Why Procastination feels good but destroys you later

Pharmacy
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Introduction
Have you ever put off an important task and ended up doing something else, such as scrolling through your phone, watching videos, or something else, and yet it makes you feel good? This is what we experience when we procrastinate, and it is known as the paradox of procrastination. It makes you feel better, but at the same time, it ends up stressing you, making you feel guilty, and losing interest in things. Understanding why it makes you feel better is essential.

  1. The Brain Chooses Instant Pleasure

While putting off a task may be seen as a lack of good time management skills, it has significant connections with the way the human brain works.

When you put off a task you know you should be doing, your brain begins to focus on things that give you instant gratification. This causes the release of dopamine in your system. This neurotransmitter in the brain is known as the “feel-good” chemical.

Therefore, your brain begins to equate putting off the task with pleasure.

2. The Temporary Relief Trap

When you put off the task you know you should be doing, you get immediate relief.

You feel relaxed
Your anxiety disappears
You feel “free”

But this is only temporary. The unfinished job will always lurk in the background, quietly building up its toll on your mind.

3. The After-Effect: Guilt and Mental Drain

When the moment has passed, you will see the effects of procrastination:

Increased stress because of the pending job
Guilt and self-doubt
Loss of self-confidence
Loss of motivation to begin again

These will eventually lead you to burnout and apathy, even for things you used to enjoy.

4. The Vicious Cycle

The cycle of procrastination:

Delay –> Temporary Relief –> Guilt –> Stress –> More Delays

This cycle trains your brain to always choose the easy way out, making it even more difficult for you to break the cycle.

Conclusion
While procrastination may feel good for a moment because you are avoiding discomfort, there are negative consequences. Eventually, you will lose your energy, your self-confidence will be diminished, and you will lose interest in both your work and life.

The important thing to understand is that while procrastination may bring you short-term comfort, you will eventually feel long-term discomfort. On the other hand, while taking small actions may make you feel uncomfortable in the moment, you will feel long-term satisfaction.

How to stop procrastination
The first step is not to find motivation within yourself but to take the first step.

7 Likes
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Nowadays, I feel like scrolling through reels and videos have become the biggest contribution for procrastination. It began with just one click and ended with hours lost to unproductive, mindless scrolling. Had to delete social media)))

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I noticed I have been procrastinating a lot this year and it has gradually contributed to neglecting my academics and hobbies. Even though, I don’t totally neglect my studies, I have completely let go of my hobbies but I am trying to work through my procrastination and motivation plays a key role.

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Rightly said. Procrastination affects self confidence.

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I procrastinate a lot, but now I’m choosing progress over excuses ,that’s a only way to get better things

6

Very well said.
Procrastination may feel good for a moment, but it can have negative impact on our work later.
I used to scroll like nothing else mattered and I just got fed up with that and eventually I started to focus on what I should do. Thinking about better results keep me motivated.

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We fall in a loop of guilt.

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I agree, this really comes down to trusting yourself. When you tell yourself you’ll do something but keep pushing it forward, you slowly start losing that trust. And once that happens, it can turn into a negative mindset, which is the most harmful part.

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Procrastination word has gained a lot of attention now a days. It means delaying your work to do it later.

As we know that later is hardly met. The reason for doing things later may be many such as laziness, boredom, lack of concentration, want of immediate gratification, search of easier task taking less time etc.

Procrastination brings you in opposite direction to success in any of your work or your destination in life which you have dreamt off. This later brings irritability, working under stress feeling of failure, lack of interest in anything this leads to more procrastination and this continuous making you more depressed.

Solution for this is doing any work at that moment even if it feels hard, boring. This discipline will reduce stress and bring satisfaction. You can then move ahead with other tasks without being tensed and reach your goals with happiness.

10

Lately, I have been procrastinating and delaying a hell lot of things and hence, completely resonated with this post. :+1: :heart:

Its a tough choice to make between short term relief and pleasure V/s long term satisfaction and fulfillment. Better of saying The Dopamine rush :woman_running: V/s Oxytocin love :two_hearts: .

What we choose for ourselves makes all the difference. I am definitely choosing long term happiness :slightly_smiling_face: by taking small steps towards completing my daily tasks.

Thanks for this amazing post @Brunda :+1: Much needed!!:heart:

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True, we always delay things and keep procrastinating them and and then it becomes habit and goal, progress keep on delaying. Motivation doesn’t have long lasting effect on mindset but taking actions, starting small will surely help to keep moving forward.

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Procrastination is very addictive sometimes, it may make you feel relax at time and anxious other time . One decision you have to make for long , avoiding that due to thinking of results which gives stress but once you make it you feel relax and ease.