simple score that will let you know just how serious your procrastination habit is.  With forty questions and a 25 minute time investment, you can begin to work yourself out of the hole that procrastination has dug for you.  You can get a general score for free, or pay a nominal fee to get a detailed analysis.

As someone who wrestles with procrastination everyday, I expected an extremely high score.  In fact, I expected to blaze new trails at the high end of the spectrum.  I took the quiz and based my answers on what I would have done in my pre-GTD days.  I scored a 63, which meant my level was “elevated”:

“According to these results, your procrastination has reached a point where it may be negatively affecting your life. You would be well served to learn some strategies to stop or at least reduce the level of procrastination in your life. Procrastination in the long-term is unhealthy as it can lead to more stress and keep you from reaching your goals. The positive repercussions on your health and relationships should you decide to improve will be enormous.”

I have my procrastination under control as GTD has helped sort through some of the reasons I procrastinated.  Prior to learning and using GTD, my life was being negatively impacted by my putting things off and did lead to a lot of stress.  Now, lists in hand, I have what I need to be able to accomplish items at a much slower pace, get more of them accomplished, and can sleep easier at night.

Don’t get me wrong, GTD doesn’t cure procrastination as there are other psychological issues that cause people to put things off.  However, GTD helped to reduce the level to one that is more manageable for me.

Source:

Procrastination Quiz

Comments

[Jordan Henderson]

Hey, this is great! I've bookmarked this and I'll make sure to take this later!

[wyn]

I've loaded up the link in another browser tab and will take the quiz when I'm done commenting! I read recently that people procrastinate because they see the task at hand as something they do not wish to do, they do not receive satisfaction from it. It might be overly simplistic to tell one to readjust their thinking to enjoying task(s) being delayed. When it comes to productivity-boosting, I don't resort to books (although reading quick clips like your posts are fun), because it's always a matter of mind over matter, drive, ambition, wanting IT badly, and sensible planning.

[inkling]

I think the last question should have been, "Did you take this survey when you should have been working?" I know my score might have been a bit higher.

[thinkpad42]

The biggest problem that I have that seems to go hand in hand with procrastination is getting started again. I'll take a little time and energy to ramp up the pace to getting things done (usually with a deadline looming) and then things are fine. Actually things are great. I feel accomplished and happy because I'm getting things done. Time and work seems to disappear and I goto bed feeling like I could carry one doing more work whowever I feel that I should get a few hours before the next day.

The next day the euphoria seems to have mostly worn off but I still feel better than usual. That day I promise myself to get into the zone to be productive but getting back there as the day drags on becomes less and less acheivable.

The starting and stopping and stress is very tiring.

Anyone else been here? Any good methods for getting ramped up and working easily?

[kekePower]

Hello,

it's really nice to know that there are others out there struggling with procrastination. It's just the past 2-3 weeks I've discovered that I'm a procrastinator and I've begun the work on becoming a better man. I know it won't be easy, but I'll get there.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Love and light,
kekePower