The Pat Kenny Show Why do we procrastinate?
Jul 22, 2025
Stephanie Regan, a clinical psychotherapist and co-host of the Tough Love podcast, dives into the complexities of procrastination. She reveals it's not just laziness; emotional triggers play a significant role. The clash between immediate gratification and long-term goals often fuels this behavior. Regan discusses how perfectionism and fear of failure can hold us back, while also highlighting practical strategies like setting deadlines and breaking tasks into smaller steps. She emphasizes the power of choice in overcoming procrastination’s emotional toll.
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Procrastination Is Emotion Management
- Procrastination is not about laziness but about managing uncomfortable emotions linked with a task.
- People avoid the negative feelings rather than the task itself when procrastinating.
Temporal Discounting Explained
- Our brains prioritize short-term comfort over long-term rewards instinctively.
- This conflict between present and future selves is called temporal discounting and drives procrastination.
Perfectionism Amplifies Procrastination
- Perfectionism worsens procrastination due to fear of imperfect results and needing ample time.
- Early fears and judgments from parental or workplace environments feed delaying behaviors.