According to Neil Fiore, Ph.D, the number one reason that people procrastinate is the fear of failure. Procrastinators fear they'll fall short because they don't have the requisite talent or skills. "They get overwhelmed and they're afraid they'll look stupid."

Maia Szalavitz, in a 2003 Psychology Today article, has some tips to overcome this problem:

Set realistic goals: Resolutions like "I want to get in shape," often fail, but plans like "I will run three times a week at 7 a.m.," are more achievable.

Be selective: If you tend toward perfectionism, only do your absolute best when it matters. Every e-mail you send needn't be exquisitely composed; a book proposal, however, should be.

Fight misguided impulses: Don't succumb to myths such as "pressure improves performance." Set up a schedule that includes short-, medium- and long-term goals to avoid leaving everything until the last minute.

THE QUOTES

"The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure."
~Sven Goran Eriksson

"My imperfections and failures are as much a blessing from God as my successes and my talents and I lay them both at his feet."
-Mahatma Gandhi