Procrastination - Why do we do it?

[Alexander Kirby]

Procrastination eh? We all do it from time to time. Some of us do it more than others, but we've all been there: No matter how much we need to do something we just... don't. Heck, I have an important piece of physics course work due in tomorrow, but no, here I am.

It's not that I don't want to do it, I enjoy it very much. I'm not getting bored from it, it's keeping my mind nice and busy. But some part of my subconscious screams "NO, ANYTHING! ANYTHING SO LONG AS YOU DON'T DO WHAT YOU ACTUALLY NEED TO DO!!!!" That part of me would rather have me bored out of my wits than actually do something productive

There I am happily typing away, but then suddenly I realise that I'm standing in another room looking out of the window at nothing in particular. Going back to my computer I see that youtube had opened itself up. Looking at the clock I notice that 40 minutes has past. I don't even remember what I was watching. I'll get it done eventually, but it won't be to my full ability, and I only have myself to blame for that.

Any theories on why we do it, any stories to tell? Do you have a way that you combat procrastination?

 

[IceForce]

Because distractions. At least, that's why I procrastinate.

I always seem to get distracted by other things (more interesting things).

 

[Artina89]

I just think that we can be easily distracted, especially at the weekend (or at least that was what it was like in my case). The way I combated procrastination when I was at university was to either form a study group so we could all do our coursework or get some studying done for exams. When I was at home from university or my friends were unavailable, I would go to the library, as I find myself more motivated to get on with the task at hand if I am surrounded by people who are working. Nowadays, I would much rather just get the job I have to do finished with so I can browse here, youtube and Facebook guilt-free.

 

[Colour Scientist]

I do it because chatting on an internet forum or watching an episode of some show is way more interesting than analysing this silly case study.

 

[SamuraiFromHell]

It's simple - fear of failure. Doing something involving effort has a chance of feeling weak or dumb at some point and not living up to expectations, etc. We have to realise that and see the consequences of not getting stuff done. Sometimes the stuff really isn't that important.

 

[RJ 17]

Theories on why we procrastinate? Eh, I'll tell you later...

hehehe, joking aside...

My little saying for explaining procrastination goes as such: "I'm way too busy doing nothing to get any actual work done." What that means is that when you're procrastinating about something, it's generally something you don't want to do. Be it your homework, going to the government to get a new driver's license, doing your chores, etc. As I said, those are things you don't want to do, but rather you have to do them. On the other hand, life is full of fun little activities that you DO want to do, such as play videogames, mess around on the internet, watch a movie, go out with friends, etc.

So it's "want" vs "do not want", and the "want" normally wins out.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

I read an interesting hypothesis on the Internet someplace that it's because we think we're too good or too smart to have to space work out. Not sure of the background of the person who said it, I don't think they were a psychiatrist or had a social science degree, but I suspect they knew a little more than that. School teacher, maybe?

Anyway, the thought went that we believe we are too good or too smart to have to space work out. We believe we are capable enough of cramming it at the last minute because we are capable of doing it at the last minute. Spacing it out, to us, is struggling to get everything done and completed and being unable to see the final product.

Also it's rewarding the pleasures of the present because we have the option. Work is boring or painful, and when given a choice of enjoying now and suffering later or suffering now and enjoying later, most people are going to choose enjoying right now.

It's not because of motivation or anything, that's a pretty lackluster excuse that no one expects. It's because we're pretty arrogant and probably are too narcissistic to change it.

So the hypothesis went. I like to believe in it because it challenges you to be something more than an arrogant, irresponsible person.

But can you guess what I'm doing right now?

 

[thesilentman]

I'm going with the fact that somewhere inside our brains, we're too high and mighty of ourselves. We feel superior up till reality hits us and BAM! We're made scrambling for our lives. *Sigh*, I wish I could help myself get rid of this problem myself... x-D

 

[MCerberus]

Your brain is hardwired to prefer instant reward to long-term gain.
And riiiiight now you don't want to be writing that paper.

 

[-Ezio-]

because if i wait til the last minute to do something i will be older and therefore wiser.

that's my chosen excuse anyway.

 

[his1nightmare]

It's easy, that's all to it.

 

[barbzilla]

Hard work and dedication pays off in the future, procrastination pays off right now. It is a case of instant gratification vs life enhancement, and as we have seen, this is the age of instant gratification.

 

[Relish in Chaos]

For me, it's because I just have difficulty projecting my thoughts onto paper, which makes writing essays and formulating projects all the more of a problem, when I'd rather just be...well, doing this. Being on the laptop, writing up stuff for things that's easy (like a fictional character's biography), or watching videos without the pressure of thinking about what's going to happen in the future.