What Is Procrastination?

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It is human nature to procrastinate.

Procrastination has a purpose in humans and other creatures.

Procrastination is a choice, whether conscious or unconscious.

Why do we procrastinate on doing tasks or engaging in various other activities in life? This is a frequent question many people bring to psychotherapy.

What is Procrastination?

Intellectually, rationally, they know they "should" do what needs to be done--whether washing the dishes, doing homework, paying bills, visiting an old friend, washing and sorting clothes, working out at the gym, maintaining the house or car, filing taxes, starting to date again, going to the dentist, etc, etc.--and recognize that it is not rational or practical to avoid doing so, but, for some mysterious reason, simply cannot bring themselves to face the music, so to speak, which, in the case of procrastination, is usually experienced as unpleasant or annoying.

We tell ourselves and others that we want and intend to take care of the task or situation, but then we don't do anything. It can be a disconcerting experience and distressing realization: We are not the master in our own metaphorical house but, rather, we are a house divided. We are not fully in control of ourselves. We are not the one calling the shots. We are not of one mind. There are unknown (unconscious) forces at work within us that oppose our conscious will.

Our rational goals are derailed by something irrational within us. Being confronted with this disturbing and disquieting fact of life--for if we are not calling the shots, making the decisions, then who or what is, and what might that eventually lead to?--can be deflating but, it is also the beginning of wisdom.

What causes us to delay or avoid doing certain things? Things which we feel we want or need to or should be doing? Perhaps a more helpful question to begin with would be: What motivates us to do what we do........

© Psychology Today