Why do we procrastinate?

[2012 Wont Happen]

I am up right now at 1:08 am. Not because I want to be. I am up because I just did, in one night, my first 6 weeks project for my English class. I had to find five songs to go along with The Catcher in the Rye and justify my choices. This might have been a little difficult, however, I am a musician myself and this should've been, and was come to think of it, almost refuckingdiculously easy. Why then did I put it off for 6 weeks and force myself to stay up all night doing it?

Also, come to think of it, even though I don't want to be awake and, indeed, want nothing more than to be asleep, am I procrastinating sleeping to listen to noFX and post a thread that I suspect might do nothing but incite the wrath of the devout members of the Church of the Escapist Search Bar (I couldn't find anything about it, but I'm sure there has been something).

It's confusing to me, and so I turn this matter over to you Escapians- why do we procrastinate?

 

[Timotei]

Why we procrastinate: laziness.

It's that simple.

 

[AngelSword]

I'll tell you later.

 

[Katherine Kerensky]

I dunno... maybe something to do with cost/reward.
cost= Loss of time that could be used for something else, boredom, etc,
reward= Get it out of the way.

now would you rather have a little enjoyment or be bored out of your skull?

 

[theultimateend]

Why we procrastinate: laziness.

It's that simple.

Well procrastination gives you immediate feedback whereas activities usually don't till they are finished.

That's why it happens.

It is less laziness and more economical.

 

[Superior Mind]

2012 Wont Happen, we are in the same boat my friend. I feel your pain. Let us drink a toast to Red Bull and other caffinated beverages for without them we would surely die.

 

[Fenring]

Well, I just don't want to do this particular thing, in this case edit a paper, this is also why I'm currently here.

 

[bluepilot]

We procrastinate because sometimes work just hurts and we cannot face it for the day.

There is also the extra special spice which makes procrastination so good: we are not suppossed to do it. Doing things we are not meant to are the most fun.

 

[tsb247]

I'm usually posting here when I should be doing other things. It don't procrastinate intentionally... It just kinda happens, but I will explain the rest later.

 

[DrunkWithPower]

I don't want to say...... so lazy.

 

[MorsePacific]

As Mark Twain once said, "Do not put off until tomorrow what can be put off till day-after-tomorrow just as well."

We as people generally only procrastinate unpleasant things, such as homework, chores, etc. I sort of figure it's just a good way to cope with having to do annoying, tedious tasks. By not doing them, of course.

 

[Guitarmasterx7]

This reminds me of an essay I once wrote... ok... am supposed to be writing now... DAMMIT! STOP DISTRACTING ME! It's due tomorrow XD.

 

[The Great Zegrool]

Well, you know, I would tell you, but I'm going to play TF2 right now.

 

[AboveUp]

Why we procrastinate: laziness.

It's that simple.

Well procrastination gives you immediate feedback whereas activities usually don't till they are finished.

That's why it happens.

It is less laziness and more economical.

I was searching for a way to say this but just couldn't find the words. You sir, stole the words from me, leaving me incapable of posting them first.
You deserve a medal for those efforts.

 

[lenin_117]

I'll tell you later.

I was going to say that!

 

[Jackson - Deathclaw]

im not sure coz im doing the same thing
ive got 7 essays due next tuesday and ive only just started one
i cant seem to be ablt to get my brain into gear, i just keep wondering around in my head, or towards the computer

 

[theultimateend]

Why we procrastinate: laziness.

It's that simple.

Well procrastination gives you immediate feedback whereas activities usually don't till they are finished.

That's why it happens.

It is less laziness and more economical.

I was searching for a way to say this but just couldn't find the words. You sir, stole the words from me, leaving me incapable of posting them first.
You deserve a medal for those efforts.

I'm just glad it made sense. I'm running on a few hours of sleep and a full work day. Which is why I'm gonna try and pry myself away from this computer and get some rest.

As Mark Twain once said, "Do not put off until tomorrow what can be put off till day-after-tomorrow just as well."

We as people generally only procrastinate unpleasant things, such as homework, chores, etc. I sort of figure it's just a good way to cope with having to do annoying, tedious tasks. By not doing them, of course.

I procrastinate from some things I really like doing because I find that just lying down or thinking gets me enough pleasure to compensate for the travel and or work involved with doing the other pleasant things.

If something gives enough positive feedback it can replace something else with greater feedback that requires more effort.

The human brain spends years streamlining itself and likely continues to do so until death, there is no time in the organic world to be wasting on iffy possibilities when you have certainties available to you. At least generally speaking .

 

[Sketchy]

Because I don't want to do schoolwork?

That's pretty much it, I freakin' hate school, so I do other stuff to avoid it.

 

[manic_depressive13]

I imagine there are many reasons for procrastinating, depending on what kind of person you are. There is the basic reason of immediate gratification; you would rather do something enjoyable now than something that is unpleasant, and needn't be done until later.

However, I think procrastinators are generally people who have high standards for themselves. They get an assignment which they know is rather stupid, yet they expect themselves to do well. For this reason they don't quite know where to start, and prefer to avoid the subject of their confusion, rather than tackle the problem immediately (because let's face it, trying that hard for school would be kind of sad).

Therefore, the procrastinator relies on a deadline because it is only this pressure which can motivate them. In their desperation to avoid consequences, the procrastinator will write any old crap just to have something to present as the deadline draws dangerously close. Ironically, they often recieve high marks regardless of the fact that they wrote a whole lot of nonsense, effectively lowering their opinion of the school board and the student faculty.

That's how it is with me, anyway =P

 

[crouchingtigress01]

Okay this might be stupid and out there, but maybe procrastination is something our ancient ancestors evolved or developed over time.

I mean, maybe our ancestors evolved procrastination as a way to save energy for some other kind of activities (hunting, gathering, breeding, ect.). However, as it isn't necessary for us to do some of these things to survive, one could suggest that this energy saving ability is getting in the way now and so that's why we procrastinate.