Procrastination

 Procrastination is a psychological phenomenon where individuals delay tasks despite knowing that this delay could have negative consequences. Theories on procrastination suggest that it stems from a conflict between short-term mood repair and long-term goal achievement. When faced with a task that feels overwhelming or anxiety-inducing, people often opt for activities that provide immediate gratification. Browsing the internet or engaging in leisure activities, to avoid the discomfort of starting a task is linked to an inability to manage emotions effectively. 

Another theory emphasizes the role of temporal discounting, where individuals devalue rewards or outcomes that are further in the future, leading them to prioritize immediate rewards over long-term benefits. This perspective suggests that procrastinators are more likely to engage in present-focused behaviors, as the immediate benefits of procrastination (e.g., relief from task-related anxiety) outweigh the delayed benefits of completing the task. This time inconsistency in decision-making can result in a cycle of procrastination, where individuals continuously postpone tasks until external pressures, such as deadlines, force them to act.