We all procrastinate for different reasons. Some of us wait for perfect conditions, others think they perform best under pressure, and others have too much going on in their lives. That’s why sometimes we feel lost when looking for the best app for procrastination — we don’t know where to start. Fortunately, when we understand why we procrastinate and what type of procrastinator we are, we can start focusing on solutions.
The Anxious One
The Anxious One is the person who worries the most. These people, when using the Liven app, admit that they are never confident about their abilities. They constantly question themselves, wondering, “Am I good enough to do this?” This leads to performance paralysis. They feel like the moment they start to act, something terrible might happen. Sadly, the pressure of deadlines and failed commitments adds another pressure point on top of that.
Main fear:
Losing control.
Strategies that help:
- Set micro-wins to build evidence of competence
- Use self-compassion prompts (“Everyone learns as they go”)
- Start with tasks where you feel moderately confident
- Set a goal for yourself to try, not to achieve.
The Ideal Seeker
Also known as the Perfectionist, the Ideal Seeker feels like they cannot deliver a subpar result. And, usually, they view anything below “ideal” as a failure. They try to prepare with hours of planning and refine the details rather than trying to reach the finish line.
Main fear:
Being seen as incompetent.
Strategies that help:
- Begin with a “rough sketch” version of the task
- Set limits on how long you can plan/prepare
- Don’t review your rough work and simply move forward
- Treat early attempts as experiments, not final outputs.
The Responsibility Magnet
These are people who always help others, stay late at work, and don’t get enough sleep. They always fall short of time, yet cannot refuse new obligations if someone adds another one on top. Once overloaded, they procrastinate because their mental bandwidth is stretched too thin.
Main fear:
Letting others down.
Strategies that help:
- Cap the number of active projects at one time
- Sort commitments into “must-do” vs. “optional”
- Allocate protected time blocks for top priorities only
- Share tasks with others if you can.
The Chaos Racer
These people are the epitome of “wait till the day before the date” to start working on the task. They feel most effective when time pressure is high because their adrenaline gives them the energy. Normal-paced tasks feel dull.
Main fear:
Being stuck in a routine.
Strategies that help:
- Ask others to set deadlines for you to put pressure on yourself
- Work in timed bursts to maintain momentum
- Add stakes or rewards to early starts
- Use visual countdowns to keep pace steady
The Visionary
While this category of people is great at planning and envisioning (you’d want them when coming up with business ideas), they aren’t as eager to realize that vision. When it’s time for specific small steps, they start working more slowly, waiting for inspiration.
Main fear:
Feeling uninspired or restricted.
Strategies that help:
- Turn tasks into creative challenges or themed sessions
- Use colorful or visual tools to map your next steps
- Add aesthetics to your routine to make it fun
- Break ideas into playful mini-goals with quick payoffs.
The Internal Resistor
The Internal Resistor stalls when a task feels imposed or misaligned with their sense of autonomy. Even if they know that they have to do it, they don’t like facing a “must” as it seems to deprive them of their sense of independence.
Main fear:
Losing autonomy or control.
Strategies that help:
- Reframe tasks as personal choices or opportunities
- Set your own timeline, sequence, or preferred method
- Connect the task to your long-term values or goals
- Give yourself options so you don’t feel boxed in.
A Quick Test: What’s Your Type?
Let’s do a quick test — write down the letters you pick for every question.
1. When I have a task to start, my mind first goes to…
A. Checking whether I’m fully prepared before I make a move.
B. Wondering if the timing or vibe feels right to begin.
C. Whether anything else needs my attention before I can focus.
D. How much time I actually have before it becomes urgent.
E. Whether the task feels meaningful or sparks any interest.
F. A quiet internal “ugh” that makes me want to do anything else first.
2. When someone asks how my project is going, I usually…
A. Downplay my progress because I think it’s not good enough yet.
B. Say I’m “working on the idea” even if I haven’t started.
C. Mention how busy everything has been with other obligations.
D. Joke about how I “work better under pressure.”
E. Explain that I’m waiting for the right inspiration or clarity.
F. Feel a bit annoyed or pressured just by the question.
3. When I block out time for a task, what tends to happen?
A. I revise my plan several times before I begin anything.
B. I start setting up the perfect environment but drift away.
C. I get sidetracked by someone else needing help or attention.
D. I use some of the time to relax first, then rush later.
E. I daydream, brainstorm, or wait for my mind to “click in.”
F. I find myself resisting the idea of starting altogether.
4. When a deadline is approaching, I often catch myself…
A. Tweaking details instead of taking big steps.
B. Waiting for a moment when things are aligned.
C. Handling small tasks that don’t matter as much.
D. Speeding through everything at the last minute.
E. Trying to reconnect with the purpose behind the task.
F. Dragging my feet until the pressure becomes unavoidable.
5. When I finally complete a delayed task, my first thought is…
A. “I wish I’d done it better from the start.”
B. “If the conditions had been ideal, this would’ve flowed.”
C. “I should stop letting everything else take over.”
D. “Classic me — fast and furious at the end.”
E. “Glad the inspiration finally found me.”
F. “Doing it was less annoying than avoiding it.”
Conclusion
Whether you have one dominant type or a few based on the situation, you can start moving from here. Trust yourself to know which approach feels right and experiment with different strategies until you’ve got your perfect set of practical tools.