It’s About Time: The 6 Styles of Procrastination and How to Overcome Them
by Dr. Linda Sapadin
“Chronic procrastinators are not lazy; they simply need to cultivate a more natural and fluid transition from mental activity to physical activity, while allowing an appropriate amount of time and energy to complete the task. To do this, the procrastinator first needs to understand the inner conflicts that produced the procrastination pattern. This book provides a quiz to help the reader understand which procrastination style or combination of styles best fists them, and it offers suggestions for changing how you think, speak and act, based on your procrastination style. Here is a review of the six styles.”
If you haven’t already, take the quiz click PART I – HERE
Style #1: Perfectionist. Reluctant to start or finish a task because they don’t want anything less than perfect.
| Personality Type: Critical Thinking Style: All or nothing Speaking Style: I should… I have to… Acting Style Flawless Psychological Need For: Control |
Style #2: Dreamer. They don’t like details. This makes ideas difficult to implement.
| Personality Type: Fanciful Thinking Style: Vague Speaking Style: I wish… Acting Style: Passive Psychological need for: Being special |
Style #3: Worrier. They have an excessive need for security, causing them to fear risk. They fear change, causing them to avoid finishing projects so they don’t have to leave the comfort of the “known.”
| Personality Type: Fearful Thinking Style: Indecisive Speaking Style: What if…? Acting Style: Cautious Psychological Need For: Security |
Style #4: Defier. A rebel seeking to buck the rules. By procrastinating, they are setting their own schedule — one that nobody else can predict or control. More subtle forms are called passive-aggressive.
| Personality Type: Resistant Thinking Style: Oppositional Speaking Style: Why should I…? Acting Style: Rebellious Psychological Need For: Non-conformity |
Style #5: Crisis-Maker. Addicted to the adrenaline rush of living on the edge.
| Personality Type: Over-emotional Thinking Style: Agitated Speaking Style: Extremes – “Unbelievable” Acting Style: Dramatic Psychological Need For: Attention |
Style #6: Over-Doer. Says yes to too much because they are unable or unwilling to make choices and establish priorities. They have difficulty making decisions. Prime candidate for burnout.
| Personality Type: Busy Thinking Style: Compelled Speaking Style: Can’t say “no” Acting Style: Do-it-all Psychological Need For: Self-reliance |
* * *
Now that I’ve read all 6 styles my profile is:
- Personality type is Dreamer #2 (Fanciful)
- Thinking style is #1 Perfectionist (All or Nothing)
- Speaking style is #5 Crisis Maker (Extremes)
- Acting style is #2 Dreamer (Passive)
- Psychological style is #6- (Self-Reliance)
I’m an all-purpose, well-rounded procrastinator.
(Dr. Linda Sapadin doesn’t address that category in her book . . . I’ll have to write my own book . . . when I get around to it.)
Coming! Part III-SOLUTIONS for your procrastinator style
That has got to be the coolest definition I’ve ever read for ‘procrastination’. I’m off to take the quiz.
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Jacqui,
Let us know what the quiz reveals about the most goal oriented person I know!
jw
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I have a personality type of being busy, fearful, and over-emotional; a thinking style of being oppositional; a speaking style of I should, I have to; an acting style of being passive; and a psychological need for security. I would say I’m not balanced but overwhelmed and a wreck waiting to crash.
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Shari,
Over-emotional cancels out passivity, fearful compliments need for security, while busy and oppositional fools everyone . . . I’d say you are the most balanced unbalanced person I know.
jw
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