The four keys that could unlock procrastination

Procrastination in its chronic form is a barrier that prevents us from achieving happiness, health and success. Regular procrastinators skip their exercise routines, and also have high levels of anxiety, leading to various mental and physical ailments.

New research tries to target the root cause of procrastination, looking at it from a psychological angle.

Using a variation of the Temporal Motivation Theory, procrastination is divided into four causes, which are interlinked:

1. Expectancy: Our underestimation of our chances of succeeding, reducing our overall motivation.
2. Sensitivity to Delay: Lack of recognition that our delaying will affect our chances of completion of the task on time.
3. Value: We do not appreciate the value of the task being done on time.
4. Metacognition: We lack the self-awareness about our own thinking patterns and behaviours.