Understanding Procrastination in Students

Procrastination is a common feeling most students have. After a long day of studying, learning, and socializing, it’s often easier to put off our next task to find time for ourselves to relax. However, long-term procrastination leads to sleep deprivation, compromised immune function, and higher cortisol levels. Long-term procrastination is also linked to a higher risk of chronic stress and overall poor mental health. Procrastination is defined as the act of delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant or boring. Contrary to what most believe, procrastination is not being “lazy.” Recent studies show that procrastination is due to a failure of self-regulation and emotional regulation. Laziness is defined as a lack of motivation or investment in a task. Someone who is being lazy not only wants to put off a task, but wants to never do it at all. They may feel completely fine avoiding the task, while someone who is procrastinating will feel terrible. According to a study from the National Institutes of Health, almost 80% of adolescents procrastinate at some point of their life. How can students realistically reduce their levels of procrastination? Just start the task. Remove distractions from your workplace, set a 15 minute timer, and work. Once the time is up, you can evaluate if you want to stop working, or continue on with your momentum. 15 minutes of work time is better than no work time at all. Know that you are not being lazy. Don’t be hard on yourself for having an overwhelming amount of items to complete. Procrastination is caused by anxiety, fear of a negative outcome, or resentment. Not due to a product of your “laziness”. Increase your motivation. Often, emotions and negative thoughts get in the way of accomplishing what needs to be done. Try to think of a positive outcome of your completed item. Promise yourself a reward to find meaning in items you tend to avoid. If you struggle with the discipline to do this on your own, ask someone you trust to help motivate you. It is possible to overcome procrastination. Intentionality with the way a student approaches work can help decrease the amount of procrastination that comes with it.

Stop Putting It off: A Guide to Understanding Procrastination. 4 June 2026, deconstructingstigma.org/guides/procrastination.