Time management and procrastination

This chapter combines the topics time management and procrastination. Time management is an overarching term derived from popular notions on how to be effective at work. Procrastination has been mainly researched from a personality perspective, addressing the emotional and psychological issues of the phenomenon in more detail. First, I describe time management and procrastination, and next I address interventions that may help people in overcoming procrastination. Studies on time management show that it is a useful intervention to gain control and to reduce stress. Three types of interventions have been used to overcome procrastination: training self-regulatory skills including planning and time management; building emotional strength; and using social support. There is no clear evidence pointing out whether all types need to be used for all people, and a more individually targeted approach is probably best. Planning and time management should be the core of the intervention. However, planning one’s own the behavior is partly trait-like, has emotional connotations, and involves self-regulation. Thus, many find procrastination difficult to change. That is why planning is probably not enough to reduce procrastination. Procrastinators need to develop emotional strength and benefit from support of others to provide the control that they are lacking.