When you’re young, time often feels endless. But, time is, in fact, limited. You can’t keep putting off your tasks because eventually, you’re not going to have the time to do them. And that’s the downfall of procrastinators. The act of delaying a task, knowing that consequences are possible, is the struggle of procrastination. You have a test tomorrow or a project due in two days, but you still find yourself scrolling endlessly on TikTok or binge-watching reruns mindlessly. But why would someone do this? Knowing that negative results are almost guaranteed, why do people still procrastinate?
People tend to avoid or postpone certain situations as a form of emotional regulation, rather than time management, according to VeryWellMind. Tasks like doing your essay or homework can be boring and stressful, so in search of instant satisfaction, your mind seeks other tasks. Many would prefer to scroll on their phone or talk to friends to boost their mood rather than brainstorm for an essay or solve math problems. In turn, they delay these feelings of anxiety and consequences until it’s too late.
“Whenever I used to sit and work on a project, I would get really bored after a while, and my mind would instinctively get distracted. Before I knew it, I would be doing something else off-topic, like scrolling through my phone,” said Pranav Srinivasan ‘27.
Even though it may not seem like it, procrastinators care about doing well and getting good grades. Procrastinators want to perfect whatever assignment they’re doing, and are sometimes even scared to mess up. Because of this, they have a negative feeling associated with the assignment, feeling anxiety about even starting. This phenomenon is known as “perfectionist paralysis,” according to Healthline.
In most cases, the student intends to complete the assignment, but is internally deterred from doing so. For example, if a big project is due in one week, many students tend to put it off, telling themselves they have plenty of time. They overestimate the time actually available and underestimate how long the assignment actually takes. Along with these assumptions, many students assure themselves that they need to be in a certain mood to work on a specific assignment, leading them to put it off until they have that particular feeling. This feeling often never comes.
“I used to get big projects due in a few weeks, and not worry about it. That was my mistake. I would only start worrying about it a few days before the due date, and I would often underestimate the time needed to finish the assignment,” said Luv Patel ‘28.
Although procrastination may seem like an insurmountable obstacle, there are ways to overcome the habit. Psychologists on VeryWellMind suggest eliminating distractions from the study environment to reduce the chance of getting off-task while working. Additionally, professionals recommend creating a to-do list to stay on top of tasks and maintain your focus. Rewarding yourself and celebrating successes when you complete a task are productive habits for motivation and morale, leading to a more positive mindset towards work. Edison students also have their own strategies for dealing with procrastination.
“Procrastination has always been a struggle for me, but one way I’ve counteracted it is by splitting up bigger problems into smaller but attainable goals,” said Dhruv Patel ‘28. “ I complete these goals in intervals, and when I finish, I congratulate myself.”
Procrastination isn’t an insignificant excuse for delaying tasks, but rather a coping mechanism that relieves someone of the pain of boredom, stress, and imperfection. While seemingly providing an escape from our problems temporarily, procrastination actually feeds into our anxiety. In other words, procrastination stems from fear. And, while some don’t procrastinate on many tasks, everyone has fears, whether a bold risk they’re afraid to take or an important choice they’re unable to make. Whether it be joining an extracurricular, starting a business, or meeting new people, addressing your anxieties now is better than pushing them off for later.
So, what have you been procrastinating?
