Experts agree that procrastination is a complex psychological behavior that affects everyone to some degree.

Perhaps surprisingly, though, procrastination has very little to do with time management, according to a paper at the Academic Skills Library of California Polytechnic University (Cal Poly). Procrastination is only remotely related to time management as "procrastinators often know exactly what they should be doing, even if they cannot do it," according to the Cal Poly report. As a result, detailed schedules are of little to no help.

So what does help? An understanding of why we procrastinate is a great starting point before solutions can be applied.

Some reasons outlined by the Cal Poly study (last updated 7/31/07) include:

Too Busy — "Obviously I cannot do such and such because my affairs are so complicated and so demanding. That is why I am late."

Coping with Pressures — Procrastination is often truly difficult to eradicate because the delay behavior has become a method of coping with day-to-day pressures and experiences. It's easier to have an excuse, to delay, to put off.

Do any of those sound familiar? Certainly, we've all experienced one or more of them, whether self-enacted or being on the receiving end. And by segmenting these procrastination pain points, one can begin to get a better handle on how to address and manage them.

The Gulas Group, which provides coaching, training and development solutions, and Priority Management Systems Inc. appear to have a good understanding of procrastination in the workplace and have created a top-10 list of actionable items, some of which include:

Recognize the senselessness of procrastinating — In most cases, you still have to do the work.

Break down unpleasant jobs into small tasks — Whenever you have a seemingly overwhelming task, divide it up into five- or 10-minute "mini-tasks."

Make a list of small tasks you can do during your "in-between" time — Don't fall into the trap of thinking that you are so busy with meetings, phone calls, and major projects that you don't have time to do anything.

Do the worst first — Often if you can accomplish what seems the most tough, the rest of the things on your "to do" list will actually seem refreshing.

Take advantage of your moods — If you know you are always tense when end-of-month reports must be turned in, schedule your most difficult tasks for another time.

Get some help — Confide in someone you trust that you're having difficulty keeping up and ask her or him to hold you accountable, perhaps just by setting a date to review your progress.

In addition to recognizing the senselessness of procrastination and setting priorities, it also helps to eliminate distractions and energize oneself, according to a peak performance expert who has created a list of 6 Ways to Beat Procrastination At Work at LifeOrganizers.com.

Here are the last two tips in the list, which seem particularly helpful if you operate on fewer hours of sleep and/or deal with disruptive co-workers:

• Take a couple of minutes frequently to stand, stretch or move about to energize both your body and your brain. If possible, get some fresh air during breaks and your lunch hour; and

• Take the initiative to change your work environment if it causes distractions. Placing a barrier such as a tall plant in front of your desk will block the view of co-workers passing by. Make sure you have the information and supplies at hand to avoid the temptation to wander away from your work area.

At the end of the day, a few changes in your attitude and work habits can make a dramatic difference in the way you perform your work. Do you and your co-workers take procrastination seriously? Let us know if you have any procrastination tips that you have found to be useful in your daily work functions.

Resources

Procrastination
by Jane B. Burka and Lenora M. Yuen
Addison-Wesley, 1983
(via Cal Poly Academic Skills Library, July 31, 2007)

Overcoming Procrastination
by Albert Ellis and William J. Knaus
Signet Books, 1977
(via Cal Poly Academic Skills Library, July 31, 2007)

Avoid Procrastination-Eliminate C.H.A.O.S.
by Ted Gulas
The Gulas Group

The 6 Ways To Beat Procrastination At Work
by Peter Murphy
LifeOrganizers.com