Why Students Keep Procrastinating Even When They Know the Risks

General
1

During my PhD I had to teach both bachelor and master classes, and one thing I noticed again and again was procrastination. Students would delay lab reports, assignments, even small tasks, despite knowing the deadlines and the impact on their grades. It always made me wonder why this happens so often.

Some reasons I saw in class:

  • Task feels too big, so they avoid starting.

  • Many believe they can manage at the last minute.

  • Fear of failure, sometimes it’s easier to delay than face the possibility of not doing well.

  • Low motivation, if they don’t see the value in the task.

  • Poor time management, balancing classes, labs, and personal life.

I’m curious to hear your thoughts on what do you think makes procrastination so common in classrooms?

MBH/PS

1 Like
2

Procrastination is not laziness; procrastination is fear, stress, and lack of task segmentation. If the tasks are broad, procrastination can be more effortless than taking action. Procrastination among students is fueled by overwhelming task assignments, a lack of motivation for the task, and feelings of being able to “manage it later.”

1 Like