‘Procrastination” is acquired from the Latin verb ‘procrastinare’ meaning to put off until tomorrow, so the active measure of delaying. You can delay anything, whether it be something you enjoy or hate. 

 

People often procrastinate because they’re scared of failing the tasks set out to be completed. When we need to complete a task, we rely on our self-control to help us complete it, which requires motivation. Procrastinating isn’t a flaw or imperfection, instead it is a way of coping with exigent emotions including anxiety, frustration, tiredness, stress, and doubt, which are contrary to motivation. 

 

Often, you end up procrastinating until near the deadline – which is where procrastination differs from laziness. Laziness can be defined as the act of not completing an assignment because you simply cannot be bothered and are unperturbed by the consequences. Whereas procrastination is the active measure of delaying and not being able to motivate oneself where there is still care about the outcome. Similarly, a long deadline or a large time gap between the time the task was given and the time in which the task is due can lead to procrastination because it seems like the reward for the task is a long way away and reduces motivation to complete it. If the self-drive outweighs the demotivation, the work manages to be accomplished in an organised and timely manner. However, if this is reversed, the work is put off until further time pressure is added and the deadline creeps closer. 

 

Students in particular are known to procrastinate their work. From a students perspective, 'sometimes I'm just not in the mood to complete the work, but as long as I hand it in on time its okay' - Anne-Charlotte Campos-Cornell says. This is because the emotions which are felt leading to procrastination include tiredness, fear of failure, indecisiveness, and the feeling of being overwhelmed to name a few, all of which are common in young people’s lives due to how busy they are. 

 

Therefore, procrastination is normal and isn’t something to be ashamed about – everyone does it. The important part is that by the deadline, the person has enough drive to complete the task.