Do you put off work you know you’ll need to accomplish eventually, even if this habit increases pressure for you and others? Procrastination may seem like a way to avoid stress, but it’s more likely to increase stress in the long run. And the tendency isn’t always limited to work and school; chronic procrastinators often delay important tasks in their personal lives, like household chores or scheduling doctors’ appointments.

Luckily, procrastination isn’t a permanent characteristic. Like any other habit, it can be unlearned—and the first step is usually to figure out the cause. Here's how to stop procrastinating for good.