Procrastination

David Webb (Owner, writer & host of All-About-Psychology.Com)

Ah, procrastination, that pesky thief of time we all know so well. According to Professor Timothy A. Pychyl, a leading expert in the field, volitional action, (more commonly known as procrastination) is a "voluntary and quite deliberate turning away from an intended action even when we know we could act on our intention right now," the puzzling aspect of which Professor Pychyl notes; is that the only thing preventing us from acting in a timely manner is our own reluctance to act.

Before reading on, see how many times you recognize yourself in the following video.

(Fab Cartoon images via 20px.com)

Interest in this curious act of self-sabotaging behavior is nothing new. Check out this brilliant poem on procrastination by Charles Swain which was published in The London journal of literature, science, and art in 1853.

Alas! how neglectful,

Unfeeling we tread!

How careless, forgetful,

Of benefits fled!

When the hopes we have tasted

Are lost, we deplore,

And sigh for time wasted

We ne'er may see more!

Resolving—repenting—

Still day after day,

Whilst angels lamenting

Drop tears on our way.

Could man read Time's pages,

Record every scene!

He'd find, through Life's stages

How oft we had been

Too full of inventions

To satisfy thought—

Too rife with intentions

That dwindled to nought!

Still taxing tomorrow,

Still wasting today—

Whilst angels in sorrow

Dropped tears on his way.

The Science of Procrastination

The following information and resources will help you understand why so many of us procrastinate and what we can do about it, starting with a brilliant presentation about academic procrastination and strategies for change.

A must visit website for anybody interested in learning more about the science of procrastination. For the past 20 years, the Procrastination Research Group's (PRG) exclusive focus has been on researching the breakdown in volitional action i.e. procrastination; seeking to understand why we become our own worst enemy at times with needless, voluntary delay. Although their research and site originates at Carleton University (Ottawa, Canada), it represents a compilation of information and research on procrastination from all over the world. You can visit the PRG website via the following link.

Procrastination Research Group

See following links for a couple of great articles about procrastination.

Psychologists Study Twins To Learn More About The Roots of Procrastination

How Negative Thoughts Relate to Procrastination

CLICK HERE to listen to a very informative podcast from the British Psychological Society’s Research Digest hosted by Christian Jarrett who explores whether psychology can help us avoid procrastinating and get on with the important things we know we should be doing?

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