Why Do We Procrastinate?

Written by: Hannah Smilowitz

Procrastination, it affects us all. At its core, procrastination is the act of postponing or delaying tasks, typically important tasks that should be done donner, rather than later. Procrastination can really impact an individual’s lives, where it serves as a barrier to a persons’ growth, development, and even happiness.

Why Do We Procrastinate?

Ultimately, there are many reasons for why we procrastinate. We take on too many tasks, we have families to take care of, schools, and jobs to tend to, unexpected problems arise, or just simple laziness. Whatever the case may be, many of us are guilty of procrastinating important tasks. However, chronic procrastination can develop when we regularly start putting off small tasks and errands. Fear of failure is one common reason for why people procrastinate. Many people are not comfortable starting a task, knowing the consequences may not always be positive. Why should I apply to that job if I think I might get rejected? Failure, however, is a big motivating factor for many individuals. People learn and recover from failure. Low self-esteem is also a common factor for procrastination. Individuals who struggle with low self-esteem may also struggle with procrastination because they feel uncomfortable or have aversions to certain tasks. It is important to understand and recognize how regular procrastination can have an impact on our mental health.

Impact on Mental Health

Procrastination, and its long-term consequences can have negative effects on a person’s mental and emotional health. Regular procrastination can lead to an increase in anxiety, stress, and possibly depression. This is because the individual continues to be bogged down by unfinished tasks, and unmet goals. This intense social pressure can cause overwhelming feelings of guilt, shame, and even lower self-esteem. Most individuals believe that procrastinating every once-in-awhile is okay. And while that may be true for some people, not everyone is able to tackle many tasks, efficiently and successfully.

Ways to Tackle the Task

Overcoming procrastination seems like it would be a simple solution. Just pick a task and do it. But it doesn’t come that easy to people who have put off the task for days, weeks, or even months. Chunking tasks into small assignments that can be completed over a few days or weeks is very helpful in dealing with that long daunting ‘to-do’ list. When overcoming procrastination, it is still important to remember to take a break and reward yourself appropriately. Did you finish that assignment, do the laundry, or make that dinner you have been wanting to try? Well, it may be time to take a break and watch TV for a little bit, or read that book you have been wanting to read. Setting goals and even rewards are a great way to self-motivate and deal with procrastination.