Procrastination: Why Do We Keep Delaying Things We Actually Want to Do?
By Gunja Maurya (Therapist)
Have you ever had something important to do, knew that you needed to finish it, but still kept putting it off? You tell yourself, “I’ll do it in a little while,” and that little while slowly turns into hours or even days. This is what we call procrastination.
Many people think procrastination simply means being lazy. But that is not always the case. Sometimes, we delay things because of stress, anxiety, fear of failure, perfectionism, or simply because the task feels too overwhelming.
When a task seems difficult or too big, our mind naturally looks for something easier and more comfortable. We may start checking our phone, scrolling through social media, watching videos, or doing small things that give us an immediate sense of comfort. For a moment, we feel relaxed. But once we remember the unfinished work, the stress and guilt often come back.
Perfectionism can also make us delay things. Sometimes we think, “I’ll start when I have enough time to do it perfectly.” Because we are waiting for the perfect time or the perfect mood, we never actually begin.
Another reason we procrastinate is that we look at the whole task at once. For example, thinking, “I have to complete this entire report” can feel overwhelming. Instead, we can make it smaller by telling ourselves, “I’ll just spend 15 minutes writing the introduction.” A small beginning can make the task feel much more manageable.
So, the next time you find yourself delaying something, instead of immediately calling yourself lazy, ask yourself: “Why am I avoiding this?”
Is the task difficult? Are you afraid of making a mistake? Are you trying to make everything perfect? Or are you simply feeling mentally tired?
Sometimes, procrastination is not really about a lack of willingness to work. It can be about avoiding the uncomfortable feelings connected to the task.
Understanding the reason behind the delay can help us deal with it differently. We do not always need to finish everything at once. Sometimes, we just need to take the first small step.
