Deferred Life and Procrastination: Two Sides of the Same Coin?

In today’s fast-paced world, we often encounter phenomena that seem contradictory but are deeply interconnected. Two such phenomena are deferred life and procrastination, both of which psychologists frequently encounter in their practice.

Deferred Life: What to Do About It?

A deferred life is a syndrome where individuals constantly postpone the realization of their desires, goals, and dreams. This behavior is often rooted in various causes such as fear of failure, low self-esteem, lack of confidence, or perfectionism. People with this syndrome believe that better conditions for achieving their goals will arise in the future. However, this ideal time rarely comes, and dreams remain unfulfilled. Why? Because the person never finds the perfect moment or deadline. They tell themselves and others that they will soon start doing what they have long planned. But when the moment arrives, they find new reasons to delay. It’s crucial to understand that these excuses serve as barriers to real action, and thus, the person lives in a world of planned intentions without taking steps to realize them.

Am I Lazy? No, It’s Procrastination

Procrastination is not just a habit of delaying tasks and responsibilities; it’s more complex than mere laziness. It is driven by a set of behavioral patterns developed over a lifetime. Procrastination can be linked to low self-esteem, fear of failure or success, and most importantly, a lack of motivation. Psychologists note that procrastinators often engage in trivial activities instead of focusing on essential tasks. They may spend time on social media, watch movies, or do anything other than prioritize their responsibilities. Such activities create an illusion of busyness but do not lead to productive outcomes.

The Roots of the Problem

Deferred life and procrastination share deep connections, but it’s essential to distinguish between them. Both are often based on specific personality traits and states such as fear of failure, perfectionism, low self-esteem, and indecisiveness.

Fear of Failure

Fear of failure is a powerful mental block that can hinder actions in both deferred life and procrastination. We fear taking a step because we are unsure of our success, and it’s easier to delay action than face the possibility of failure.

Perfectionism

Perfectionists expect flawless results from themselves and fear starting a task if they are not sure it will be executed perfectly. As a result, both procrastinators and those who defer their dreams may wait indefinitely for the perfect opportunity to begin.

Low Self-Esteem

Low self-esteem creates barriers to personal activity. Undervaluing one’s abilities slows progress and leads to either procrastination or a deferred life.

Indecisiveness

When a person is unsure of their choices or next steps, they often delay taking action. This indecisiveness negatively impacts both daily tasks and long-term life goals.

How to Overcome These Issues?

The first step is recognizing the problem. Keeping a journal can help identify moments of procrastination and understand what triggers the delay in task completion.

Set Clear Goals

It’s crucial to clearly define goals and tasks, preferably with deadlines. Breaking down goals into smaller parts can help avoid feeling overwhelmed and reduce the fear associated with the task’s magnitude.

Change Behavioral Patterns

Remember that both procrastination and deferred life are based on changeable behavioral patterns. With the right support and awareness of one’s habits, anyone can break out of this cycle and start living more productively and meaningfully.

For further reading, you can visit Psychology Today.

Author: Natalia Zhukova — Founder and Rector of the University of Modern Psychology, psychologist. Master of technical and psychological sciences, neuropsychologist-rehabilitologist with over 13 years of experience. Among her clients are businessmen from the Forbes list. Author of a blog with an audience of over 140,000 people and creator of psychology courses. Over 4 years, more than 21,000 people have taken her courses.