Procrastination. It’s a topic that has always interested me, mainly because I can never understand why I do it… repeatedly. A wise man, who goes by the name of Charles Dickens, once said, “My advice is never do tomorrow what you can do today. Procrastination is the thief of time”. We’ve all heard many quotes relating procrastination before, and sometimes the influence this has on our day to day life is significant. But then why is it only temporary?
The mere thought that we have something we ought to be doing is antagonising. You may find it comforting to know that there is some kind of science involved in procrastinating. Some researchers from the University of Colorado suggested there may be a parallel between procrastinating and being an impulsive character i.e. some people feel more inclined to ‘take the bait’ when a new temptation is displayed to them than others. Likewise, some people are less easily distracted by ‘short-term luxuries’, and do not choose to put off their long term goals in expense.
Furthermore, there is a compound that is present in the body called dopamine. The short term boost that is given to us, when we partake in activities we enjoy, is known to be a result of a small dosage of dopamine coursing through the brain. It feels as though you’re rewarding yourself, and you receive that ‘feel good’ sensation. In fact, scientists Mitchell Moffit and Gregory Brown said, “Every time something enjoyable happens, you get a dose of dopamine, which modifies the neurons in your brain, making you more likely to repeat this behaviour.”
In addition, procrastination can be blamed in some respects by other psychological theories, including the suggestion that procrastination is the breakdown of your own self-control. Ultimately, if you wanted to get that assignment done before the deadline, or to get a head start in your studies, you would, wouldn’t you? You see various articles online about “How to stop procrastinating – FOR GOOD THIS TIME” and similar titles, yet none of them have solved the problem. At the end of the day, motivation and drive is a necessity, but it’s you that has to make the decision to prioritise what you want to get done.
If I could chip in a word of advice, from the many you’ve probably encountered before, I would say it’s all down to you. If you want to stop procrastinating enough, don’t procrastinate enough times that it becomes part of your routine to do the work you need to do first. Don’t allow slip ups, because if there is any quote that I could back with sufficient evidence, is the one that writes, “Bad habits die hard”. We all have them, and procrastinating may be yours.
Honestly speaking, I have gathered that the most prominent reason for continued procrastination is the perception that it’s not the end of the world if you do it. If we know that the sanction for procrastinating is not going to be harsh, the motivation to not do it is small, and vice versa. Really, we believe that the two hours cram revising the night later is worth the many hours of enjoyment and splendour beforehand. This is regardless of the fact that we know our relaxation time is much more fulfilling when we have no work due the next day. For all I know, reading this article could be your method of procrastinating (wouldn’t that be ironic!).
So now what? I could end this article with an inspirational message on how you’ll never procrastinate again. But truly, the power is in your hands. Yes, really! So, you tell me – are you going to procrastinate tonight?
