The document discusses why people procrastinate and provides strategies to overcome procrastination. It notes that while delaying tasks may provide short-term stress relief, it ultimately creates more stress. Common reasons for procrastinating include not feeling the impact of delays, fearing tasks are too big, feeling entitled to delay, and perfectionism. The document recommends focusing on future consequences, personal goals, making progress rather than perfection, and having a clear vision of how completing tasks now advances long-term goals.

1. Why We Procrastinate

2. - or –
Wh y I
wa it e d
u n t il
Sunday t o
d o t h is
a s s ig n me n t .

3. “The shortest guaranteed path to success
comes from doing the things we know we
should be doing but don’t want to do.”
Rory Vaden
Consultant, Behavioral Expert

4. Self-assessment:
Why do you procrastinate?
a. Lack of self-discipline
b. Desire to avoid stress
c. Just can’t get in the mood
d. I’ll get back to you on that

5. The paradox:
Delaying may help relieve
stress now, but it creates
more stress later.

6. So why do we do it?

7. “Procrastination is like buying on credit.”
Rory Vaden
Consultant, Behavioral Expert

8. Get what you want now.
Pay later.

9. The true cost of procrastination.

10. The average American spends two of
every eight hours not working.

11. Cost of wasted time:
$10,000 per employee, per year.*
*Based on average income of $39,000.

12. Why people procrastinate:
a. Don’t feel its impact
b. Fear
c. Sense of entitlement
d. Perfectionism

13. If you don’t feel its impact:
Place yourself in the future
state, when the work is due.

14. If you feel entitled:
Focus on how doing the work helps
you advance your personal goals.

15. If you fear the job is too big:
Start it anyway. Sometimes getting
started is all it takes.

16. If you’re a perfectionist:
Focus on making progress.
Not on making it perfect.

17. How to resist the urge to
procrastinate today:
Focus on the end goal -- Think of
how doing the work now will make
your life easier later.

18. “If I have a clear picture of how doing
something that I don’t want to do will
get me to where I want to go…

19. “If I have a clear picture of how doing
something that I don’t want to do will
get me to where I want to go… that
vision will compel me and pull me
through the muck.”
-- Rory Vaden