MindTango #2- Why Smart People Procrastinate
Most of us have experienced the same frustrating moment.
You know exactly what needs to be done.
You know delaying it will only make things harder.
And yet, somehow, you still put it off.
For years, I thought procrastination was simply a discipline problem. If we could just become more organised or more motivated, everything would fall into place.
The more I read psychology and the more I coach people, the less convinced I became.
Perhaps procrastination isn’t primarily a productivity problem.
Perhaps it’s an emotional one.
Psychologist Dr. Tim Pychyl, one of the leading researchers on procrastination, describes it as an emotion regulation problem rather than a time management problem.
That idea changed the way I think about behaviour. When we avoid an important task, we often aren’t avoiding the work itself, we’re avoiding the feeling that comes with it. The uncertainty. The fear of failing. The possibility of not meeting our own expectations.
Checking your phone, making another coffee, or reorganising your desk doesn’t solve the problem, but it does provide temporary relief. And our brains are remarkably good at repeating behaviours that offer immediate relief.
The question becomes less “why am I so lazy?” and more “what emotion am I trying not to feel?”
Sometimes, changing the question is the beginning of changing the behaviour.
Science Corner
The research behind this comes from Dr. Tim Pychyl and Dr. Fuschia Sirois, who found that procrastination is often driven by short-term mood regulation — we delay tasks because avoidance provides temporary emotional relief, even at a cost to our future selves.
If you’d like to explore it yourself:
Dr. Tim Pychyl, Carleton University – Faculty Profile: https://carleton.ca/psychology/people/timothy-a-pychyl/
Dr. Fuschia Sirois, Durham University – Faculty Profile: https://www.durham.ac.uk/staff/fuschia-sirois/
Sirois, F. M., & Pychyl, T. A. (2013). Procrastination and the Priority of Short-Term Mood Regulation: Consequences for Future Self. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23731442/
This Week at MindTango
This week’s YouTube video explores why procrastination isn’t simply about laziness or poor discipline, but what psychology can teach us about the hidden forces shaping our behaviour.
If you’ve ever wondered why knowing what to do doesn’t always translate into doing it, I think you’ll enjoy it.
And if this is a pattern you’d like support working through beyond reading about it, feel free to reply — I’m always glad to talk it through.
"The greatest obstacle to living is expectancy,
which hangs upon tomorrow and loses today."
- Seneca
The Deeper Question behind Performance
Think about one task you’ve been avoiding recently.
Before asking yourself how to become more disciplined, ask yourself: what feeling am I trying to avoid?
Sometimes the answer is far more revealing than the task itself.
I’d love to hear your thoughts — simply send me and email at muguet@themindtango.com
Thank you for being part of the MindTango community.
Let’s rearrange your mind.
- Muguet
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