When hearing the word “procrastination,” most minds jump to scrolling social media and rotting in bed. However, it can look like reading a book, taking a nap, cleaning—just about anything, as long as the task in question is still sitting incomplete.
The majority of heavy procrastinators resent the act. Senior Bianca Grann of Freehold feels that the nerves that come from procrastination are almost always worse than simply completing the task that’s being avoided.
“Sometimes, if I procrastinate too long, I get really anxious, even though I did it to myself,” Grann said. “I get a little nervous that I won’t complete my work, though it’s technically all my fault.”
According to Insights Psychology, procrastination isn’t merely a bad habit; it also relates to the roles of the limbic system and prefrontal cortex.
The limbic system is in charge of the brain’s reward system, but it is also responsible for processing pleasure and pain. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for decision-making and impulse control in the brain. When faced with the question of finishing homework or going to the beach, most would choose the latter, choosing to engage in a more enjoyable activity that immediately releases the brain’s reward chemical called dopamine..
Making the decision to procrastinate is both a conscious and unconscious decision, notes sophomore Zachary Benner of Tinton Falls.
“You know it’s gonna be easy for you, you know it’s not gonna end up taking that long, but you just don’t want to do it because you don’t want to start,” Benner said.
Fear and anxiety, difficulty in concentrating or finding a task to be boring are all catalysts of procrastination. Perfectionists and individuals with high anxiety are prone to chronic procrastination; the fear of failure induces added stress and is further heightened by looming deadlines.
Junior Alexandra Kowalski of Bradley Beach believes that the cycle of procrastination can begin with being swamped with work.
“I think that most students struggle when they become overwhelmed,” Kowalski said. “They can’t think straight, can’t comprehend what to do, when to start and kind of start feeling hopeless. [They begin] thinking it’s not worth it to do anything at all.”
Sophomore Tucker Orrico of Manasquan finds that procrastination takes over his life.
“I’m trying to work on it, but you’re never bored. You’re always super scared,” he said.
The feeling of overburden consumes people easily. Getting out of it, on the other hand, takes some effort.
Psychologists suggest methods such as time-chunking or the Pomodoro Technique, both involving a period of study and a break between. Time-chunking breaks one task into smaller pieces, while the Pomodoro Technique encourages users to study for twenty-five minutes followed by a short break.
The feeling of fear procrastination brings is only temporary—it’s only as real as it’s allowed to be. Limit it, don’t let it simmer and don’t fall back into the trap.
