Why Do People Procrastinate?

Sana Said '23 ~ September 2021

The vicious cycle of procrastination involves putting off tasks, feeling stressed, then cramming in an attempt to complete something. This cycle repeats itself often-- especially for high school students. So why do people procrastinate in the first place?

Studies have shown that when given anxiety-inducing tasks, a specific part of the brain, the amygdala, recognizes that task as a threat to our mental well-being. The body copes with that stress by putting off assignments. However, in times when people are anxious, procrastination only heightens stress levels in the body. It may elicit frustration and guilt since a person knows that putting things off is a poor choice.

In an interview with the American Psychological Association, Joseph Ferrari, a professor of psychology and leading international researcher in the study of procrastination, shares information on the subject.

“Procrastination is not waiting and it is more than delaying. It is a decision to not act...the waiting is counterproductive,” he says.

Being productive, in other words, allows people to improve time management and not worry about completing tasks at the last minute.

Some people believe that they work best under the pressure of trying to complete assignments quickly. According to the Association for Psychological Science, in the long run, this could be harmful, as people do not give themselves time to ponder and absorb information. Instead, they complete an assignment in a shorter period of time and forget most of it later on.

While there is no foolproof way to stop procrastination, some recommendations include prioritizing important tasks, improving time management, and doing a small amount of work every day leading up to a deadline. Not all methods work for everyone, so it is best to see which process works best for each individual person.

Title Photo: Silviarita, Pixabay