Procrastination—we all are victims of it. Whether it be in starting to work out, eating healthier, or making an academic comeback. We always find ourselves finding that motivation to START, but we never do.

procrastination is our enemy in a friend’s disguise, it keeps us in our comfort zone which feels like it is keeping us safe, but is it? Let’s find out in this very article.

What do you mean by procrastination?

The dictionary says “It is an act of unnecessary delaying or postponing your work knowing the delay can hamper you”.

If you think you are the only one in your circle who loves the last-minute tasks, trust me you are not! A survey among college students summarized around 75% of students are habitual procrastinators. Now, that explains why most of the assignments land on my professor’s desk at 11:59 pm.

Why is procrastination so common?

Well, because it’s easy to run away from tasks, to ignore the mess in your room (or life), rather than tackle it. I mean watching another episode of love island is much more relaxing than that essay due at 12.

procrastinating is a very common problem, almost everyone does it. American Psychological Association says around 20% of people are chronic procrastinators. So, why is it so addictive? Following are some reasons why, one of them can even be a reality check you need.

• You overestimate yourself, you think you will do it with the deadline but that is you pushing your problem away.
• It feels safe, starting early overwhelms you so the later you start the less to feel stressed about.
• It boosts your ego, completing 10 hours worth of work in 2 hours is a hats off achievement. The brain loves that boost, it is like winning a car race.
• You cannot face hard stuff, i mean , admit it. Why would you want to work on that trigo assignment knowing the discomfort it provides you with.
• You have a fear of failing, our brain stops us from moving forward if it knows the road ahead might break any moment. Your fear of not being good enough at something, not knowing how to start, not trusting your self can trigger procrastination.
• You are a perfectionist, you want to make sure you know 100% about the task you have to do before doing it. You are unable to accept you can be a beginner at a lot of things in life.
• You are deadline driven, you wait till the last moment to start your task. The survival mode kicks in and the big adrenaline rush pumps up your “best” work for you.

phew, writing this actually made me feel little guilty! guess no one is safe from procrastination.

Discussing effects of procrastination

Some common questions we get asked is ,

” if I still manage to get my work done while procrastinating, then why is it wrong?“

“Why do i feel guilty after procrastinating?“

“Does over procrastination effect mental health?“

The answer is , procrastination achievements can feel great for a moment, but as it passes the guilt arrives. Over doing anything has a negative effect, and this includes over procrastinating. Let’s discuss the effects

1. Opportunities might get taken away

Taking too long to do a task, having self-esteem issues, and not pushing yourself enough can hamper your life. For example, I would like to talk about a recent incident in my life. When I wrapped up my exams and entered my break, I wanted to do something in it, which would keep me busy and learn skills. When I scouted the internet for opportunities, I saw a place where they were offering a traineeship in my field of study.

I discussed with a friend, and he encouraged me to do it. I took too long to decide to give my name in and when i went to register, they had already closed the forms. It was my procrastination and not believing enough in myself, that took that window from me.

2. Time goes without making a rest stop

Time won’t wait for you, if you do your work you succeed, if you don’t you fail. It might feel like we have long time to finish that deadline, but realistically we don’t. You have one life and it’s you who decides what you want to do.

3. It effects your mental health

When you procrastinate, you are not only deciding to do your work later but also agreeing to carry the baggage of stress about it. “I haven’t started my work”, ” How should i start that assignment”, it stresses you too much. When you are over stressed, it affects your focus, mood, overall well-being. Unfinished tasks boosts your anxiety levels, burnout. You might start feeling guilty for the pile of tasks on your plate, which effective drains your mental energy. This cycle can lower your motivation and keep you in a pedestal of burnout.

4. Also your physical health

Not just your mind, but it affects your body negatively too. Constant stress, anxiety from unfinished work can lead to headaches, fatigues, sleep issues. It develops tensions weakening your immune system. When the mind isn’t at rest, so isn’t the body. It can cause irregular eating habits, last-minute work can hamper your sleep schedule.

5. Low self-confidence

Why do you push your work away? The fear of failing grows and you start doubting yourself even more. Missed deadlines, doing things in last minute even if you get it done can make you feel incapable. You might actually start liking the last minute rush, which can hamper your real potential. Once you start copying off assignments, it will be too hard to not choose the easy way out. This holds you back from your own full potential.

Also read: Listening to the body: How to? discussing 5 amazing hearty benefits

Parting words

Procrastination might feel harmless, it might feel like a thrill or a game in the beginning, but it does hold you back. It can add stress, lower your self-confidence, hinder your mental health and steal your opportunities.

Breaking a cycle isn’t easy, breaking an addiction is even worse. Taking tips like managing time better, keeping realistic goals can help you. Next article, will be about how to deal with procrastination and tips to overcome it. Before solving an issue, know your issue, we hope you found out what was the root that held you back!