The 6 Types of Procrastination and How to Beat Them

Procrastination is a common issue that affects far more individuals than you might think.

According to the most recent statistics and facts about procrastination, over 20% of people admit they’re affected by chronic procrastination.

But did you know there are different types of procrastination?

If you don’t want to let procrastination ruin your life like it did to me, it’s time to work on it.

In this blog post, we’ll look into six types of procrastinators: the perfectionist, the dreamer, the worrier, the defier, the crisis-maker, and the overdoer.

By analyzing your behavioral style, you’ll understand why you’re procrastinating and how to find effective remedies to regain control of your life.

You will be able to recognize the various types, and you will learn practical strategies to beat them, so let’s get started!

Key Takeaways

• Procrastination can be categorized into 6 types:  Perfectionists, Dreamers, Worriers, Crisis-Makers, Defiers and Overdoers.
• Strategies for overcoming the most common type of procrastination can include reducing overly ambitious goals, using anti-procrastination apps, and practicing self-compassion for productivity addiction.
• To achieve successful goal completion, individuals facing each type of procrastinator must develop specific tactics that best suit their habits and behavior to escape the vicious cycle of delaying action instead of accomplishment.

What are the main types of procrastination?

Since I realized that my procrastination had become a problem, I decided to get more information about my procrastination type.

Actually, there are six main types of procrastination and procrastinators:

1) The worrier: Worriers procrastinate out of anxiety about potential failure or negative outcomes

2) The Perfectionist: Perfectionists delay tasks due to an irrational fear of not achieving flawless results

3) The Dreamer: Dreamers have trouble taking action on their ideas and plans

4) The Overdoer: Overdoers take on too many tasks, leading to feeling overwhelmed and avoiding work

5) The Defier: Defiers procrastinate as a way to resist authority and external expectations, delaying tasks to assert their independence.

6) The Crisis-Maker: Crisis-makers thrive on the adrenaline rush of last-minute pressure and deadlines

If you want to stop procrastinating, you first need to understand what type you are and the negative consequences.

Even if you want to help a friend or colleague do it, it is essential to understand the differences between the various types.

By doing so, you can better understand how they think and act and why you or they procrastinate in the first place.

Down below, you will find a description of each of the 6 types of procrastinators, their behavior, and how to beat them.

The Perfectionist

The perfectionist procrastinator has a unique type of challenge regarding task avoidance.

In this case, a classic example of procrastination is postponing things because they don’t feel good enough to complete tasks.

So, they avoid doing it because they don’t want to feel judged and experience negative emotions.

Everything they do cannot be less than perfect, even the most unimportant task.

It is often confused with a high achiever, but they are two very different personalities.

They have a low tolerance for failure and question their own abilities even when faced with simple tasks.

Getting out of their comfort zone is pretty difficult, and they can’t finish a task unless they’re 101% sure it’s perfect.

This kind of thinking traps them into an eternal loop of self-doubt, creating a style of procrastination where they do nothing due to overthinking.

I have always been a perfectionist obsessed with details and having everything under control.

How to beat this procrastination style

To overcome this type of procrastination, perfectionists must focus on taking small steps towards completing their goal instead of limiting themselves by setting overly ambitious targets.

For example, I started to lower my standards (far too high) and started to see failure not as a terrible thing but as a natural part of the long run in everyday life.

In detail, you should:

• Set the right goals: you must set realistic and incremental goals if you want to achieve success. Don’t make the mistake of setting unrealistic goals, or you’ll just procrastinate even more.
• Learn to make mistakes: Deliberately make small mistakes to desensitize yourself to imperfection. See that the world doesn’t end when something isn’t perfect.
• Focus on progress, not perfection: Celebrate small wins and progress made rather than fixating on the final product being flawless.
• Impose time limits: Set deadlines for tasks and stick to them. Avoid spending excessive time perfecting minor details. 
  Timeboxing apps can be a valuable tool for achieving this goal.

The Dreamer

The dreamer procrastinator faces a unique challenge when it comes to turning ideas into reality.

They often find themselves trapped in a world of imagination, filled with grand plans and aspirations, but struggle to take concrete steps towards achieving them. These individuals tend to believe that with just a bit more planning or contemplation, everything will magically fall into place.

Even the simplest tasks can become lost in a sea of possibilities and what-ifs. That’s why they can’t finish the work until the last minute.

They tend to overthink and may lack a sense of urgency, leading to last-minute rushes when external pressures arise.

This mindset keeps them stuck in a loop of endless planning, where they come up with lots of ideas but rarely act on them. Many creative people, including myself, know how easy it is to get caught up in this appealing but unproductive cycle of constant daydreaming.

How to beat this procrastination style

• Create actionable plans and to-do lists: people who procrastinate because they are dreamers must learn how to set goals and crush them without thinking too much.
• Become disciplined: It’s not about being motivated but about being disciplined and working toward our goals.
• Develop self-accountability: dreamers procrastinators must learn how to take responsibility for their actions. The secret is to become more accountable.

The Worrier

The Worrier type of procrastinator is characterized by excessive worry, anxiety, and fear, which hinder their ability to take action. Worriers often overthink tasks and potential negative outcomes, leading to delays in completing responsibilities.

Their fears can create a cycle of avoidance, where the anticipation of failure or judgment prevents them from starting or finishing tasks.

Worriers usually have low self-confidence, negative thinking patterns, and irrational fears of failure.

They will often put off starting the task because they feel fear and anxiety hovering over them, leaving the work unfinished until the last minute, regardless of whether it’s an important task.

How to beat this procrastination style

• Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself, acknowledging that worries are normal but should not dictate your actions
• Challenge Negative Thoughts: Recognize and reframe negative self-talk and fears, replacing them with positive and realistic perspectives.
• Prioritize Tasks: Identify the most important tasks and create a clear plan to focus on one task at a time.
• Seek Support: Share concerns with supportive friends, family, or a therapist to gain encouragement and develop strategies to overcome procrastination.

The Crisis-Maker

Crisis-makers can’t accomplish any task until the very last minute.

They may feel an adrenaline rush from completing a task they waited on under pressure, knowing how much is at stake or what will happen if they don’t finish it in time.

For instance, I’m the complete opposite, and  I can guarantee you that dealing with this procrastination style is complicated.

A great example of this would be someone who leaves studying for a big exam until the day before, only starting when they genuinely have no other choice but to get things done immediately.

There are two main reasons for this chronic behavior: they think they work better under pressure and have poor time management caused by procrastination.

Crisis Makers often take on too many responsibilities, believing they can handle more than they realistically can. That’s because they feel motivated only when under pressure.

How to beat this procrastination style

• Improve your time management skills: create to-do lists and your routine. The key is to learn how to manage your time better.
• Establish Accountability: Share your goals with someone who can help keep you accountable and provide support.
• Set realistic deadlines: Establish achievable goals and deadlines that allow for adequate time to complete tasks without unnecessary pressure.

The Overdoer

From a behavioral perspective, an overdoer may even seem positive compared to classic procrastinators who tend to put off things to do.

But the reality is that these people take on too much work and fail to complete the most important tasks.

If you are an overdoer-type procrastinator, it may seem complicated for you to be able to focus on a task because you don’t understand how much effort or energy needs to go into getting something done efficiently and quickly.

You just get stuck in doing everything all at once.

I know that feels rude, but you need to start saying “no” when necessary: you need to focus on the most important things first.

How to beat this procrastination style

• Practice Prioritizing: Evaluate the importance of tasks and focus on the critical 20% that yield the most impact
• Set Boundaries: Learn to say no to additional commitments when your plate is full. Prioritize your own tasks and well-being.
• Break Tasks Down: Divide large projects into smaller, manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed and celebrate progress along the way.

If you think you’re an overdoer, consider an app that helps you organize your days like Motion. In my case, my productivity has increased a lot and now I feel more focused and energetic!

The Defier

Defier procrastinators are rebels without a cause, using delay tactics as a shield against perceived authority. Their procrastination is a form of passive-aggressive defiance fueled by a deep-seated desire for control over their time and tasks.

They seek autonomy over their schedules and responsibilities, often prioritizing personal preferences over obligations.

They may agree to do tasks but ultimately delay or avoid them, which can lead to conflicts with authority figures.

Can you imagine how problematic it can be to work with a colleague like this?

How to beat this procrastination style

• Think about the consequences: you need to start thinking that behaving this way can have serious consequences.  Do you remember any particular events where this procrastination caused you problems?
• Seek support: consider having an accountability partner or consulting a specialized psychologist to solve this problem.
• Learn to negotiate deadlines and responsibilities that feel more manageable and acceptable.

The Impact of Procrastination in the Digital Age

Let’s be honest: we live in an age of instant gratification, laziness, and millions of distractions.

And even with your best effort, getting your work done can become extremely difficult when your surroundings don’t help.

I have noticed a worsening in my productivity during periods in which I use social media or the internet more, so it is good that you also recognize when it is becoming harmful.

To help you solve these problems, I have started using tools like blocker apps, which help me stop even when I don’t want to.

This is not the case for everyone, but it is undeniable that the attention span in this digital age is increasingly lower.

A study found that our attention span has significantly decreased by almost 4 seconds in the last 15 years, so it shouldn’t surprise us that people procrastinate if we’ve reached this condition!

Conclusion

You’ve already made great progress by realizing there are different kinds of procrastinators.

As I showed you, there are different types of procrastinators, and each of them needs a different approach.

Everyone who puts things off does it for different reasons, and there are specific ways to overcome each type.

For example, if you’re a perfectionist, being kinder to yourself can help. If you feel overwhelmed too often, breaking tasks into smaller steps and improving your time management might be the answer.

The key is finding what works best for you and sticking with it. With a little effort, anyone can break free from procrastination and start achieving their goals.

Defeating procrastination requires time and effort, but the sooner you start, the sooner you will start having extraordinary results!