The Definition of Procrastination, Are You Born That Way?
Definition of Procrastination
Procrastination is the habit of putting off or delaying an action or task to a much later time. This word was originated from the Latin pro, meaning “forward, forth or in favor of” and crastinus, meaning “of tomorrow”.
Procrastination is considered by many as a negative attitude, a counter-productive habit. But it is seldom viewed in a positive light. Some writers have pointed out it as a functional delay or as avoiding rush.
However, procrastination’s positive form, as the subsequent historical analysis specifies, is only secondary in usage. The focus of this article is on the main negative form of procrastination. Like the rest of common-language terms outlined into scientific study, definitions for procrastination tend to be almost as abundant as the people researching this topic. At the outset, such variation in definition may seem to complicate the nature of procrastination, but in a way it may also serve to partially illuminate it.
The different attempts by many researchers to refine the understanding of its meaning are more complementary rather than contradictory. Moreover, any common idea only uncovers a core or essential element. It is obvious that all definitions and conceptualizations of procrastination identify that there must be a postponing, delaying or putting off of a task or decision, in keeping with the word’s Latin origins.
Based on this, a procrastinator is someone who delays starting or completing a course of action or task. This distinction is relevant, as there are a hundreds of tasks that one could be doing at any time, and it becomes burdensome to think that one is putting them all off.
Procrastination: A Modern Phenomenon or are you born a procrastinator?
Procrastination nowadays is particularly widespread. Everybody seems to be inflicted with it. It is like a modern malady that knows no race, sex, age or boundary. Some of us may have put off tasks every now and then, but for some it is a way of life to them.
In a more recent study, an estimate shows that 80%-95% of college students procrastinate approximately 75% deem themselves procrastinators and almost 50% describe themselves as chronic procrastinators.
The total amount of procrastination among students is substantial. It typically takes over one third of their daily activities, often acted out through sleeping, playing, or watching TV
So why do so many people procrastinate? Are we born this way? I believe the answer is a big NO. We become conditioned procrastinators. One of the reasons is that we fail to look at what causes procrastination. Those seeking to stop procrastination need to first identify the root causes (there are 4 major causes). Only when you know why can you make the changes to overcome procrastination.
Thankfully there has been specific physiological analysis done on procrastination and when it is all said and done it will boil down to procrastination being caused by 4 major reasons. Sometime one only, and sometimes all four or a combination of the four.
So NO your not born a procrastinator, just conditioned as one.
