Why do people procrastinate when there's deadline and something at stake?
By Chowhound
@Chowhound (49)
Canada
February 28, 2009 2:19pm CST
Ok... I know I shouldn't be hanging out here and I should be busy writing my paper for one of the courses I am taking but I just can't bring myself to even think about writing it. I just can't do it.. I keep flicking the TV on, walk around, have coffee... sit in front of the computer but I couldn't bring myself to bring up MS Word and start hammering at my paper. Instead I end up reading people's blogs, looking at my favourite shoe website, googling and stuff then eureka! I found myLot.
Anyway, procrastination seems to be a very common problem for everybody. It's not just a student's disease. Anybody who has to somehow face timelines, deadlines and anything that has time and consequence attached to a particular task that needed to be done have experienced procrastination in one way or another. For example, you know you need to review and start reading for a major exam, then as you're about to grab your book and your notes, you feel like you have to text a friend, check your e-mail, grab a drink, then you pick up the remote and you start flicking through the channels. The whole time you're performing one of these activities, there's that nagging feeling at the back of your head telling you to go and start reading for your friggin' exam. Take me for example. I should be writing my paper right now, but I just can't!!
Why do we do this? Why can't we just get on with it and get it over with?
4 responses
@alexs90210 (49)
• United States
1 Mar 09
I am sixteen and i have the same problem as you my friend. I think that a person has to reach a certain level of maturity to be able to be able to do what needs to be accomplished. Im not saying that your immature dont get me wrong, i think that it a certain kind of maturity. Also i think that you have to want to get something out of the situation to apply yourself to it. I think the best thing that you can do is to look for something that you want to get out of the assignment, whether it be a certain type of experience or something else.
@killer1390 (49)
• Canada
28 Feb 09
It's human nature! Lol, that's a very long answer for such a short question isn't it?
@eden32 (3973)
• United States
28 Feb 09
I find that I procrastinate the worst when I don't find the assignment challenging. I know I can whip up X in Y time without any effort, so I end up putting it off until I only have Y time left. It's almost like that creates the challenge I want. When I have a difficult assignment I get right on it.
@okkidokitokki (1736)
• United States
28 Feb 09
I completely understand. The only thing that I can think of is that this is alot more interesting than either of the papers that need to be written, yours or mine. 