Procrastination has become a modern workplace epidemic. With endless notifications, digital tools, and back-to-back Zoom meetings, it’s easier than ever to get sidetracked. In fact, the average person spends around 1.6 hours a day procrastinating, with more than half of that time online. Meanwhile, 77% of UK employees say digital notifications interrupt their focus, with many facing distractions every 15 minutes. That’s roughly 160 interruptions a week.
As work becomes more flexible and remote, the line between “focused” and “frazzled” is getting increasingly blurry. While coworking spaces like Old Street WorkRooms offer a mix of structure and community, even the most inspiring workspace can’t fix procrastination without the right habits in place.Fortunately, coworking spaces offer powerful tools to help you break your procrastination cycle. In this article, we’ll explore what procrastination really is, why it happens, and how you can conquer it using practical strategies, all tailored for your coworking lifestyle.
What Is Procrastination, Really?
Procrastination is putting off something you know you need to do, even when you know that delaying will lead to further stress later. It might look like checking your emails for the fifth time, scrolling LinkedIn or spending hours tweaking a simple task that should take 10 minutes.
Although waiting can sometimes be strategic, it can become a chronic problem, which can lead to a cycle of stress, avoidance, and guilt. Often, it’s not about being lazy, but about feeling overwhelmed, afraid of failure, or not knowing “where to start”.
It can also happen when you don’t feel confident in your ability to finish the task well. Understanding the causes and reasons behind procrastination will be key in taking back control of your time.
Let’s Clear This Up: It’s Not Laziness
By recognising that procrastination is a symptom – not a character flaw – you can open the door to healthier, more productive behaviours.
A lot of people mistake procrastination with laziness, but they’re not the same thing! Laziness is not wanting to do anything, whereas procrastination is wanting to do something… just not right now.
That delay often stems from fear, doubt, or just plain overwhelm – not a lack of drive. Thinking of yourself as lazy can only fuels shame and self-doubt, making it harder to get going. So, when you realise procrastination is a symptom, not a flaw, it becomes easier to work with = and this is when real change can start.
The Link Between Procrastination and Mental Health
It is no surprise that procrastination is more than a productivity issue; it has also been found to be closely linked to mental health. For those managing ADHD, depression, or anxiety, procrastination can become a coping mechanism. It’s not about bad time management; it’s about navigating an inner world that can feel unpredictable and overwhelming.
For example, people with ADHD may struggle to start tasks or hold their focus, which is where advice to “just do it” becomes unhelpful. If you’re dealing with depression, even small tasks can also feel like climbing a mountain. For those with anxiety, you may overthink, fear failure, or freeze entirely!
Recognising this is crucial, especially in a coworking environment where the energy can often be high and people seem to be in constant motion. If you’re comparing yourself to others and feeling behind, take a breath. There are ways to structure your day that support both your productivity and your well-being.
Why Is Time Management Important?
When procrastination becomes a habit, it can eat away at your time, energy, and confidence. View time management not as a rigid schedule, but as a framework to stop your day from running away from you.
In coworking spaces, members are juggling projects, side hustles, and client calls, so managing your time well is what will keep you moving forward without burning out. Without it, it’s easy to lose hours to distractions, rush through work, or feel like you’re constantly behind.
Good time management will therefore help you to set clear priorities, set realistic goals and make space for rest. It’s not about doing more, it’s about doing what matters, with less stress!
Why Coworking Spaces Help (and Hinder) Procrastination
Coworking spaces offer freedom, creativity, and community, but they come with new challenges. Open layouts and the hum of conversation can become distracting, especially if you’re sensitive to your surroundings – this is where noise cancelling headphones can be a worthy investment!
Without a fixed routine, it’s up to you to create structure to prevent procrastination from creeping in. It’s also easy to fall into the comparison trap, where you see others work hard, which can leave you feeling inadequate or like you’re falling behind.
But here’s the upside: at Old Street WorkRooms, our coworking spaces offer solutions. You’ve got access to quiet zones, breakout rooms, and an entire community. With the right approach, your environment can work for you, not against you.
How to Improve Work Productivity in a Shared Workspace
When used intentionally, coworking spaces can be one of the best tools for improving work productivity. Their flexibility, diverse work areas, and access to like-minded individuals can all help to boost focus and motivation.
A helpful tool is time blocking. Assign focus hours, admin time, and breaks, and treat them like appointments you can’t miss. Follow up with short, scheduled breaks to avoid the mid-afternoon slump and keep your energy steady throughout the day.
One overlooked strategy is also finding an accountability partner within your coworking space. Simply checking in with someone can increase your follow-through dramatically and lead to positive results.
How to Avoid Procrastination in the Workplace
The key to avoiding procrastination is building a structure that actually works for you. This starts with learning how to prioritise. Instead of tackling tasks as they pop up, sort them by urgency and importance. This will keep you focused on what truly matters and prevent everyday tasks from consuming your time.
Time management tools and productivity apps can also play a significant role. Tools like Trello or even a simple pen-and-paper list can keep you on track, as long as you’re consistent. It’s less about the tool, more about sticking with it .
At Old Street WorkRooms, take advantage of our coworking environment by using our quiet rooms for focus or join our community events to reset your motivation.
How to Combat and Conquer Procrastination
To combat procrastination, it will help to reframe how you think about tasks. Instead of focusing on the full scope of your project, break it into smaller, manageable steps. Work on the task for around 15 minutes, and you’ll often find momentum kicks in.
Celebrating small wins can also be a massive mood booster. You can even gamify your goals by setting personal challenges or tracking your goals to stay on course.
Such mindset shifts are key to quit procrastination for good! Conquering procrastination isn’t just about willpower, it’s about designing a system that supports your progress, one small step at a time.
Build a Better Workday, One Task at a Time
Overcoming procrastination begins with small, intentional changes to how you think, work, and structure your workday. For professionals using coworking spaces like Old Street WorkRooms, the environment already offers a huge advantage, where flexibility, support, and community energy are built into the space.Use it. Explore it. Make it your own.
By understanding the mental and environmental causes behind procrastination, you can develop strong time management skills, use community resources for accountability and transform your work habits.
Start by trying one new productivity strategy this week – consistent action creates real progress!