Procrastination – it’s the lack of getting started on a project. It can appear in various ways and for an array of reasons. While most people think it’s a good thing, it really isn’t. You may think you work best under pressure or that you can’t get things done until they’re close to being due, but your health suffers from the consequences. Do you identify yourself as a procrastinator?

Most procrastinators live by the stance of “as long as the job gets done.” However, this can be a bad thing for real estate investors. For them, this could result in three key things:

• Wasted opportunities
• Delayed maintenance
• Tenant loss

Procrastination isn’t about taking time off here and there; it’s about wasting time to do something else altogether for an extended period of time. Chronic procrastination affects around 20 percent of people.

You may see yourself as an occasional procrastinator – a person that waste time doing anything but what they need to be doing. However, even occasional procrastinators are prone to some of the dangerous side effects seen in chronic procrastinators. Keep in mind that procrastination can affect, not just your life, but the people around you that depend on you.

4 Common Side Effects Chronic Procrastinators Suffer From

Wasted Opportunities On Good Deals

Procrastination means you don’t get anything done as you should. They often result in wasted opportunities that may not come back around. The best thing you can do is seize the opportunity when it presents itself right then and there. You may want to wait and think it’ll be there when you’re ready to deal with it.

In real estate, that’s not always the case.

Reputation Damage

Procrastinating can lead to reputation damage by personally and professionally. When you make a commitment to a task or a deadline, you need to focus on meeting those deadlines and ensuring the task done fully. Failure to follow-through on your deadlines can lead to frustration and a lack of trust. Your business’ success does depend heavily on your reputation of getting things done. If you fail to do this, you may never recover.

Confidence Problems

Everybody is their own worst critic, especially procrastinators. It’s important to understand that procrastination isn’t the same as lazy. For some people, procrastination is all about being a perfectionist. It may be that they have a low self-esteem and don’t feel their meeting their goals successfully.  Disappointment in one’s self grows when deadlines are not met, and this sentiment only grows the more they fail.

This self-punishment leads to sabotage, negative talk about themselves and failing to take action when an opportunity presents itself.

Health Problems

Chronic procrastinators are more likely to suffer from health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and stress. Without some type of coping mechanisms such as exercise or healthy eating habits, their health can decline. And, when a person’s health suffers, so does their personal and professional life.