Why do you procrastinate on your tasks? Academic procrastination can be situation-specific for some individuals, whereas it can take on characteristics of a habit or disposition for others. According to studies, approximately 80% of university students believe they are frequent procrastinators.
Nora Sargsyan, a psychologist-pedagogue currently working at a Montessori school in Armenia, explains procrastination and its root causes. “Procrastination occurs when the person, aware of the necessity of their tasks, neglects them and gets distracted with minor daily activities, often justifying this behavior,” she says.
Sargsyan highlights that this phenomenon should not be confused with laziness. In the case of laziness, the person simply does not want to complete tasks or worry about them, unlike procrastination.
She suggests that even though this is a global phenomenon, procrastination is much more widespread among students. The cause varies from lack of confidence that the efforts will lead to unexpected outcomes, the tasks hold no value for the person, and the fact that completing them will not be rewarding for them.
Studies show that procrastination negatively impacts performance and physical and mental health. “Besides those potential root causes, the act of procrastinating can also be the result of having ADHD, OCD, or depression,” Sargsyan explains.
Based on her experience and expertise, Sargsyan offers guidance to ensure that students build long-lasting habits and a healthy approach toward their academic responsibilities.
She emphasizes the significance of clarifying life goals by organizing them as the very first step.
Defining the tasks according to priority, while analyzing the process and outcome of the tasks in advance, is the next essential step students should make to minimize procrastination.
Sargsyan encourages students to objectively evaluate and utilize time to avoid unwanted outcomes.
Lastly, the Armenian psychologist particularly stresses starting the process and developing willpower, along with maintaining work-rest balance as much as possible.
To better understand the relevance of procrastination among students of AUA, PG seniors Gayane Manukyan and Alice Sharafyan share their personal experiences about overcoming procrastination.
Manukyan states that she mostly procrastinates in her studies, which makes her reflect on her habits. “This habit affects my studies and communication, so I decided to take action by choosing my most productive hours for tasks and setting specific alarms to complete each activity,” she suggests.
In addition, Sharafyan manages procrastination by setting precise, quantifiable goals and creating a clear roadmap with deadlines to stay focused and avoid overwhelm. She uses time management techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, working in focused bursts with short breaks to maintain energy and sharp thinking.
Another strategy is the Five-Minute Rule, committing to work for just five minutes to overcome the initial hurdle of starting, often leading to longer productivity. She also minimizes distractions, especially digital ones, to prevent procrastination.
Don’t be too hard on yourself; embracing where you are right now is essential, as this is just a temporary phase, and you will eventually overcome procrastination with time.
So what are you waiting for? Are you ready to befriend procrastination?
