Although procrastination is an undoubtedly prevalent issue among teens, it has become normalized to the point where many fail to realize the true magnitude of its negative impact. More people need to learn that the temporary relief procrastination provides is not a solution. Rather, it is a method of ignoring problems that ironically creates a multitude of other problems on its own.
Procrastination can significantly impede academic success, especially as poor habits accumulate. According to a 2007 meta-analysis by University of Calgary researcher Piers Steel, procrastination is negatively correlated with academic performance. This is not surprising, as many assignments end up rushed or simply incomplete when delayed to the last minute, resulting in the procrastinator receiving a lower assignment grade. Not completing assignments to the best of one’s ability can also be a significant disadvantage when it comes to test preparedness. In a 2012 study conducted by Nova Southeastern University researchers Yair Levy and Michelle Ramim, they found that procrastinators scored an average of 82.9% on exams, significantly lower than the non-procrastinators’ average score of 87.7%.
Damaging effects of procrastination can take shape outside of the classroom as well, leading to the deterioration of one’s health. People prone to procrastination have a 63% greater risk of poor heart health, per a 2015 study by Durham University. As a result, putting off work that may seem insignificant could have drastically disastrous effects later down the line. Additional research from 2015 conducted by Sirois also suggests that procrastination spurs negative emotions like shame, regret, guilt and anger, all of which are gateways to poor mental health.
Some may argue that procrastination leaves more room for creativity because having time open until the last minute provides the most time to make changes before finalization. However, procrastinating leads to immense stress and dampens creativity, according to a 2018 study by Macquarie University researchers Andrea Espedido and Ben J. Searle.
The greatest underlying issue is that procrastination is usually a voluntary activity. Most students inflict these detrimental effects upon themselves by choosing to scroll on social media or play video games instead of finishing their work. Afterward, they end up overwhelmed with a towering pile of work that would be considerably less formidable, had they started working on it earlier.
In the long run, the consequences of habitually pushing off work will only amplify in severity. The more frequently someone procrastinates, the more used to it they will become. It will eventually be noticeably harder to take a step back and recognize that procrastination is happening in the first place, ultimately sacrificing one’s self-accountability.
To mitigate the harm procrastination has caused and truly change habits, one should start making changes at the root of the problem. If social media is a major distraction, consider putting the phone in a different room during study sessions. Or, perhaps the overwhelming stress of excessive assignments is preventing one from getting started altogether. In that case, students could try breaking up major, daunting assignments into smaller chunks, with quick breaks or a reward system in between segments. Procrastination can seem like a daunting obstacle to overcome, but taking a stand against it limits further pain and undue stress.
