It’s that time of year again, around the January college application deadlines, that I find myself dealing with procrastination.  For instance, on the day an application was due, I got a text from a student asking me to review their essays.  I replied that I could do so, but that I wouldn’t be available for an hour.  They politely texted back, “That’s okay. No rush!” to which I responded using the laughing emoji–the application was due in just a few short hours.  The response I got back–” I’m sorry to ask, but why is that funny?”   This little interchange encapsulated the differences in perspective between me and the student–I was a nervous wreck just thinking about the deadline, and they felt they were fine–after all, they had a few hours left!

The benefits of Procrastination

Okay, first, the good news.  There is some evidence to suggest that a moderate level of procrastination can give you more time to think over a problem or issue and come up with a creative or innovative solution.   This is thought to be the optimal zone for creating an original concept or strategy.

Secondly, some psychologists think that people come in two flavors–task-driven and deadline-driven.  Task-driven people (me) work best by breaking into small steps and finishing them without time pressure.  Deadline-driven people (my student) use their stress about an upcoming deadline to help them focus intently on the task at hand, finishing everything all at once.

The Downsides of Procrastination

So far, procrastination seems great–be more creative!  Get things done in less time!   Keep in mind though, that only applies to moderate levels of procrastination.  If a person is experiencing negative consequences as a result of their procrastination, the stress it produces outweighs any benefits.  Procrastination has been tied to an increase in mental health symptoms.  Depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem are all positively correlated with increased levels of procrastination.  Even worse, procrastinating can negatively impact a person’s physical health.  Studies have shown that high levels of procrastination are associated with poorer cardiac health, for example.

How to Help with Procrastination

For many people, repetitive procrastination leads to a spiral of negative emotions–low self-esteem, shame, etc.  If a person can acknowledge the negative feelings that procrastination causes, they may be able to regain control over their association.  By forgiving themselves for procrastinating in the first place, they can better get themselves back on track at an earlier point in the task.  Some studies have suggested that mindfulness training, in which people can calmly look at and evaluate their feelings, can help procrastinators feel better about themselves again–which might be just what they need to get back to completing their tasks on time.

So if you, or someone you love, tends to procrastinate, try to emphasize self-forgiveness, rather than criticism.  After all, it is truly better late than never!