I’ve long intended to write an advice column about avoiding procrastination, but always put it off. I wanted to write the column and knew the additional stress I’d endure at deadline if I waited too long to do so. For one reason or another, I never got started. I guess I didn’t feel like it. Tomorrow, I vowed. I’ll write that column tomorrow.

Actually, I’ve got my tongue stuck into my cheek as I type this in the hope facetious comes across as at least a little funny. I haven’t really put off writing a column about avoiding procrastination, as ironic as that prospect would be.

That’s not to claim, though, I’m immune to the affliction of procrastination. If anything, I’m just another dues-paying member of a large and inclusive club. Nearly everyone procrastinates. Most a little. Some a lot.

According to one estimate I read, about 20 percent of people fall into the category of chronic procrastinators. These are the poor souls for whom procrastination interferes with not only their work, but also their financial, social and personal lives.

According to the results of a survey that asked people to quantify how procrastination affected their happiness, 46 percent of those who responded said quite a bit or very much, while 18 percent said the effect was extreme.

Here’s another estimate that’s dated, but still worrisome for business owners and managers. It costs businesses on average $10,396 a year for each employee who’s a chronic procrastinator.

There’s evidence the problem has become more widespread along with the availability of such technological distractions as smartphones, Facebook and Netflix.

But what, exactly, is the root of the problem? Why do people procrastinate knowing full well the consequences of putting off exercise; saving for retirement; or, for that matter, working on that difficult project at the office?

Conventional wisdom characterizes procrastination as a function of poor time management, lack of willpower or plain old laziness.

Researchers offer an evolving view of procrastination as a misplaced coping mechanism over which some victims believe they have no control. Procrastinators avoid unpleasant emotions, fear in particular, in favor of something less onerous. Sometimes, this occurs unconsciously. Rather than care too little, procrastinators tend to care too much — to the point they worry their work won’t be good enough, so they’re reluctant to start.

There also can be disconnect between the ways people perceive their present selves and future selves. The present self always trumps a future self who’s more like a stranger than someone to worry about.

And when the reward for a completed task feels abstract, people tend to prefer the sure thing of a more comfortable endeavor.

I still give in to the temptation to procrastinate, but far less often these days than when I was in college. Once again, my experience isn’t unique. One study estimated 80 percent to 95 percent of college students procrastinate on a regular basis, especially when it comes to completing coursework.
I recall more than a few occasions when I didn’t start on a term paper until the night before the paper was due. I remember going to the library one evening just before it closed to collect the books I needed to write a report for abnormal psychology. No, it wasn’t a self-help course. I returned to my apartment and promptly plopped down in front of the TV to catch a “M.A.S.H.” rerun. Then I began writing my paper.

One of the advantages of working in newspaper journalism is there’s seldom time for procrastination. You can curse frequent deadlines, but you’ve got to count the blessings they confer. Deadlines force us to set priorities, focus our efforts and get up and do what needs to be done. Moreover, deadlines promote good habits. In enduring the work required to meet deadlines and achieving success, people gain confidence they can not only repeat the feat, but also take on other responsibilities.

That’s also one of the strategies for avoiding procrastination, researchers say. It’s essential to get started whether or not we feel particularly motivated. There’s power in a schedule that requires consistent work. In the process, perceptions change and fear subsides with the realization a task isn’t nearly as difficult as initially imagined. Progress toward goals results in a sense of well-being and promotes motivation.

Wow. I guess I just wrote a column about avoiding procrastination. That wasn’t so bad. Why did I wait so long?