I found this article really fascinating and eye-opening. It breaks procrastination down into six different types: The Perfectionist, The Dreamer, The Worrier, The Crisis Maker, The Defier, and The Over-Doer. I appreciated how it highlighted that procrastination isn’t just about laziness — it’s often tied to fear, unrealistic expectations, or avoidance patterns.
The 6 Types Of Procrastinator And How They Think - Jayson Moran
The Perfectionist
This type struggles to start or complete tasks because they are afraid of not meeting their own impossibly high standards. I definitely saw myself in this description. Often, I delay starting tasks because I’m worried they won't turn out exactly how I envision them. This article helped me realise that chasing perfection can actually block progress, and that getting something done is often better than waiting for the "perfect" moment.
The Dreamer
Dreamers are full of ideas but struggle to translate them into action, often because they find practical tasks boring or overwhelming. While I didn’t strongly relate to this one compared to others, it was interesting to reflect on how important it is to not just come up with creative ideas, but to actually plan and execute them — especially in UX work, where follow-through is crucial.
The Worrier
Worriers procrastinate because they fear change, failure, or making the wrong decision. I definitely identified with this type too. I sometimes find myself overthinking a task, worrying about the different ways it could go wrong, which can cause me to delay starting. It reminded me that building confidence and accepting that mistakes are part of the learning process are essential mindsets, especially as I step into placement.
The Crisis Maker
This type thrives on last-minute adrenaline, intentionally leaving things to the final moment because they believe they work better under pressure. I recognised myself here as well. I sometimes fall into the trap of thinking I "need" the stress to produce good work. However, the article made me realise that this can be harmful long-term — it's not a sustainable or healthy way to work, and it often leads to unnecessary anxiety.
The Defier
Defiers resist tasks because they feel controlled or restricted by others’ expectations. I didn't personally relate to this one as much, but it was still helpful to learn about. Especially in UX, where collaboration and feedback are constant, it’s important to stay open to teamwork rather than viewing tasks as obligations being forced upon you.
The Over-Doer
Over-Doers take on too many commitments, which causes them to become overwhelmed and then procrastinate. While I don't think this is my main procrastination style, there have been times when I’ve said yes to too many things and then struggled to prioritise, so I can see how easy it is to slip into this category without even realising it.
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Reading about all six types helped me understand that procrastination is really complex — and that a lot of people, like me, might fall into more than one category depending on the situation. I now understand more about why people procrastinate, and this gives me a better chance of understanding problems people face and to come up with ideas to solve them
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