Procasination
By Ashley Weng
Picture by NJlifehacks
Introduction
Have you ever delayed doing a project or assignment until the very last minute for the sole reason of not wanting to do it? This is called procrastination, something most people have done at least once in their lives. It is usually harmless and is considered a normal part of human life when it occurs every once in a while, as humans can never be perfect. However, when procrastination becomes a recurring cycle, it can affect our mental health and create self-doubt. As the piles of work a person sets aside grow larger and larger, it induces anxiety and stress in the individual, which can develop into a huge burden in life. In this article, we explore the reasons behind procrastination and possible measures to take to combat it.
Why we procrastinate
Depending on the individual and the activity, people procrastinate for a variety of different reasons. For example, perfectionists may procrastinate because they want to avoid making mistakes on the task or assignment they need to complete. Moreover, tasks that seem like a light chore in comparison to more time-consuming assignments are often set aside. Kendra Cherry, a psychology educator and author, states, “We often assume that projects won’t take as long to finish as they really will, which can lead to a false sense of security when we believe that we still have plenty of time to complete these tasks.” Although it is clear there are lots of different explanations for procrastinating, most reasons come back to one core concept: present bias. Present bias is “the idea that procrastinators comfort themselves in the present with the false belief that they’ll be more emotionally equipped to handle a task in the future”(). Many will claim that they are not in the mood to accomplish a certain task, reasoning with themselves that they will do it better in the future, but as the deadline approaches, they end up never being in the mood at all. Then, the individual will find themselves panicking to complete the assignment with little to no time left and ultimately feel bad about themselves at the end of it.
Solutions
Although different methods to ease procrastination work differently for each individual, one of the most effective ways to overcome procrastination is by setting realistic goals. Assistant Director of the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning Dominic J. Voge suggests doing this because “making a huge list of 'things to do' or scheduling every minute of your day may INCREASE your stress and thus procrastination.” Instead, he suggests that people focus on setting realistic goals for themselves to break down the tasks and ease their anxiety. For example, an individual could have an assignment due in ten days, but would aim to get it done in seven days, thus eliminating procrastination and stress all at once. And, if the student ends up missing their goal, they would actually have the time to complete the task before the strict deadline, which wouldn’t have been the case if they procrastinated.
Individuals may use this goal chart in order to create realistic due dates or achievement goals to overcome procrastination. Picture by Debra Garver.
Moreover, procrastination can also be combated by incorporating easy tasks among the more challenging ones. Although this may seem like there are more assignments to be completed, doing relatively easy tasks like taking a walk or folding clothes will provide a nice break from burnout and stress while also making the individual feel less burdened by the more difficult assignments at hand. This is because these smaller assignments can actually provide the person with the energy and motivation they need to overcome the larger task they’ve been procrastinating on.
Conclusion
Overall, procrastination is a prevalent issue in modern society that can induce stress and anxiety in the individual. This is caused by a variety of instigators, depending on the individual, such as present bias and perfectionism. However, there are also ways to combat procrastination and ensure that tasks can be completed on time with little stress that are relatively easy to try. By identifying the unique causes that lead one to procrastinate and actively applying combative strategies and solutions, individuals can regain control of their schedule and to-do list with ease. With the right motivation, the individual will ultimately find themselves more productive and will have a better overall well-being, just by controlling what they can at the moment.
References
Kendra Cherry, Mse. (2025, September 29). What is procrastination?. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/the-psychology-of-procrastination-2795944
Understanding and overcoming procrastination | McGraw Center for Teaching and learning. (n.d.). https://mcgraw.princeton.edu/undergraduates/resources/resource-library/understanding-and-overcoming-procrastination
Why we procrastinate: The psychology of putting things off. Stop Putting It Off: A Guide to Understanding Procrastination. (2025, July 13). https://deconstructingstigma.org/guides/procrastination
