What is procrastination? When does it become a mental health problem?

procrastination This is a common activity in the lives of many people, and its negative impact affects not only the personal sphere. In companies, this can limit growth in several ways as it impacts productivity and can have a negative impact on the company’s reputation.

The above is not about giving up work, but about a way to deal with emotions and moods such as anxiety, disappointment and even stress.

“There is no exact data on how many employees tend to procrastinate, but it is more common than we think; This is not a problem related to laziness or poor time management; and the problem of emotions, when priority is given to the restoration of short-term mood, rather than goals or planned actions for a longer time,” explains Yunue Cárdenas, coordinator of the Psychology Center at Affor Health, a company specializing in the management and improvement of psychosocial psychology. health of people in organizations.

He adds that while the activity is sometimes linked to poor time management skills, “it’s actually about deeper issues because procrastinating on tasks is not a mental health diagnosis in itself, but it can be a personality trait.” associated with attention deficit disorder (ADHD), depression or anxiety,” explains Cardenas.

Thus, procrastination or rescheduling of tasks in a company can manifest itself in different ways: from postponing important projects to avoiding making important decisions.

Some consequences of procrastination that limit business growth:

● Loss of opportunity. When employees procrastinate, a company’s ability to expand, invest in new technology, or pursue new projects may be limited.
● Operational inefficiency. Putting off tasks or rushing them can affect the quality of the product or service and negatively impact the company’s reputation.
● Less innovation. When some employees procrastinate, others may feel demotivated due to a lack of commitment, which in turn impacts innovation.

● Stress and fatigue. An employee who procrastinates often experiences higher levels of stress due to the accumulation of unfinished tasks, which can lead to higher turnover, which impacts company growth.

“The reasons why employees procrastinate are varied and vary from person to person, so it’s important to get support; “Most people underestimate the frequency of their procrastination and the importance of self-regulation and discipline to complete tasks without putting them off,” Cardenas explains.

Various strategies to combat procrastination in companies:

● Establish clear goals and priorities for work groups, where leaders effectively communicate goals and timelines to achieve those goals.
● Courses and training in proper time management, workshops and technology tools can be helpful to become more efficient and organized.
● Foster a culture of responsibility and self-awareness by recognizing achievements and providing constructive feedback.
● Provide support and flexibility to ensure work-life balance to reduce stress and burnout.

“Implementing anti-procrastination strategies not only benefits the company, but also employees, who experience less stress and greater job satisfaction when they manage to complete their tasks and responsibilities on time,” warns Affor Psychology HUB Coordinator.