Understanding Procrastination: Emotions as Key Factors

Procrastination is not merely a result of laziness or poor time management. According to research, emotions play a crucial role in driving procrastination. Negative emotions associated with tasks we find aversive or unpleasant can lead us to delay their completion. Procrastination becomes a way to cope with these negative emotions, providing short-term relief from the stress or anxiety these tasks induce. This pattern of unnecessary voluntary delay, despite knowing the negative consequences, affects a significant portion of the population, especially college students. Chronic procrastination can impact mental and physical health, including higher rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and lower performance and job progression. Overcoming procrastination requires managing emotions effectively and developing self-compassion and forgiveness as strategies to regulate negative emotions and reduce the tendency to procrastinate.