Procrastination

Procrastination is the behavioral tendency to voluntarily postpone or delay intended actions of personal importance or necessity, despite discomfort and the awareness of the potential negative consequences resulting from the delay. The actions that are delayed are ones intended to be completed, not all possible actions that could be completed. This delay in actions likely leads to negative consequences in health and performance.

Procrastination may occur because of task aversion (i.e., the task is unpleasant and thus avoided), temporal distance (i.e., the task is in the distant future), or individual differences (e.g., impulsiveness), as discussed in more detail below. Instead of carrying out the intended tasks, procrastinators prefer more immediate positive behaviors, such as sleeping, watching television, reading, or completing short-term tasks with immediate rewards, such ...