Procrastination takes many forms, just as the reasons behind it do. Sure, we can say it affects many of us similarly — we feel guilt, shame, and the dawning anxiety as a deadline approaches. However, the nature of procrastination isn’t as simple as that. We delay tasks because there’s something that causes it, the emotions and fears behind it. By understanding what type of procrastinator you are, you can discover what inner challenges might be worth addressing, how to pick the best app for procrastination fit for your underlying needs, and what strategies work best for you.
A Quick Procrastination Test
Let’s do a quick test from the Liven app — write down your answers to get your procrastination type results.
1. What usually stops you from starting a task?
A. I’m afraid I won’t do it well
B. I need the perfect plan or setup
C. I’m juggling too many things
D. There’s no real urgency yet
E. I’m not inspired enough
F. I don’t want to do what’s expected of me
2. When you finally try to work, you tend to…
A. Doubt yourself
B. Over-polish or over-plan
C. Jump between tasks
D. Rush because the deadline is close
E. Drift into ideas or fantasies
F. Resist the task or feel irritated by it
3. What’s your usual reason for delaying something?
A. Fear of messing up
B. Wanting to do it perfectly
C. Feeling overwhelmed by other commitments
D. Believing I work best under pressure
E. Waiting for the right creative mood
F. Feeling pushed or controlled by the task
4. Which habit feels most familiar to you?
A. Avoiding tasks due to worry
B. Refining things endlessly
C. Saying “yes” to too much
D. Always starting late
E. Daydreaming instead of doing
F. Dragging your feet when something feels imposed
5. After finishing a task, you usually feel…
A. Relief that I didn’t fail
B. That it still could’ve been better
C. Guilty about things I neglected
D. Proud I pulled it off under pressure
E. Excited about new ideas
F. Satisfied that I did it my own way.
Now, let’s count your results. Count how many A, B, C, D, E, and F answers you chose.
Mostly As — the Worrier.
Mostly Bs — the Perfectionist.
Mostly Cs — the Overachiever.
Mostly Ds — the Pressure Seeker.
Mostly Es — the Dreamer.
Mostly Fs — the Rebel.
The Worrier
The Worrier is always unsure about how their effort turns out. They imagine the worst scenarios and try to prepare for them all. They often have low self-esteem and fear not being good enough or not meeting others’ expectations. This self-protection instinct leads to hesitating and overthinking, essentially causing them to avoid important tasks. However, when they fail to achieve the goal they set for themselves because of this self-sabotage, they only lose their confidence.
Strategies to try:
- Break tasks into tiny, low-stakes steps
- Use “good enough for now” instead of “perfect”
- Start with a 5-minute rule to reduce fear
- Track evidence of past successes.
The Perfectionist
Perfectionists are, you guessed it, focused on doing things 110%. They need ideal conditions, flawless output, and perfect timing. They can spend most of their time planning, preparing, and trying to figure out how to arrange for the task to be done ideally. If they start the project, they overconcentrate on details. That is why, if they ever finish the task, they aren’t satisfied with the result. Their procrastination comes from high internal standards, not laziness.
Strategies to try:
- Set strict time caps for planning and editing
Work in “drafts,” not one perfect version - Celebrate finished tasks rather than flawless ones
- Practice producing messy first drafts on purpose.
The Overachiever
Overachievers are always busy, especially because they struggle to say “no” and to do everything at once. They add tasks to their already busy schedules, so they procrastinate not because they avoid another item on their to-do list, but because of sheer overwhelm. Although they are ambitious and capable, they have so much on their plate that their unimportant tasks can bury the ones that matter.
Strategies to try:
- Practice saying “no” or “not right now”
- Prioritize 1-3 key tasks per day
- Limit the number of active projects at once
- Delegate or drop non-essential commitments.
The Pressure Seeker
Are you the type of person who waits for the final day before the deadline to start working? For Pressure Seekers, the adrenaline rush serves as a powerful push to finish their tasks fast. They feel like they are even better when there’s a thrill of the final date nearby. Unfortunately, it often leads to rushed work or missed deadlines.
Strategies to try:
- Create artificial early deadlines
- Use countdown timers for urgency
- Reward early starts, not last-minute rushes
- Schedule short “micro-deadlines” throughout the week.
The Dreamer
Dreamers are good at making plans and having an inspiring vision, but they don’t like down-to-earth, practical activity. To them, the inspiration and imagination phase is the best one, but routine doesn’t inspire them. They can be the most focused and active people until it’s time to lock in and do the repetitive work. Their procrastination comes from boredom with execution.
Strategies to try:
- Turn tasks into missions, themes, or challenges
- Pair mundane tasks with rewards or music
- Break goals into exciting mini-milestones
- Alternate “creative” and “boring” tasks for balance.
The Rebel
These people don’t like being told what to do — to them, independence is everything. When a task feels imposed or meaningless, they feel a sense of mental protest. To them, the act of delay becomes a sort of autonomy, the right to decide for themselves. This behavior can be related to a particular task or a general personality feature that does not accept obligations or demands.
Strategies to try:
- Connect tasks to personal values or benefits
- Use flexible to-do lists with options
- Negotiate deadlines when possible
- Break tasks into steps where you decide the order.
Conclusion
Now that you know your procrastination type, you have a list of tips that you can try to add to your daily routines. If you want to try out a few others, there’s no need to restrict yourself to the strategies only below your type. Allow yourself to be flexible and create your own procrastination toolkit that works just for you.
