Pessimism: the secret ingredient to procrastination

Tuesday, July 9, 2024.

Ever wondered why your friend cleans the entire house when they have a looming deadline?

Well, it turns out, about 20% of people are chronic procrastinators—yes, it’s more common than depression and phobias.

So if you’re reading this to avoid something important, you’re in good company!

The Pessimist’s Guide to Procrastination

According to a recent study, pessimists are more likely to procrastinate than optimists.

Why? The theory is that pessimists expect their future selves to be more stressed out. It’s like they have a crystal ball that only shows impending doom and gloom, making them prefer a Netflix binge over tackling that dreaded task.

Optimists, on the other hand, foresee their future stress levels decreasing.

They imagine themselves sipping cocktails on a beach, stress-free, which somehow gives them the superpower to get things done now. It’s like they’ve hacked the system, leaving procrastinators wondering what kind of magical elixir they’re drinking.

Signs You’re a Procrastinator

One of the telltale signs of a procrastinator is their aversion to thinking about the future.

If you’re convinced that future you will be more stressed out, why bother planning ahead?

This disregard for future consequences means they’re also terrible at linking current actions to future outcomes. No wonder that assignment keeps getting pushed to tomorrow!

A Personal Battle with Procrastination

Ms. Saya Kashiwakura, the study’s lead author, shared her personal struggles with procrastination. Imagine needing to study for a test but deciding it’s the perfect time to clean your room or prioritize aikido practice over postgraduate research. Sound familiar? This habit of dodging important tasks has been a constant challenge for her.

Driven by her desire to change, she surveyed almost 300 young people, asking about their well-being and future stress expectations. The results? Optimists, who believe stress won’t increase in the future, are less likely to be procrastinators. Ms. Kashiwakura found that adopting a more light-hearted view of the future helped her reduce procrastination.

Why Understanding Procrastination Matters

Understanding your procrastination tendencies is crucial, especially in the education sector. Ms. Kashiwakura hopes that by comprehending these habits scientifically, students can work on improving them instead of blaming themselves. Whether it’s a quick motivational video or years of accumulated wisdom, changing your thoughts can lead to better outcomes and greater well-being.

Final thoughts

The next step for Ms. Kashiwakura’s research is to determine the most effective way to develop the right mindset for a happier, more fulfilling life. Whether it’s through instant motivational boosts or long-term mindset shifts, the goal is to help procrastinators become optimists—or at least, more productive pessimists.

REFERENCES:

Kashiwakura, S., & Hiraki, K. (2024). Future optimism group based on the chronological stress view is less likely to be severe procrastinators. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-61277-y