Procrastination Much?

Procrastination. Who hasn’t heard that word before? We’re all guilty of this, at least most of us are. So, why do we repeatedly procrastinate even when we know we’ll end up facing the consequences? Turns out, there’s a psychology behind it!

Procrastination isn’t necessarily about laziness (1). I mean, think about it. Have you ever put off doing your homework and instead started cleaning your bedroom, or organizing your closet? I certainly have. In this case, it’s not exactly fair to say that you’re being lazy is it? You are after all actually using your time to do something productive.

So, what exactly is procrastination and why do we do it?

Procrastination is defined as the act of delaying or postponing a task. We avoid our responsibilities and do something else, even knowing we shouldn’t be putting it off. Believe it or not, but procrastination has been around since the beginning of time (2). It really doesn’t have anything to do with bad time-management, but rather, it’s a way of coping with our emotions and mood. It’s actually quite simple. We procrastinate because we are afraid. The task in front of us may be correlated with some negative emotions such as anxiety or doubt (1). And this makes sense. I tend to find myself holding off on doing the hardest task, mainly because I know it’s tough and that I’m afraid of not being able to complete it. Other factors can also lead to us being more susceptible to procrastination (3). When it’s late at night and you’re exhausted from the day, you don’t think much about self-control, and you give in easily to procrastination. In that moment of procrastination, we may feel some sort of relief at not having to face the task at hand, but the reality is that procrastination can be quite harmful (1). We rush to get our task done, affecting the quality of our work. We can even cause self-harm because we start stressing over all our unfinished tasks and usually chastise ourselves for procrastinating. It all becomes a vicious cycle, one where it seems we never learn from.

But, there are some things we can do to make our procrastination better and reduce its likelihood of it occurring.

The first key thing is to understand that procrastination stems from emotions. If we understand this, then we can begin to work on solving the problem. It’s also extremely important to practice self-compassion (1). Be kind and patient towards yourself. Take it slow. Let’s say you do fail at something. That’s okay! We’re only human, and we’re constantly learning from our mistakes. You will definitely mess up, but don’t give up. Nothing is achieved overnight.

Set realistic goals and break it down into small achievable tasks (3). Take one step at a time, and you’ll be much more likely to succeed. Understand the pattern behind the cause of your procrastination. Focus on what you can change in order to set you up for success.

Lastly, remember that you are not alone! I procrastinate, you procrastinate, and so does everyone else. We’re all in this together. So don’t give up and let’s work hard together.

Stay Happy and Healthy 💗

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Works Cited

(1) Lieberman, Charlotte. "Why You Procrastinate (It Has Nothing to Do With

Self-Control)." The New York Times, New York Times Company, 25 Mar. 2019,

www.nytimes.com/2019/03/25/smarter-living/

why-you-procrastinate-it-has-nothing-to-do-with-self-control.html. Accessed

5 Sept. 2020.

(2) Jaffe, Eric. "Why Wait? The Science Behind Procrastination." Psychology Science,

Association for Psychological Science, 29 Mar. 2013,

www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/

why-wait-the-science-behind-procrastination. Accessed 5 Sept. 2020.

(3) "Why People Procrastinate: The Psychology and Causes of Procrastination."

Solving Procrastination, solvingprocrastination.com/

why-people-procrastinate/. Accessed 5 Sept. 2020.