Postpone until tomorrow

Some perfectionists find it unacceptable to take on work that is not immediately perfect. Others need the stress of urgency to be effective. So you'll need to do some self-analysis to uncover the personal significance of your procrastination habit, if it happens to you.

Perfectionism

If you consider that your value is synonymous with flawless performance, postponement is a preventive measure against the risk of failure.

The need for recognition

If you consider that people can only love you if you excel, deferment will soon make you feel rejected.

Pessimism

If you only see the negative aspects of a commitment, postponement will make you feel anxious.

Self-preservation

If you tend to underestimate yourself or are excessively sceptical about yourself, deferment protects you from shame or feelings of worthlessness.

Low tolerance of frustration

If putting yourself through a difficult or unpleasant activity makes you feel like you're managing your life, putting it off allows you to focus on what you enjoy.

Hostility

If you're feeling deception about not receiving what you expected (e.g. quality courses or teaching), adjournment is a way of rébellion.

Combating procrastination

Removing yourself from procrastination is a gradual process that requires real, long-term effort. To begin with, look for the reasons behind your attitude. Little by little, you will learn to tame time and manage it. You will also learn to act on motivation and in particular to work with irrational and toxic thoughts such as:

• I must achieve perfection in all things.

• I can never réussir anything.

• I don't have the skills to do the work.

• Everything I do will require no effort on my part.

• I will choose to do nothing rather than to do something badly.

Working on your thoughts will enable you to adopt a positive attitude and give up nativism. Reformulating your internal discourse will stimulate you into action and gradually eradicate procrastination.

Don't forget that having a detailed plan for your day and week can help you to fight procrastination: it's always easier to get down to work when you know what you need to do. Use the priority grid to help you à plan your tâches.