Deter...

Everyone puts things off sometimes, but procrastinators chronically avoid difficult tasks and deliberately look for distractions. Procrastination reflects perennial struggles with self-control as well as the general human inability to accurately predict how we'll feel tomorrow. "I don't feel like it" takes precedence over goals; however, it then begets a downward spiral of negative emotions that deter future effort. 

Perfectionists are often procrastinators; it is  more acceptable to never tackle a task than to face the possibility of falling short.

Procrastinators contend they perform better under pressure, but more often than not that's their way of justifying putting things off.

Procrastination also involves some degree of self-deception; they are at some level aware of the truth of their actions. 

Mire than one flavor of procrastination. 

* Arousal types, or thrill-seekers, wait until the last minute in order to reap a euphoric rush. 

* Avoiders, put off tasks because of fear of failure or even fear of success, but in either case are very concerned with what others think of them. 

 * Decisional procrastinators, who are unable to make a decision avoiding responsibility. 

There are big costs to procrastination: It is internally troubling, leading to such problems as insomnia, immune system and gastrointestinal disturbances, and it erodes personal relationships and team working in the workplace.