Why does tomorrow sound better than today? The art of delay.

If procrastination only makes things worse, why is it that we cannot help but delay?

What is procrastination?

The Oxford Dictionary definition of 'procrastination' is 'the action of delaying or postponing something'.

Some synonyms include: 'delaying tactics', 'stalling', 'hesitating', and even 'dilly-dallying'.

Procrastination is a habit that most people can relate to and the idea that it is mere laziness is unjustifiable.

In truth, procrastination is not about poor time management, or lack of seriousness, but rather the negative emotions we correlate with tasks that need to be done.

For example, having over-whelming projects causes anxiety and nervosity, leading to many delaying their tasks as deadlines draw closer.

This tendency to put things off often leads to the dreaded statement: “I’ll do it tomorrow.”

This statement may provide a quick relief by taking away the responsibility of having to do a task. Still, it increases stress as the task remains unfinished, continuing the cycle of procrastination.

Why do we delay things?

It is human nature to want comfort.

One of the reasons we delay things is, therefore, ‘present bias’.

This is when tasks that require effort feel less worthwhile than tasks that give us immediate rewards.

Add in feelings of fear, discomfort, and lack of motivation; they become the perfect barrier to actually starting a task.

How can you stop procrastinating?

Stopping a habit is not an easy thing to do since it is integrated into the person you are.

However, slowly starting to procrastinate less will help you in getting tasks done without the added factor of it being last-minute.

To get started, break tasks into smaller steps.

Procrastination often comes from feeling overwhelmed by the size of a project so by setting yourself goals and outlining the structure of a project, you can make it seem much less daunting.

If you’re still struggling to get started, you should reduce any distractions (which is most likely your phone).

Use productivity apps or limit screen time to make sure you get the best use of time, dedicated to your task.

To further tackle procrastination, try avoiding harsh criticisms which can make you spiral into demotivation.

Instead, acknowledge any challenges and know that doing the next step will bring you closer to finishing your task.

So, before procrastinating, ask yourself, “Does tomorrow actually sound better than today?”

The answer will always be no, so take action today, instead of tomorrow.