“Procrastination researchers have identified six “triggers” that contribute the most to making us procrastinate on a task.” (Frank)
- The task is boring.
- The task is difficult.
- The task is frustrating.
- The task is ambiguous or unstructured.
- The task lacks personal meaning for you.
- The task lacks intrinsic reward for you.
The more triggers a task has, the more likely you are to procrastinate doing it.
What can you do?
- Pinpoint exactly why you are procrastinating.
- Use that information to create a solution.
- A boring task may be less boring if done in an environment you like (maybe a coffee shop) or if you recruit a friend to join you.
- A challenging, ambiguous task may be less overwhelming when you break it into smaller, well-defined action steps or sub-tasks.
If you want more tips on how to turn your own procrastination triggers into manageable tasks, meet with a peer coach.
Adapted from Thomas Frank's Blog
Rachel Fox
Peer Coach
Class of 2019