What Might Be Behind My Procrastination?

Original exploration. Not a validated psychological measure.

Imagine yourself in each situation and choose what you would most likely do, not what you think you should do. Take the details as given: how big the task is, when it's due, how much free time you have, and what happens if it's late. Some situations are asked for different kinds of task on purpose. If a situation can't apply to you (for example, you don't work or study), choose “Not applicable”.

Question 1 of 31Your manager or teacher asks you for a short report. It's about three hours' work in total and due in two weeks. This week you have several free evenings, nothing more urgent is coming up, and you know roughly what it involves. What would you most likely do this week?

Put a specific time for it in your diary this week, and keep to it Mean to start each evening, but not get to it this week Get most of it done this week Leave it for now, and plan to do it in the second week Do a small first part this week, and the rest next week Not applicable to me

Question 2 of 31Your bank has charged you a fee by mistake. To get it back, you need to phone them within two weeks. You know exactly what to say and the call takes about ten minutes, but calls like this have been awkward for you before. You're free most evenings.

Write down what you'll say, then call in the next day or two Keep meaning to call, and leave it until the last few days Call in the next day or two Send them a message or email instead, in the next day or two Leave it so long that the two weeks run out Not applicable to me

Question 3 of 31You need to fill in an insurance claim and gather the receipts for it. It's about three hours' work in total, and the insurer's deadline is in two weeks; after that, you lose the money. This week you have several free evenings, nothing more urgent is coming up, and you know roughly what it involves. What would you most likely do this week?

Mean to start each evening, but not get to it this week Do a small first part this week, and the rest next week Put a specific time for it in your diary this week, and keep to it Get most of it done this week Leave it for now, and plan to do it in the second week Not applicable to me

Question 4 of 31You've set aside two hours on Saturday morning to work on something due next week. Your phone is beside you, and your friends are chatting in a group message.

Work, and check the phone in planned short breaks Start with a few messages and videos, then begin Put the phone in another room and work Check and reply to the chat between bits of work all morning Not applicable to me

Question 5 of 31You've decided to update your CV and apply for a job you'd really like. It's about three hours' work in total, and applications close in two weeks. Nobody else is waiting for it or will check on you. This week you have several free evenings, nothing more urgent is coming up, and you know roughly what it involves. What would you most likely do this week?

Get most of it done this week Leave it for now, and plan to do it in the second week Do a small first part this week, and the rest next week Mean to start each evening, but not get to it this week Put a specific time for it in your diary this week, and keep to it Not applicable to me

Question 6 of 31Your doctor has asked you to book and have a blood test, and fill in a short health questionnaire, within the next two weeks. It's about three hours in total, including travel. This week you have several free evenings, nothing more urgent is coming up, and you know roughly what it involves. What would you most likely do this week?

Do a small first part this week, and the rest next week Put a specific time for it in your diary this week, and keep to it Leave it for now, and plan to do it in the second week Get most of it done this week Mean to start each evening, but not get to it this week Not applicable to me

Question 7 of 31Think back to the four tasks in the first week (the report, the insurance claim, the job application and the blood test). If you would have left any of them until late, what would usually be the main reasons? Choose up to two.

Choose all that apply, or "I wouldn't leave any of them until late".

There'd seem to be plenty of time, or I'd expect to have more energy later Dealing with it would feel unpleasant or stressful Something more important would genuinely come up, and I'd reschedule it I wouldn't be sure where to start or what exactly was wanted I'd be too tired, or have too much else on I'd want it to be good, or doubt I could do it well Other things would grab my attention first I wouldn't see much point in it I wouldn't leave any of them until late

Question 8 of 31On Monday, your manager or teacher asks you for a first draft of a short proposal by Friday. They say: “Rough is fine, I just want to see the direction.” You know the topic well and have time each day.

Keep reading and making notes, and write it on Thursday night Send a quick outline early and ask if it's the right direction Write it early in the week, then keep polishing it until Friday Write a rough version early in the week and send it Not applicable to me

Question 9 of 31For the report, the first step is to email your manager or teacher one question about what they want. It's a fifteen-minute job, it needs doing this week for things to move on, and you're at home with nothing else on this evening. What would you most likely do?

Put it off for a few days Do it this evening Keep putting it off until close to the deadline Put it on tomorrow's list and do it then Not applicable to me

Question 10 of 31At work or in a club you belong to, you're asked to “look into improving” how something is organised, sometime in the next month. There's no set format, and you have time set aside for it each week.

Ask the person what they'd like the result to look like Make several plans and lists, without starting on any of them Leave it until it becomes clearer what's wanted Write down one small first step, and do it this week Not applicable to me

Question 11 of 31For the insurance claim, the first step is to call the insurer to ask which receipts they need. It's a fifteen-minute job, it needs doing this week for things to move on, and you're at home with nothing else on this evening. What would you most likely do?

Do it this evening Keep putting it off until close to the deadline Put it on tomorrow's list and do it then Put it off for a few days Not applicable to me

Question 12 of 31For the job application, the first step is to email a former colleague to ask whether they'd be a referee. It's a fifteen-minute job, it needs doing this week for things to move on, and you're at home with nothing else on this evening. What would you most likely do?

Keep putting it off until close to the deadline Put it on tomorrow's list and do it then Put it off for a few days Do it this evening Not applicable to me

Question 13 of 31You've worked late every day this week. On Thursday evening you'd planned to spend an hour on your tax return, which is due in ten days. You're tired but well.

Do twenty minutes, then stop Move it to Saturday morning, and do it then Skip it tonight without picking a new time Do the hour as planned Not applicable to me

Question 14 of 31For the blood test and questionnaire, the first step is to call the clinic to book the blood test. It's a fifteen-minute job, it needs doing this week for things to move on, and you're at home with nothing else on this evening. What would you most likely do?

Put it on tomorrow's list and do it then Put it off for a few days Do it this evening Keep putting it off until close to the deadline Not applicable to me

Question 15 of 31Think back to the four fifteen-minute first steps (the question to your manager or teacher, the call to the insurer, the email to a referee, the call to the clinic). If you would have put any of them off, what would usually be the main reasons? Choose up to two.

Choose all that apply, or "I wouldn't leave any of them until late".

Dealing with it would feel unpleasant or stressful Other things would grab my attention first I wouldn't be sure where to start or what exactly was wanted Something more important would genuinely come up, and I'd reschedule it I wouldn't see much point in it There'd seem to be plenty of time, or I'd expect to have more energy later I'd want it to be good, or doubt I could do it well I'd be too tired, or have too much else on I wouldn't leave any of them until late

Question 16 of 31Everyone where you work or study has to complete an online training module within two weeks. It takes about an hour, and you think it's pointless for you. You have time.

Do it early to get it out of the way Leave it until you get a reminder that it's overdue Ask whether you really need to do it Do it on the day it's due Not applicable to me

Question 17 of 31Think of the report again (about three hours' work, due in two weeks). Suppose that, for whatever reason, it's now three days before the deadline and you haven't started. You have two free evenings before then, and nothing else urgent. What would you most likely do?

Do it all on the first evening Start, but end up finishing after the deadline Use both evenings and finish it Leave it until the last evening and do it in one go Not applicable to me

Question 18 of 31Think of the insurance claim again (about three hours' work, due in two weeks). Suppose that, for whatever reason, it's now three days before the deadline and you haven't started. You have two free evenings before then, and nothing else urgent. What would you most likely do?

Start, but end up finishing after the deadline Leave it until the last evening and do it in one go Do it all on the first evening Use both evenings and finish it Not applicable to me

Question 19 of 31On Monday, you're asked to prepare a ten-slide presentation for a meeting next Monday. You think it'll take about two hours, though similar ones have usually taken you longer. You have free evenings this week.

Plan two hours for it on Sunday evening Start on Tuesday, and give yourself extra time Plan two hours for it on Thursday Set aside a longer block early in the week Not applicable to me

Question 20 of 31Think of the job application again (about three hours' work, due in two weeks). Suppose that, for whatever reason, it's now three days before the deadline and you haven't started. You have two free evenings before then, and nothing else urgent. What would you most likely do?

Use both evenings and finish it Leave it until the last evening and do it in one go Start, but end up finishing after the deadline Do it all on the first evening Not applicable to me

Question 21 of 31Think of the blood test and questionnaire again (about three hours' work, due in two weeks). Suppose that, for whatever reason, it's now three days before the deadline and you haven't started. You have two free evenings before then, and nothing else urgent. What would you most likely do?

Leave it until the last evening and do it in one go Use both evenings and finish it Do it all on the first evening Start, but end up finishing after the deadline Not applicable to me

Question 22 of 31Think back to the four tasks three days before the deadline. If you would have left any of them to the last evening or later, what would usually be the main reasons? Choose up to two.

Choose all that apply, or "I wouldn't leave any of them until late".

I'd be too tired, or have too much else on I'd want it to be good, or doubt I could do it well There'd seem to be plenty of time, or I'd expect to have more energy later Other things would grab my attention first Something more important would genuinely come up, and I'd reschedule it Dealing with it would feel unpleasant or stressful I wouldn't see much point in it I wouldn't be sure where to start or what exactly was wanted I wouldn't leave any of them until late

Question 23 of 31You'd planned to work on an important piece of work this evening, due in five days. In the afternoon you come down with a fever.

Work on it anyway Rest, and move the work to when you're better Ask for more time Not applicable to me

Question 24 of 31You need some figures from a colleague or classmate to finish a task due next week. You asked for them three days ago and they haven't arrived.

Remind them, and work on the other parts meanwhile Wait until they send them Finish it without the figures Not applicable to me

Question 25 of 31Think of the last task you put off that you'd rather have done sooner (not one held up by illness, an emergency or waiting for someone else). Right after you decided to leave it, how did you feel?

No different Relieved, for a while Uneasy straight away I can't think of a recent example

Question 26 of 31When you finally did it, what did you mostly tell yourself?

That I work better under pressure Nothing much That I'd start earlier next time I haven't done it yet Not applicable to me

Question 27 of 31And afterwards, how did you treat yourself about the delay?

I noted what went wrong and moved on I was hard on myself I didn't think about it Not applicable to me

Question 28 of 31Since then, has the same kind of delay happened again, even after you meant to start earlier?

No Once Several times There hasn't been a chance yet

Question 29 of 31In the past four weeks, did delays you could have avoided lead to any of these? Choose all that apply.

Choose all that apply, or "None of these".

Missing a deadline, an opportunity or something I'd promised Losing sleep or rest Tension with someone Paying a fee, a penalty or more than I needed to None of these

Question 30 of 31In the past four weeks, roughly how many times did you end up rushing something at the last minute that you could have started earlier?

None Once or twice Three to five times Six times or more

Question 31 of 31How much does the way you put things off bother you?

Not at all A little Quite a lot A great deal

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