The Science Behind Procrastination: Understanding its Causes and Overcoming It"
What are some psychological impacts of procrastination?
Do any of these sound like you?
Fear of failure or perfectionism: The anxiety of not meeting high standards can lead to avoidance.Lack of motivation or task aversion: Tasks perceived as unpleasant or boring are often delayed.
Impulsivity and self-regulation issues: Difficulty managing impulses and prioritizing tasks can lead to procrastination.
When I first started college courses a year ago, I would often wait until the last minute to study for a test or to turn in an assignment. I remember thinking, "I have 4 whole days to study for this", then 3 days, then 2 and so on. I would find comfort in convincing myself that I had plenty of time and that I could not worry about it for the time being.
ReplyDeleteSince then, I realized that my grades would suffer if I continued to go through my courses that way, so I started a new strategy of studying or working on assignments in small chunks. In the morning, during work, whenever I have some time. This strategy has helped me stay ahead and retain more information
This sounds like me to a certain extent. Classes I really struggle with I tend to finish those particular assignments at the last minute. I also am embarrassed to ask questions in class some days because I feel like I'm the only one who doesn't understand. However my main issue is testing. I've always been a bad test taker. I have recently discovered after being evaluated that I have AdHD. I have been working on taking more frequent breaks when studying but also studying for longer periods of time.
DeleteI had a horrible time with procrastination in high school and my first attempt at college in early adulthood. I think during these years I was experiencing a lack of motivation along with impulsivity and self regulation issues. It took me a long time to grow out of these habits, but since returning to school in my 30s, I find that I no longer struggle with procrastination. I attribute this to maturity and motivation. My goals are important to me and I want to do everything I can to succeed.
DeleteMy first attempt at college was a disaster. I was still determining what I wanted to do and went for the wrong reasons. At first, I was doing okay with the schoolwork. Still, I started procrastinating by putting off assignments, waiting until the last minute, and sometimes needing to complete them, which led to me dropping out entirely. I am now back in college years later, and this go around, I have a different mindset; I am going for the right reasons, I have better time management skills, and I know what I am trying to accomplish.
DeleteI really relate to your experience with procrastination! It’s so easy to tell yourself that there’s plenty of time, and then before you know it, the deadline is looming and the stress kicks in. I think a lot of people go through that initial phase, especially when starting something new like college. But I’m really impressed by how you took a step back, reflected on how it was affecting your grades, and found a strategy that worked for you. Breaking tasks into smaller chunks is such a smart move. It’s more manageable and less overwhelming, plus it gives you that sense of accomplishment as you check off each task.
DeleteThis is a good one too. Usually, I am a very proactive person. I hate being late, falling behind, or reacting to anything. But if & when I do procrastinate, fear of failure or perfectionism & lack of motivation or task aversion are my biggest problems. & honestly this class is one that I procrastinated through a lot. Lol.. Don't get me wrong, I ended up loving this class. But in the beginning, learning about all of the theories & theorist almost made my head explode every time I opened my book. It got better as the course progressed but it was a very hard adjustment. I'm usually an A/B student & the thought of my getting a C or lower in this class just made me want to avoid it completely. But I am glad I stuck it out.
ReplyDeleteI set my expectations for myself high anyway & that is something that I don't even want to change. I take pride in being one of the best at whatever it is that I am doing. I honestly cringe when I hear people say, "Cs get degrees." ...I hate that phrase with a passion...Lol. But going forward, I will try to lower my standards a little bit...just a tad, to alleviate the stress & anxiety I put myself through. But this is not something that I experience often because I usually grasps onto most subjects easily; however, psychology is not one. Lol.
Task aversion & lack of motivation definitely hit me after the first exam. After I took the time to read the chapters & scored low on the exam, it was definitely a blow to my ego. My immediate thought was, I read ALL of that & THOUGHT I understood it all to actually NOT...oh, no...this is NOT for me. Lol. From there it was hard to open my book again. But it got easier as the semester went along & I am so glad I persevered.
I gained a lot of knowledge from this course & thoroughly enjoyed it.
Hi Malessia! I really felt your post, especially the part about procrastinating more in the classes you care about. I can relate to the fear of failure and perfectionism. I also tend to set too high of expectations for myself, and that pressure sometimes causes me to perform worse. It's like you care so much about what you want to do that you don't even want to start. I also agree with what you said about how hard it is to stay motivated when you try your best and still get a disappointing grade. Thanks for sharing this, it made me feel a little less alone in the struggle!
DeleteThis is a good one. I know that I suffer from procrastination but not with everything. When it comes to my schoolwork, I have learned that procrastinating is definitely not what’s going to get me where I want to be. However, I’m not always perfect with that. Me being able to balance life with so much going on drives unintentional procrastination. When it comes to self-care, I am one huge procrastinator and the lack of motivation does contribute to that along with the feeling of not accomplishing my goal as fast as I would like to.
ReplyDeleteI was previously in college and then I took a long break with raising my children and getting them through school. Once things started settling down for me a bit, I wanted to go back to school but I continued to put it off because of the fear of failure and the fear of being overwhelmed. Since I have returned, although at times, I get overwhelmed with the work, I have learned to adapt better and to stay out of that negative space in my head of thinking that I can’t do it.
I have struggled procrastination, particularly as a result of fear of failure or perfectionism. I have always prided myself on being a high performer. However, when faced with a difficult task, one that might have multiple solutions, I would often get bogged down in the details. I always called it analysis paralysis. I would be so concerned with finding the best solution that I would end up taking forever to even start.
ReplyDeleteI have found a few ways to avoid this. They all focus on simply doing something. For example, if I have to write a paper and I am stuck, I will simply start writing anything that comes to mind. It doesn't matter if it is related, it gets me moving which breaks the inertia. Once I am moving, my brain catches up, and I can start focusing better. I can always go back and delete irrelevant information, but unless I start I won't have anything to finish. It is a simple trick, but it works for me.
Personally, I have experienced and struggled with all three of these, at different points in my life. When I am in a healthy position in life, like I am now, my procrastination often tempts me when I am fearing that lack of perfection. Sometimes, analyzing a task can be overwhelming, when I consider all that needs to be done, and how I can do it 100%. I am hoping to get better at breaking these tasks into small bits and pieces, to allow more breathing room and less intense standards for myself. Often, when I approach a task, I am diving in 100% or completely avoiding it and setting it aside for later, and this derives (I think) from my struggle with ADHD. I do not like to complete tasks with minimal effort. The lack of motivation and task eversion also stems from these ADHD tendencies; my mind becomes sidetracked very easily. I often will begin one task, then think of another task, begin that one and 5 others, and then finally remember to circle back around and complete the first task that I initially started. When I was at an unhealthy place in my life and using substances to cope with trauma, I really struggled with immediately gratifying impulses and prioritizing the aspects of my life that truly mattered. I am very grateful to be healthy and for the opportunity to better handle my procrastination, versus allowing it to win!
ReplyDeleteI think that I most agree with the fear of failure or perfectionism one, I tend to want to be able to dedicate x amount of hours a week towards school, but with young children and a busy life right now, I am not able to cut out that time in my week to sit down and study or get all As like I did in high school. I feel like I procrastinate because im waiting for the opportunity that I can dedicate my 100% attention on school and unfortunately I just don't have that, then the procrastination leads me to having to quickly finish assignments at the last minute to make the due dates and not scoring what I would have liked to on the assignments. its a vicious cycle.
ReplyDeleteExtra Credit 2025
ReplyDeleteProcrastination is dream killer it reminds me of flight and fight mode achieve something doing it out of nervous and ego . throughout my life I procrastinate on a lot things in life such as Business, love. Life but eventually will take time . to avid procrasatination breaking down task and planner with alarm clock.
My issue has been fear of failure. I desire so much to just do well in life, at school, and by my family. My first attempt at going to college was after high school. I made the dean's list and caught on very well in my medical assistant classes. But when it was time to get outside of school, I felt like I wasn't going to be any good at it. I struggled with moving forward for some time. Even went to work in a warehouse which wasn't for me at all. I knew if I wanted to go any further with nursing the classes were going to get harder than what I completed before. I come down so hard on myself and worry about not being able to keep up with others. But each time I made an attempt to get back in school, I allowed other situations in my life to become a distraction. I always felt like I wasn't mentally strong to handle things that came way. I ran from what was difficult. I even pulled away form family functions because it seemed that everyone wanted to talk about college or different experiences they had. I felt beneath them because I did not have the educational level they have. If I attended, I made sure I kept myself busy with cleaning up or fixing plates to avoid the "when are you going back to school" question. When I thought I was over it, its times now I feel fear slips in and has a chock hold on me and I can't get anything done. I start worrying about how long it will take for me to finish or will I be able to finish.
ReplyDeleteProcrastination is something i struggle with daily and apart of that is due to my anxiety on how things will turn out or (perfectionism). This has gotten me behind on so many things as well as missing out on things such as events or certain opportunities. Some psychological impacts that procrastination can have are feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and poor mental health.
ReplyDeleteSome of the main procrastination issues I struggle with are lack of motivation, task aversion, and impulsivity. I have a medical diagnoses of ADHD and it is very hard to stay on task because I get distracted so easily or think about other tasks I have to do and I have the tendency to keep switching tasks. I feel like I'm getting a lot done but in reality I never finish any of the tasks. Also lack of motivation which my medication helps not only to complete tasks but gives me a boost of energy and an urge to do things.
ReplyDeleteI suffer serve anxiety. My mind is always all over the place when it comes to completing task. This causes me to procrastinate and think that I have time. I tend to focus every task that I must complete instead of completing them one by one. Because my mind is racing with so many things, it's very easy for me to lose focus. This then causes me to lack motivation in completing anything. Lately, I have been following a strict agenda which has allowed my brain to find some rest. But honestly, I am not sure if that's helping or hurting me. All it takes is for one thing to happen outside of what I have planned and my entire day is a wreck.
ReplyDeleteLack of motivation and task aversion has become a big issue with me as of late. It has gotten so bad that I had even decided that I needed more help than just me and family. I didn't realize that I was still having issues with mourning a loved one and that this was causing me to become stagnate and procrastinate in everything that I was doing from home, work, and school. I had gotten to the point where I didn't want to go out, talk to anyone, and I even begin to feel like I was just feeling angry all the time. I am grateful that I decided to get the help that I needed and that I am beginning to feel more like my self and not procrastinating on everything and avoiding tasks that need to be fulfilled.
ReplyDeleteProcrastination can have a serious psychological impact, often leading to increased stress, anxiety, and feelings of guilt or low self-worth. I can definitely relate to some of these, especially the fear of failure and perfectionism. Sometimes I put things off because I want everything to be perfect, and if I’m not confident it will turn out that way, I avoid starting altogether. It becomes a cycle of pressure and avoidance that just builds over time.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely a procrastinator. I feel like a little of all three of these reasons are reasons I procrastinate. Motivation and task aversion I feel are the primary reason. I feel like I do better with projects or anything when I have a deadline and I feel a little rushed. I also have difficulty prioritizing tasks and put off things till the last minute.
ReplyDeleteI have struggled with procrastination for years, especially since I was diagnosed with ADHD back in middle school. The area I have had the most difficulty with has been school work. I think a lot of people assume procrastination means laziness, but for me it means being overwhelmed. I get in kind of a cycle where I know I have to do something, but getting started feels like a huge mental hurdle. Being an online college student for the first time has made this even harder because I am now fully responsible for keeping myself on track without much external accountability. Out of the psychological impacts listed, impulsivity and self-regulation issues definitely hit home.
ReplyDeleteI also experience a lot of task aversion, especially when there's an assignment that I find either boring or intimidating. Ironically, it doesn't feel like a break for me when I procrastinate but more so like an exhausting cycle. I spend more time worrying and stressing about the work I’m avoiding than it would probably take to just do it.The closer I get to the deadline, the more stressed I get, which just makes it harder to think clearly or stay focused. I have tried a few different strategies to manage it. Making calendars or to-do lists can overwhelm me seeing everything I need to do, so I try to break it down.The most effective thing for me so far has been studying with someone else. Having a study buddy creates structure and helps me stay grounded, especially when my brain wants to jump to a hundred other things. I’m still figuring it out, but learning to manage procrastination has definitely forced me to understand myself better (especially throughout this school year).
Procrastination can really mess with your mind. It can make you feel stressed, guilty, or even disappointed in yourself. The more you put things off, the more overwhelmed you feel, which just makes it harder to get started. **Impulsivity?** Definitely. I’ll say I’ll start in 5 minutes… then suddenly I’m watching videos for an hour.
ReplyDeleteSince starting my college career again I've been procrastinating like crazy, and I have some ideas as to why but I'm not too certain on the root cause. I remember being a freshman in 2019 and I really was on top of all of my work, so now I wonder I'm being to so harmful towards my own work ethic. Maybe I just like the thrill of getting my work done at the very last second or I try to excuse not doing it sooner than it needs to be with my job. Even though I manage to get the work done the stress I put myself through every week just isn't worth it.
ReplyDeleteWhen I began my college courses a year ago, I often procrastinated until the last minute to study for tests or submit assignments. I would think to myself, "I still have 4 full days to prepare," then it would be 3 days, then 2, and so on. I found it comforting to believe that I had plenty of time and didn’t need to worry just yet.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I soon realized that if I kept this up, my grades would take a hit. So, I adopted a new approach: studying or working on assignments in small increments. I do this in the mornings, during work breaks, or whenever I find some free time. This method has really helped me stay on top of things and remember more of what I learn.
I have fought procrastination for my entire life. I often avoid tasks because I feel like they must be performed perfectly. I also avoid tasks that I don’t like or that are too overwhelming. Procrastination adds a lot of stress to my life and induces panic in some instances. I have learned to manage it over the years through my self-talk. I tell myself to start small, doing something is better than nothing, and I try not to overthink. I also try to prioritize tasks in a different way. I would like to figure out why I behave this way. Is this a learned behavior, a personality trait, or symptom of some other mental disorder?
ReplyDeleteAlmost two years ago, I had to drop out of college because I was struggling just to keep my head above water. Later on, I saw a psychiatrist and was officially diagnosed with ADHD. Since then, I’ve realized that a lot of what I was dealing with, like the fear of failure and executive dysfunction, was directly tied to that. Even this extra credit assignment is something I’ve been procrastinating on.
ReplyDeleteProcrastination has had a real psychological impact on me. It’s not just about putting things off; it often leads to guilt, shame, and feeling like I’m lazy or not capable, even though I know that’s not true. For example, I’ll avoid starting an assignment for days, and then beat myself up for not doing it sooner, which just makes it even harder to begin. It’s a cycle that really wears on your confidence and mental health over time.
I think fear of failure is definitely a major factor in my own procrastination. I tend to avoid projects if I don't feel very confident about being able to do them perfectly. This leads to a lot of frustrating and very intense periods of work to try to create the product I want to but under a time crunch.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this because sometimes we fail more for not trying than trying , sometimes we have a failure mentality and we give up without trying. I am trying to punch myself into believing that no matter what the results are I am my own motivation.
ReplyDeleteSince a child, I've been a high achiever academically without studying. That's made me a perfectionist, seeking out those same grades when I didn't have to study.
ReplyDeleteRobert: Procrastination often comes from fear of failure, task aversion, or impulsivity—not laziness. For me, it’s usually avoiding boring or stressful tasks and getting distracted easily. I know what needs to be done, and I even understand why I delay, but starting is the hardest part.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that I've always been a procrastinator. It really came along around middle and high school and it carried over into college. I will wait till the very last minute to do anything that was schoolwork related whether it was a paper or a simple homework assignment. I don't know when that change happened or what clicked in my brain to make me become this way. I think a lot of the stems from fear of failing and a little bit of lack of motivation, depending on the task at hand.
ReplyDeleteI deal with procrastination a lot. When I know an assignment is due I usually tell myself "ok, we will do it tomorrow or the next day " . Eventually days go by and I keep telling myself that and I'll end up doing the assignment of the day that's its due. I'm trying my best to do better and discipline myself better when it comes to procrastination.
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