How to Stop Procrastinating

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Why do we procrastinate? What is the feeling that we're trying to avoid? But what happens is it's a cycle. So we put something off, and in the moment, that feels really good. The problem is that reinforces the cycle of putting things off. So really procrastination is avoidance that masquerades as delay.

SPEAKER_1 (0:39)

It's The Drew Mariani Show on Relevant Radio.

Drew Mariani (0:45)

Yeah, that was NBC News, and we're talking procrastination. You put stuff off, cleaning the garage, doing the laundry.

I don't know. Doing your taxes. I don't know. You know, studying for the exam. Whatever it might be. I mean, thinking how many things, going shopping, letting the gas get down to fumes, putting off, getting out, to do that. I mean, you know the things that you need to do. Everybody procrastinates on different things. The phone call you have to make, the paperwork, the project, the conversation you've been avoiding. Maybe you keep telling yourself, look, I'm going to do this tomorrow. What I do personally is I'm a big list guy, right? And because I have a show calendar here with the show, I put on my calendar all these reminders and I list all the things I need to do. Make the doctor's appointment, go to the dentist, whatever, haircut, pick up dry cleaning, whatever you've got to do, right? So you just remember to do it. Call so-and-so, fill this out, whatever it might be. And that way I've got a visual as well as I've got a reminder that pops up on my phone. So it kind of motivates me to go, my wife, she hates when I give her a list.

And I don't do it in any way to be domineering or in any way harassing. I just say, hey, don't forget, you've got to call this or don't forget, you have to do that.

And I'll jot it down on a piece of paper and leave it. But it works for me, maybe it doesn't work for her. But tomorrow comes and somehow, you know what it's like, you know what you need to do, and you still don't do it. Why? Why? Is procrastination laziness? That's an important question. Is it laziness? Is it fear? Is it perfectionism? Is it something deeper? So that's what I want to explore with Deacon Joseph Ferrari. He was on the show with us in the past. He's a professor of psychology at DePaul University. And Deacon, he wrote the book called Still Procrastinating, and that's a great book for you. If you struggle with this, there's a litany of things you know you need to do. He's one of the world's leading researchers on procrastination. And that book, again, the title is called Still Procrastinating?

The No Regrets Guide to Getting It Done. And I would really encourage you to go ahead and pick it up. Because I know things get messy, right? The closet, the garage, returning an email that you keep putting off. And maybe it's something bigger. Maybe it's getting your finances in order or apologizing. Maybe it's starting a project to somebody or starting that project you've talked about for years, right? Oh, Drew, I'll get it done.

You know, the stats are pretty amazing. And I want to dive into some of his research, too, because he found that roughly 20% of adults identify as chronic procrastinators. That's pretty significant. That's one out of five. So let's talk to him right now. You can join us, too. If you're struggling in this area or if you need some advice, feel free to join the conversation. It's 888-914-9149.

Doctor, it's great to have you back with us. Good afternoon.

Joseph R. Ferrari (3:48)

Good afternoon. Thank you, Drew. And thank you for not delaying.

I was making a list of the things you said. And if you have... Let's take a moment if it's okay to go through some of these. Okay. Procrastinate... You are absolutely right. Everybody procrastinates, but not everyone is a procrastinator. And my research since the late 80s for the last 40 years have been looking at the personality style, the individual who is a procrastinator. And you are right. That's 20%. That's more than depression, phobia, panic attacks, alcoholism, substance abuse. And this is not just a US problem. When we find...

This is in Britain, Australia, Canada, Germany, Poland, Austria, Czech, Spain, Italy, Peru, Venezuela, Turkey, Japan, South Korea. More recently, I did research in India and Iran. So we know that this is... And there's no gender difference, that 20%.