What is Procrastination and How Can I Stop Procrastinating?
By Matthew Ward, Founder and Director19 July 2021
Everyone procrastinates. Sometimes it's genuinely unproductive, scrolling a phone instead of working. Sometimes it's just putting off one task to do a different, less urgent one instead. Either way, understanding why we do it is the first real step to breaking the habit.
People procrastinate when a task feels difficult, overwhelming or tied to low confidence. Breaking the habit comes down to understanding the real cause, managing burnout, and setting goals small enough to actually start.
Understand why you're actually procrastinating
Putting off small, mundane jobs is normal, they're just not very engaging. Putting off something more significant, like a job application, usually points to something else: self-doubt, a past rejection that knocked your confidence, or anxiety about the process itself. Securing a graduate role is genuinely difficult and can feel confusing and daunting, so if that's what's behind the procrastination, it's worth talking to people who can actually help you build the experience and confidence needed to move forward.
Manage burnout before it takes over
Burnout is one of the most common causes of procrastination. Taking regular breaks, even just fifteen minutes doing something you genuinely enjoy, makes it far easier to stay focused once you're back at the task.
Identify what's actually distracting you
Social media is usually the culprit. Putting your phone somewhere you can't see it removes the easiest trigger, since a two-minute email check can easily turn into forty minutes of scrolling once the phone's in view.
Set goals you can actually start
Tasks that feel too big get avoided. A goal like sending a portfolio to forty employers before lunch feels overwhelming and gets pushed aside. Smaller, specific goals are far more achievable, and recognising each one you complete keeps the momentum going.
Prioritise what actually matters
A daily list ordered by genuine importance, not just what's easiest, gives you a clear sense of direction and makes the day feel far more manageable. There's something genuinely satisfying about physically crossing a task off once it's done, and it's worth using that.
If a job search is what you've been putting off, we're happy to help. Get in touch and let's talk it through. A few good habits can also help keep the momentum going, see our roundup of productivity apps for grads.
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