ᗷIOᑎIᑕᗷEᗩᖇᑌK

Procrastination is not laziness. It is a depression response.

Procrastination is an emotion regulation problem. I know this all too well, as I understand it’s something I am prone to do. It’s also frustrating. When I got to spend time with my folks, I realised that what I thought was laziness might not be what I assumed it was.

After a bit of introspection, I decided to head over to Google to learn more about this issue that my inner monologue has been using to beat me for many years.

I soon realised that procrastination often gets a bad rap, commonly misunderstood as a sign of laziness or lack of motivation. However, beneath the surface lies a more nuanced reality where procrastination can be a complex interplay of emotions, behaviours, and cognitive processes. Far from being simply “lazy”, procrastination often masks deeper psychological mechanisms.

Procrastination for me stems from various sources, including fear of failure, perfectionism, or the desire for novelty and stimulation. Understanding these underlying factors is crucial in dispelling the myth that procrastination is solely a product of laziness. 

• One of the primary drivers of my procrastination is the fear of failure or inadequacy. When faced with a daunting task or a challenging goal, I sometimes postpone starting or completing it as a way to avoid potential disappointment or criticism. This fear can create a self-perpetuating cycle where procrastination is a temporary coping mechanism to protect myself. But it doesn’t. 😔
• Similarly, perfectionism contributes to my procrastination by setting impossibly high standards that are difficult to meet. In this scenario, I delay taking action until I feel that I can achieve perfection, leading to a perpetual cycle of procrastination as I strive for an unattainable ideal. My experience is that when I deal with the task at hand, people are surprised that I’m not really pleased with what I’ve created, as it’s way beyond what they had hoped for in terms of quality.
• Moreover, my procrastination can also be a byproduct of my brain’s inherent preference for immediate rewards over long-term benefits—a phenomenon I read is known as “temporal discounting”. Tasks with distant deadlines or uncertain outcomes may get passed over for more immediate gratification, smaller, more interesting tasks.

Contrary to popular belief, procrastination often involves significant mental energy and emotional turmoil. The internal struggle between my desire to avoid unpleasant tasks and the pressure to fulfil my responsibilities can result in heightened stress, anxiety, and guilt—all of which further perpetuate the cycle of procrastination and give my inner voice more ammunition in its ongoing war against my mental health.

What I’ve learned and am trying to implement is that rather than simply admonishing myself for perceived laziness, I will benefit from cultivating self-awareness, developing time management skills, and practising self-compassion.

• Breaking tasks into smaller, more manageable steps can help alleviate the overwhelming nature of procrastination-inducing activities. 

• Set specific, achievable goals and establishing a structured routine can also foster a sense of accountability and momentum, making it easier to overcome procrastination.

• Remember that procrastination as a natural response to complex psychological processes can reduce feelings of guilt and self-blame. 

• Embrace imperfection and allow my self the grace to learn and grow from setbacks.

So, what all the sites say is that procrastination is not synonymous with laziness but rather a complex interplay of psychological, emotional, and cognitive factors, despite what many people, including ex-colleagues, may think!

I can overcome inertia and reclaim agency over my actions by understanding the underlying mechanisms driving my procrastination and implementing effective coping strategies. I only hope this is really true.

So, the next time you find yourself procrastinating, remember—it’s not laziness; it’s an opportunity for growth and self-discovery.