Why Do We Procrastinate So Much?

Some of the reasons why we don’t do what we’re supposed to do

Sergio Guardiola Herrador
3 min readMar 19, 2023
Photo by Nubelson Fernandes on Unsplash

Procrastination is a common behaviour that affects many people in their daily lives. It is the act of delaying or postponing a task or activity that needs to be done, even though we know it is important or necessary. Although procrastination is often seen as a negative behaviour, it is a natural tendency that can be managed and overcome.

These are some of the reasons why we procrastinate:

1. Fear of failure

One reason why people procrastinate is the fear of failure. When we are faced with a task that we perceive to be difficult or challenging, we may fear that we will not be able to complete it successfully. This fear can cause us to delay starting the task or to avoid it altogether. Additionally, if we have a history of failure in similar tasks, we may be more likely to procrastinate in the future.

2. Lack of motivation

Another reason for procrastination is the lack of motivation. If a task does not align with our values or goals, we may not feel motivated to complete it. In these situations, we may delay starting the task until we feel more motivated or until the consequences of not completing the task become more significant.

3. Distractions

Additionally, distractions can also contribute to procrastination. With the rise of technology and social media, it has become increasingly easy to distract ourselves from the task at hand. We may find ourselves spending hours scrolling through social media or watching videos instead of working on important tasks.

4. Perfectionism

Perfectionism can also be a factor in procrastination. If we hold ourselves to impossibly high standards, we may delay starting a task because we fear that we will not be able to meet those standards. This can lead to a cycle of procrastination and self-criticism, which can be difficult to break.

5. Poor time management

Procrastination can also be a result of poor time management skills. If we do not have a clear plan or schedule for completing tasks, we may feel overwhelmed or unsure of where to start. This can lead to procrastination as we delay starting the task until we have a better sense of how to approach it.

In conclusion, procrastination is a complex behaviour that can be caused by a variety of factors. But it’s important to be self-aware of the reasons why we’re not doing what we’re supposed to do and implement solutions to fix it. It’s better to do it gradually than trying to go from not doing anything at all to being busy the whole day, in the same way that we wouldn’t try to become professional athletes in a few days. Everything takes time and good habits need to be built every day.

👉 Find out more about me here: https://sergioguardiola.net 🔥

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Sergio Guardiola Herrador
Sergio Guardiola Herrador

Written by Sergio Guardiola Herrador

I write articles in English and Spanish, mostly about programming, technology, travel, money, investing. You can find me here: https://sergioguardiola.net

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