Written by: Shokran Sameh
Design by: Alaa Ibrahim
Procrastination is a story as vintage as time. The Greek philosopher, Aristotle, described it as ‘the state of acting against one’s better judgment’ using the word “Akrasia”, also meaning “weakness of will”.
A common misconception is that procrastination is the product of lazy behavior, but that could not be further from the truth. In light of recent research, procrastination has been linked with our biology, where a duel takes place between our limbic system and prefrontal cortex, paving the way for a cycle of negative feelings and struggle.
The limbic system (mainly automatic) is responsible for our emotional and behavioral responses. The prefrontal cortex, on the other hand, is controlled by stimuli and is responsible for planning and decision-making.
Due to unpleasant feelings generated by the pressure of a daunting and hard task (such as being ready for an exam) our limbic system is compelled to flee by selecting an easier and more rewarding task (such as browsing social media) in order to gain immediate gratification. This is a phenomenon in behavioral psychology known as “time inconsistency”, explaining how the human brain is more inclined towards immediate reward rather than future rewards.
Although procrastination is created to keep away from bad emotions like self-doubt, it generates more of them, leading to an endless cycle of procrastination and guilt.
Even though we are usually aware of what awaits, procrastination reels us in regardless. This is due to ‘Present bias’. It is a human tendency to follow short-term tasks before long-term ones because, on a neural level, our future selves are perceived as strangers. Therefore, the consequences of procrastination, although fully apparent to us, are perceived as someone else’s problem.
Despite this bloody battle, procrastination can be overcome through building mental strength and self-discipline ,through being mindful and acknowledging the vulnerability of our minds.
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