Why Students Procrastinate by Janis Tanaya Mar

 Have you ever wondered why we procrastinate so much? We all procrastinate from time to time; however, when we develop a habit of putting off necessary actions, even when faced with negative consequences, procrastination can negatively impact our well-being. Procrastination is connected to negative functioning and risks to mental health. People who procrastinate tend to have high levels of anxiety as well as poor impulse control.

Procrastination is universal and happens to all humans, not just students. It can be office workers, adults, and more. It is part of basic human nature. We also have to be more aware that procrastination can affect your health, so anyone can risk having high levels of anxiety. Therefore, it is best to try to know how to manage our stress and procrastination, a bad habit.

And of course, as a student and a human, sometimes I also procrastinate, and I'm trying my best to overcome it personally and not just do something that I’m not supposed to do and do it later. Of course, we all procrastinate from time to time, as I said earlier.

But my mom always says this, and my close friends have already heard this quote so many times they might feel annoyed, hehe. My mom always says:

“There are no Smart or Stupid people; there are only Diligent and Lazy people.”

Procrastination often gets mistaken for laziness, but they are not always the same thing. Many students procrastinate not because they don’t want to succeed, but maybe because they feel overwhelmed, anxious, or afraid of making mistakes.

For example, a student feels afraid of making a mistake on a subject that she lacks, so she does her homework later on before the deadline. Or maybe it can be just laziness or carelessness, which is not good.

Impulse Control

Impulse Control: The Ability To Pause And Think Before Acting, Speaking, Or Reacting To Emotions

Procrastination is even linked to physical illness. People who procrastinate experience more stress and tend to delay treatments, which can create a cycle of poor health due to just putting things off.

It will be easier if you have done it earlier because your body will always remember things, and sometimes your body might not feel at ease every time you're not done with something; it’s like “unfinished business.”

Even though procrastination results in more stress in the long term, people may delay action with the idea that they will feel better in the short term. Studies consistently show that our stress levels are higher as a result of procrastination, though.

There are some reasons why you may procrastinate.

The Reasons Why You May Procrastinate

Feeling bored

It makes sense that if you perceive an activity as boring or unpleasant, you’re far more likely to put it off until later.

Lack of Belief in Your Abilities

Another reason you may procrastinate? You lack faith in your abilities. Believing that you can carry out tasks is essential to functioning. If your sense of self-efficacy is low, you’re less likely to begin a task or to see it through.

Fear and Anxiety

You may procrastinate out of fear. For example, you might delay essential medical tests because you’re afraid of a diagnosis. The more anxiety we experience about a task, the more likely we’ll put it off until later.

Not only does your stress level increase when you do this, but there’s also a risk to physical health with an undetected, untreated illness.

From the website Deconstructing Stigma, social anxiety can also play a role; the fear of being judged or embarrassed can cause you to put off scheduling meetings or completing projects.

Perfectionism

Now, this is a topic that is also connected to procrastination that not only students can relate to but also adults, workers, and more, like a bigger audience.

Which is “Perfectionism.”

Oh my god, I have got to say I’m still a perfectionist to this day, but I know that nothing is perfect.

Perfectionism can play a role in procrastination. People may delay tasks they believe they won’t perform well in or that they’ll fail altogether.

The Solution

Now, what is the solution for this? Here are the things I have gotten from healthclevelandclinic.com.

First: Adopt a Positive Mindset

“Ask yourself why you’re putting something off.”

“Is the task overwhelming? Is it tied to perfectionism, low motivation, stress, or depression? Or are you judging yourself and labeling yourself as lazy?”

Self-criticism often worsens procrastination.

“The guilt and shame that come with procrastination can affect your self-esteem. If you learn to be gentler and more patient with yourself, and focus on small, realistic steps, you can empower yourself.”

Break Down Tasks

If you divide things up into smaller, more manageable tasks, it can help reduce the overwhelming feeling, particularly if you have depression or emotional fatigue (I hope not).

I have some recommendations for some apps that I use for scheduling and for my to-do list. It’s called Notion (NOTE: Not sponsored by Notion).

There is everything, like we can make a to-do list set up by the app and calendar and make it cute. I sometimes put some banners for my to-do list or other things.

And it’s not only for students! It can also be for office workers, students, parents, and even teachers from my school might also be using Notion.

It’s a very good app because it already has templates in the app for you to just click. For example, they have the Life, Work, and School options, so it can be used for everyone.

Once you click on one of the options, it automatically gives you the templates based on the one you click.

For example, I’m a student. Once I click, they have templates such as:

• Weekly planner

• Study planner

• Homework and assignments hub

• And more

I’m a very Type A person, so it’s perfect if you're a Type A for sure! But for those who aren't, feel free to try it—you might like it in the end.

And all of these things are free right now!

This feels like a promotion now, hehehe.

So yes, that was my short article on why students procrastinate! I hope you can learn something from it.

And remember, procrastination is something we all experience, but it does not have to control us. Sometimes, all it takes is one small step to get us started. After all, progress is always better than waiting for the perfect moment.

And I’m going to say the quote my mom says again as a reminder:

“There are no Smart or Stupid people; there are only Diligent and Lazy people.”

So don’t make procrastination a habit, buddy.

That’s all for now. Thank you!!

About the Writer

Name: Janis Tanaya Mar

Instagram: @janzschacc_

Hello curious readers!!🧾 My name Janis Tanaya Mar but you can just call me Janis, im currently a Junior High School student in my 2️⃣ year going to my 3️⃣ year in a few months. This is my first time ever publishing a short article on instagram!! 📩 (Thanks to Phantom Media!). The reason i made this article is because it's one of favorite hobby which is writing, not just like articles but also handwritten letters 📃, journalling and much more <3 i hope my article can make readers have a better understanding about why do we usuall procastonate alot? The problems, and solutions. Hopee you enjoyy <33