The relationship between procrastination and personality

Procrastination comes from the Latin word 'procrastinare', which means to 'postpone'.

A study by Tan and colleagues (2008) revealed that procrastination is most prevalent among university students, with 80-95% of students identifying themselves as average or chronic procrastinators (Tan et al., 2008).

Lay (1986), exploring the problem of procrastination, discovered that for those who tend to procrastinate, delays might occur in starting and completing tasks (Lay, 1986). This tendency affects many other phenomena because

unfinished tasks often lead to failures, which can bring procrastinators to self-loathing, depression, stress, and guilt (Takács, 2010).

Previous research shows there are several factors differentiating procrastinators from non-procrastinators, thus procrastination can be considered a psychological variable (Lay & Schouwenburg, 1993). Dryden classified procrastinators into two groups: one group named specific procrastinators, who always procrastinate on the same tasks. He called the other group general procrastinators, who generally tend to postpone all important tasks (Dryden, 2012).

Chu and Choi distinguished another two categories: passive and active procrastinators.

Passive procrastinators freeze before important tasks, unable to meet deadlines, while active procrastinators perform better under pressure, creating pressure on themselves through delay to motivate themselves (Hsin et al., 2005).

According to Seo (2013), passive procrastinators usually give up and do not finish tasks, whereas active procrastinators persist and become efficient as deadlines approach. The two groups offer different cognitive and emotional responses to task deadlines (Seo, 2013).

The listed studies show that procrastination doesn't simply depend on the nature of the delayed task itself or an unfavorable schedule. It has become a question whether this behavioral pattern can be defined by personality itself?! This has led many to research—in particular among university students—to see if certain personality traits are associated with procrastination.

Personality Traits and Procrastination

McCown (1991) tested university students during exam periods. His results showed that the neuroticism personality trait was related to procrastination. The research revealed that students with procrastination tendencies showed more anxiety due to exams and felt less self-confident. Neuroticism led to higher anxiety, while extraversion was associated with interference with learning due to planned social activities. Both extraversion and psychoticism were linked with impulsive and unplanned academic distractions. Psychoticism also showed a connection with aversion to academic courses (McCown & Johnson, 1991).

Ross's (2002) research linked procrastination to neuroticism and a lack of conscientiousness (Ross et al., 2002).

Karatas (2015) examined procrastinators at a Turkish university, those who repeatedly procrastinate, such as leaving a paper submission to the last minute, returning library books late, constantly engaging in other activities instead of important ones.

According to the author, the widespread procrastination manifesting in several areas of life suggests that this behavior stems from a personality trait. In his study, procrastinators completed the Big Five personality test. Results showed that neuroticism correlated with procrastination and was negatively associated with conscientiousness and extraversion (Karatas, 2015).

Some people prefer to wake up early and complete tasks in an organized manner, even at dawn, instead of procrastinating. Others feel active in the evening, where they perform most efficiently.

Is it the absence of neuroticism, the presence of conscientiousness, or another personality trait that impacts our daily activity?

Chronotype's definition is crucial to align daily activities best with an individual’s most productive time.

Influence of Chronotype on Procrastination

Chronotype is how your internal biological clock operates, meaning which part of the day you're most alert and active — and when you're sleepiest and most passive.

Chronotype affects learning, work performance, sleep quality, and even mental health.

This internal timing is unique to each person, partially genetically determined, influencing sleep-wake cycles, performance, and mood.

Main Chronotypes:

1. Lark (early riser):
   They are fresh in the morning, productive in the morning, but tired by the evening. They go to bed early and rise early.

2. Owl (late riser):
   Active in the afternoon and evening, they struggle to wake up in the morning. They sleep late and have difficulty with early starts.

3. Mixed type:
   Neither strictly morning nor evening type, they are most efficient during the day.

Why is it important?

If your daily routine doesn't match your chronotype (e.g., an owl having to wake up early), it can cause sleep deprivation, fatigue, and stress.

Chronotype-based activity times affect our lives, depending on when our environment expects effective work or behavior. For example, the European educational system begins most schooling at eight, requiring attention, learning, and task completion in the morning. This benefits morning types but can negatively impact evening types.

People in the evening chronotype group, when forced to rise early, still stay up late to socialize at their preferred time, resulting in less sleep and, possibly, more coffee consumption during the day. This shift compared to society's defined schedule impacts multiple life aspects, potentially affecting mental well-being (Cofer et al., 1999).

Final Thoughts

Procrastination often isn't about lack of willpower but the conflict between our biological clock and daily expectations. Knowing when you're most alert and motivated—knowing your chronotype—takes you closer to more effective time management.

Instead of reprimanding yourself for procrastination, try aligning tasks with your internal rhythm. Maybe it's not about changing how you function—but when.

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