Deciphering the Effects of Procrastination on Mental Health

  There goes a saying that,

"Procrastination is the thief of time"- Edward Young.

Let's break it down a little, shall we? But first we need to scrutinize the word "Procrastination". The term procrastination is known by many, an experience shared by most. Procrastination is often considered as a vicious cycle, a vicious cycle that highly hinders productivity. We humans are either consciously or subconsciously seen enacting this on a frequent basis. A question arises that, what actually happens during "Procrastination"? Well, the delaying of tasks till it hits us that "Oh! tomorrow's the deadline". It can be considered as a chronic cycle of unproductivity. Although we have all been guilty of putting things off till the very last minute, the effects of chronic procrastination may have far-reaching consequences that we often turn a blind eye to. It's crucial to have a deeper knowledge about the ramifications of chronic procrastinations. With that being said, we shall delve into how procrastination is entangled with mental health. 

 While procrastination often turns into a habit, we don't actually acknowledge how it becomes a habit. As we know already, procrastination is a cycle of delaying tasks till the last minute which leads to a person being overwhelmed with the workload and it can be incredibly stressful. The extreme pressure of the workload with so little time in hand results in triggering a person's anxiety. The anxiety and stress altogether affects the quality of work very highly. The very outcome of this procrastination reinforces the habit and it becomes very difficult to break away from this vicious cycle. This gives out one of the primary reasons as to how mental health is affected through procrastination. The intense pressure of unfinished tasks with an inadequate time leads to a state of chronic stress, this very stress response results in both physical and mental health issues. These little incidents are often a cause of mental health disorders. 

Why do people procrastinate? Well, this question certainly has many answers and it may differ from one person to another. But a common factor other than idleness is seen among people which is the fear of failure. Meaning, the crippling fear of not perfecting a task leads to the delay of tasks for avoiding shortcomings. This is a pessimistic loop. It might have something to do with people having a pessimistic perspective or maybe their self esteem. This thought process of failure comes from self doubt and low self esteem. When a person procrastinates and it leads to a low quality outcome, the person starts doubting themselves over time. They get trapped in that loop, that they might not be able to meet one's own standards. This affects the mental health highly, as one starts losing their self-esteem and confidence over time. 

Procrastination can often be considered as a coping mechanism as when it becomes a habit for one, it becomes difficult for one to break away from that loop. It can be observed that some people have a tendency of avoiding or avoiding confronting situations or tasks that are hard and uncomforting to them. Then only it is seen that they keep delaying or relying on avoidance, walking away from the task or situation. And all for what? To be stressed over by it at the end, it's an endless loop if actions aren't taken. These habits worsen mental health by putting a stop to self growth. 

Speaking from experience, the first step to resolving this painful issue is addressing the consequences that procrastination has over mental health. To live a peaceful and healthy life it's necessary to take actions to abolish this from one's life. It's necessary for people to take a practical approach towards life. People should own up to their tasks. It's necessary to learn to be accountable and responsible. These practices lead to setting realistic goals and improving management skills as well. The first step of unshackling oneself from this painful habit can be incredibly hard but never impossible.

Procrastination should never be considered harmless, it's not a harmless habit. It comes with baggage. The acknowledgement of the entanglement of procrastination and mental health can help break free from this vicious cycle considering the immense negative impacts it has. People should examine their root cause of procrastination and implement necessary strategies to break away from the vicious cycle.