By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD

Do you see yourself as a procrastinator? If so, you’re not alone; many people feel the same, myself included.

Recently, I found myself putting off writing an article I needed to complete. Although I enjoy writing, I tend to procrastinate when the topic is unfamiliar and requires effort and energy. I decided it was time to learn more about how to overcome this habit, and I want to share some insights I gained from Tal Ben-Shahar (2023) in one of his lectures on the subject.

According to Ben-Shahar, 80 percent of people perceive themselves as procrastinators. The good news is that the remaining 20 percent can teach us what to do to avoid procrastination.