10 Problems That Affect Us If We Do Not Limit Procrastination
We understand “procrastination” as the tendency that some people have to postpone the work they must do or leave for later any type of task that has been entrusted to them at that moment.
It is a psychological phenomenon widely studied over the decades in the field of psychology, whose incidence can lead to all kinds of problems in the person who experiences it. But, focusing on practice… What impact does developing a tendency to procrastinate and not treating it in therapy have on our lives?
Below we will see what are the most common problems that can affect us if we do not limit procrastination.
1. Psychological affectation
Psychological professionals have come to the conclusion that there is a great variety of psychological causes that favor the phenomenon of procrastination and that it cannot be explained in a unitary and monolithic way.
Some of the causes that explain procrastination are low self-esteem, psychological discomfort and also being exposed to high levels of anxiety or daily stress.
Likewise, prolonging the time to get down to work to finish any task and postponing the time to attend to our needs can also cause notable psychological discomfort, which feeds back on the problems that the person may have. previously.
At the same time that psychological health suffers in cases of systematic procrastination, something that we can also experience is a progressive impact on the physical health of the person and consequently on the correct functioning of their body.
Some of the areas in which this gradual physical affectation manifests itself are: greater tiredness and fatigue during the work day and also later, inability to rest properly during free hours, insomnia, muscle pain, fatigue or headaches.
This phenomenon occurs because the psychological discomfort accumulated by the tendency to postpone work usually ends up transferring to the physical or psychophysiological field, bringing with it physical discomfort.
3. Impact on decision making
Both psychological and physical problems caused by procrastination can also affect the decision-making of the affected person, both on a personal and psychological level.
This means that a person with a tendency to procrastinate may end up finding themselves overworked which can cause great difficulties when making decisions correctly due to being in an extreme situation.
4. Decreased productivity
Procrastination can also generate, as is evident, a decrease in daily productivity, since the person begins to not finish each of the tasks entrusted to them on time.
This decrease in productivity also affects psychologically, since it can generate frustration and discomfort when the worker realizes that he is not performing at his best in his workplace.
5. Work problems
All of the aforementioned effects can occur together, which has an obvious consequence on the person’s work performance, which also sees their productivity affected.
This causes, as is evident, a series of labor problems, since the company also sees its performance diminished, which can ultimately jeopardize the worker’s continuity in their job.
In addition to that, systematic procrastination is also related to the appearance of problems in the work environment, as well as in the relationship and communication with co-workers and superiors.
6. Cognitive impairment
Many cognitive impairments can occur when a person tends to procrastinate and develop psychological problems derived from said practice.
Some of these cognitive impairments may be, in addition to the progressive difficulty in managing stress, working under pressure, and results in a lack of ability to concentrate.
7. Affectation of the company’s interests
The interests of the company or institution in which we work can be compromised when one of its workers tends to procrastinate and not finish the tasks entrusted to them daily or weekly on time.
This can lead, if this practice continues over time, a series of problems for the company that may be of a greater or lesser extent depending on a large number of variables.
8. Difficulty of organization
People who tend to procrastinate usually present notable organizational problems; in fact, this is considered one of the most plausible causes or reasons that can explain the phenomenon.
Having organizational difficulties means not being able to establish what needs to be done at all times not knowing how to organize the week or month in advance in an agenda or diary, and being unable to set short or long-term goals.
9. Compromise the work of other colleagues
Just as the company’s objectives are hindered, with procrastination we can also put the work of other colleagues or our superiors at risk, whenever we do not finish our work on time.
This ultimately has a decrease in overall productivity and a problem for the company, since it has to finish certain objectives in a specific time.
10. Communication problems
Procrastination is generally associated with a person’s problem when communicating their problems or to ask for help from other colleagues or superiors.
This communication deficit is another problem that can affect the entire company as a whole, since for the job to be done well there must be an optimal level of internal communication in the organization.
