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General Procrastination Scale

Is procrastination silently sabotaging your life? Take this test to find out.

Mark Travers, Ph.D.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D.

April 12, 2024

Mark Travers, Ph.D., is the lead psychologist at Awake Therapy, responsible for new client intake and placement. Mark received his B.A. in psychology, magna cum laude, from Cornell University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder. His academic research has been published in leading psychology journals and has been featured in The New York Times and The New Yorker, among other popular publications. He is a regular contributor for Forbes and Psychology Today, where he writes about psycho-educational topics such as happiness, relationships, personality, and life meaning. Click here to schedule an initial consultation with Mark or another member of the Awake Therapy team. Or, you can drop him a note here.

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Procrastination refers to the act of delaying or postponing tasks or responsibilities that need to be accomplished. It often involves putting off important actions in favor of more immediate, pleasurable activities or simply avoiding tasks due to feelings of discomfort or anxiety associated with them.

While occasional procrastination is common and may not have significant consequences, chronic procrastination can have profound effects on individuals' lives. It can lead to various negative outcomes, both personally and professionally.

On a personal level, it can contribute to increased stress, anxiety, and feelings of guilt or shame. Constantly delaying tasks can create a cycle of self-criticism and frustration, as individuals struggle to meet their own expectations and deadlines. This can erode self-esteem and confidence over time, as individuals may perceive themselves as incapable or unreliable.

The General Procrastination Scale is a valuable instrument for individuals to assess their procrastination tendencies objectively and identify areas where they may need to improve their time management and productivity skills. By understanding their procrastination patterns, individuals can take proactive steps to address underlying issues, such as perfectionism or fear of failure, and develop strategies to overcome procrastination habits.

References: Lay, C. (1986). At last, my research article on procrastination. Journal of Research in Personality, 20, 474-495.

Step 1: Rate the following statements based on how much you agree with them on a scale of strongly disagree to strongly agree.

1. I often perform tasks I had intended to do days before.

2. I often miss concerts, sporting events, or similar events because I don’t buy tickets on time.

3. When planning a party, I don’t make the necessary arrangements well in advance.

4. When it is time to get up in the morning, I don’t get out of bed right away.

5. A mail may sit for days before I get around to replying to it.

6. I generally don’t return phone calls promptly.

7. Even with jobs that require little else except sitting down and doing them, I find they seldom get done for days.

8. I usually don’t make decisions as soon as possible.

9. I generally delay getting started on work.

10. When traveling, I usually have to prepare to arrive at the airport or station at the appropriate time.

11. When preparing to go out, I am often caught having to do something at the last minute.

12. In preparing for some deadline, I often waste time doing other things.

13. My services often get disconnected because I frequently forget to pay the bills on time.

14. I don’t usually return an RSVP request shortly after receiving the invitation.

15. I often don’t finish tasks sooner than necessary.

16. I always shop for birthday or Christmas gifts at the last minute.

17. I usually buy even an essential item at the last minute.

18. I usually don’t accomplish everything I plan to do daily.

19. I am continually saying “I’ll do it tomorrow.”

20. I usually don’t take care of all the tasks I have to do before I settle down and relax for the evening.

0 of 0 questions answered

Step 2: Enter your age, gender, region, and first name so we can provide you with a detailed report that compares your test scores with people similar to you.

What is your age?

What is your gender?

What region of the world do you live in?

What is your first name?

Step 3: Check to make sure you've provided answers to all of the statements/questions above. Once you've done that, click the button below to send your responses to Awake Therapy's Lead Psychologist, Mark Travers, Ph.D. He will provide you with an overview of how you scored relative to others (all answers are anonymized and confidential to protect users' privacy). He can also answer any follow-up questions you may have.