The Real Reason You Keep Putting Things Off

How many times have you wished you had started preparing for a test sooner?? In fact, I started writing this article the day it was due. Even though I knew the deadline was approaching, I waited until the last minute to start planning my draft. Procrastination is something almost everyone faces, yet no one knows how to deal with it. 

Procrastination isn't poor time management, it’s a reflection of your emotions. Your brain tends to direct you toward something simpler or more enjoyable when a task feels overwhelming, tedious, or stressful. Short-term gratification comes from avoiding the activity, but starting becomes more difficult as pressure, worry, and guilt build up. Almost all students have put off doing their work, regretted it, stressed about it, but still repeated the cycle. 

Sometimes, people procrastinate because the task feels boring or unpleasant. Even if we know it's important, our brains prioritize comfort over long-term benefit. People end up scrolling through social media, watching a show or even doing work they dread less. However, the longer you wait to complete a task, the more stressful it becomes, and the more guilt it will cause.

Procrastination isn’t laziness. According to McLean Hospital, it can be tied to anxiety, depression, ADHD, and low self-esteem. It’s an emotional coping mechanism, reducing discomfort now, but creating bigger problems later: more stress, lower quality work, and even physical health issues, like insomnia and headaches. 

Starting, even in the tiniest way, is the most efficient method to stop procrastinating. Set a timer, write a single sentence, or start with the easiest task. Once you have started, you’ll probably keep working on it due to the acquired momentum. You can divide large work into smaller, easier-to-manage segments, change your surroundings to reduce distractions, and create accountability for yourself by setting deadlines or reminders. 

Your mindset is also extremely important. Stop waiting for better conditions or better results. It is important to focus on the progress, not perfection of the final product. Having something done on time provides better results than trying to perfect it later. When you realize you have procrastinated, don't blame yourself. Understand why you did it, but also take a step toward completing your work. 

Procrastination always means comfort now, and stress later. Once you understand procrastinating isn’t laziness, and that even the smallest step can break the cycle, you can move on from the constant regret of not completing things. One sentence, one timer, one small step: that is how you'll get things done. 

Works Cited

Freepik. (n.d.). View of messy office workspace with personal computer. Retrieved from https://www.freepik.com 

McLean Hospital. “The Real Reason You’re Procrastinating.” McLean Hospital, 7 Aug. 2024, www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/procrastination. 

Productivity. “Everything You Wanted to Know about Procrastination but Were Too Lazy to Figure Out.” Mark Manson, 12 July 2015, markmanson.net/how-to-stop-procrastinating.