Are You a Procrastinator?
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PaulMaguire
Are you putting off the tasks that you need to do?
As with many self-sabotaging behaviors, the first step in stopping procrastinating is to recognize that you're doing it.
But this isn't always as straightforward as it sounds!
Many procrastinators persuade themselves that they have good reasons for delaying getting on with what they have to do. And once you've got into a "victim" mindset (which many procrastinators do), you may not realize that what you're doing is procrastinating, and that it's up to you to overcome it.
So take our self-test below and find out whether or not you are a procrastinator!
Are You a Procrastinator?
Instructions
Note: This assessment tool is private and your score is not recorded or accessible by your instructor. It is for private personal reflection and to help you find areas where you are strong, and others where you can improve.
For each statement, click the button in the column that best describes you. Please answer them as you actually are, rather than how you think you should be, as this will give you the most accurate feedback. You can redo this assessment as many times as you want over time to reassess your progress. When you are finished, click the "Score my Assessment" button at the bottom.
Rate these Statements about Yourself |
Not like me at all | Not like me | Neither like me or not | Like me | Very like me | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 I often find myself performing tasks that I had intended to do days before. | ||||||
| 2 When planning a meeting, I make the necessary arrangements well in advance. | ||||||
| 3 I generally return emails and phone calls promptly. | ||||||
| 4 I find that jobs often don't get done for days, even when they require little else except sitting down and doing them. | ||||||
| 5 Once I have the information I need, I usually make decisions as soon as possible. | ||||||
| 6 When I have something difficult to do, I tell myself that it's better to wait to do it until I'm feeling more inspired. | ||||||
| 7 I usually have to rush to complete tasks on time. | ||||||
| 8 I usually accomplish all the things I plan to do in a day. | ||||||
| 9 I usually start a task I'm given shortly after I'm given it. | ||||||
| 10 When deadlines are approaching, I often waste time by doing other things. | ||||||
| 11 I often have a task finished sooner than necessary. | ||||||
| 12 When preparing for a meeting, I am seldom caught having to do something at the last minute. | ||||||
| 13 I often delay starting tasks that I have to do. | ||||||
| 14 When faced with a huge task, I figure out what the first step is so that I can get going. | ||||||
| 15 I frequently say "I'll do it tomorrow". | ||||||
Score Interpretation
| Score Range | Advice about your Score |
|---|---|
| 15-30 | You're a procrastinator, and it's not something to be proud of. It means that you miss deadlines and waste a lot of time. As a result, your boss is not getting from you what you're capable of delivering, and he or she is probably very frustrated with this. Follow the link below to to find out why you're doing this, and how you can stop it. |
| 31-45 | You're a mild procrastinator. You need to understand better why you procrastinate – there are several reasons, for it, and more than one may apply to you. And you need to learn the steps you can take to stop doing it. Click the link below for more information. |
| 46-75 | Good news! You're not a systematic procrastinator! If you do, however, occasionally catch yourself procrastinating over something, follow the link below for tips on dealing with this. |
Source: This set of questions is based on the Procrastination Scale created by Professor Clarry Lay of York University, Canada, and is presented with his kind permission. The questions are for illustrative purposes only, and no validation work has been conducted on them.
Procrastination is as tempting as it is harmful. If you have recognized a tendency to procrastinate within yourself, you need to figure out why. Perhaps you are afraid of failing? (Or perhaps you're actually afraid of success!)
Once you know why you procrastinate then you can plan to get out of this stressful habit. Reward yourself for getting jobs done, and remind yourself regularly of the serious consequences of not doing those tasks you love to avoid! See our article on Overcoming Procrastination to learn how to kick this self-sabotaging habit!
Key Points
Procrastination is stressful, is highly damaging to your productivity – and is often deeply frustrating for your colleagues to deal with. The first step in beating it is to recognize that you're doing it, and this self-test will show you whether you are.