The Medical News Today (MTN) recently published an article exploring the various reasons we procrastinate. They say we all do it, such as putting off making a doctor appointment or paying a bill but for some people it can be a problem. The article looks at the downside of the habit as well as to see if there is an upside. It explains the changes in our brains, in our minds and what we can do to change the habit.
Procrastinating occasionally is normal and typically doesn’t cause much disruption in our lives. However the problem becomes detrimental when it is habitual. Studies show approximately 20% of adults in the United States are chronic procrastinators, and also found high levels of procrastination in the workplace can have negative effects on employment duration and income. Habitual procrastinators also report higher levels of stress, anxiety and even sleeping problems.
Sharon Greene, an LCSW specializing in treating anxiety and depression at Providence Saint John’s Child & Family Development Center in Santa Monica, CA, explains procrastination results from a struggle between a person’s limbic system and prefrontal cortex of the brain. She says the limbic system is an older part of the brain that is automatic and seeks out pleasure and/ or avoids things that cause distress, while the prefrontal cortex helps with planning, decision-making, and long-term goals. Other studies have found “people who often procrastinate have a larger amygdala, the part of the brain responsible for emotions, particularly negative ones.”
Certain conditions such as anxiety disorders, ADHD and depression can make it harder for people to determine the course they should take, resulting in habitual procrastination. Others with addictive tendencies may always wait until the last minute to finish a project or task seeking a “saving the day,” high. Experts say treating the symptoms of these various conditions, may help lessen the tendency toward procrastination.
Experts say procrastination can be a good thing like when we put off a task to do something we enjoy. If it is a beautiful day, it may be more beneficial to get out and play a round of golf or picnic in the park with your loved ones, than sitting home finishing something that can be done tomorrow.
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Source: medicalnewstoday.com/articles/why-do-we-procrastinate-experts-explain-the-science?utm_source=Sailthru%20Email&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=MNT%20Daily%20News&utm_content=2022-10-22&apid=32549197&rvid=e3b0c44298fc1c149afbf4c8996fb92427ae41e4649b934ca495991b7852b855#What-happens-in-the-brain?
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