I’ll Do It Tomorrow: An In-Depth Look at Procrastination

The Art of Putting Things Off

by Jacqueline Liu

Graphic by Katelyn Holland

You’re probably reading this because you’re avoiding something more important. In that case — welcome! Let’s uncover why your brain has suddenly decided to prioritize this article over whatever life-threatening exam you have tomorrow.

Procrastination, a term college students are painfully familiar with, isn’t just laziness or a lack of self-control. Studies show that procrastination emerges because there’s an internal battle between different areas in your brain. Your limbic system, which seeks immediate gratification, often overpowers long-term planning functions in your prefrontal cortex, making it hard for us to complete tasks perceived as complex or emotionally challenging.

While science sheds light on why our brain tends to put off important tasks, it turns out that not all procrastinators are alike. Here are three types of procrastinators who each bring their unique ‘style’ to the art of delay.

1. The Perfectionist: They’d rather stare soullessly at a blank page than start writing anything less than “flawless.” Don’t get me wrong, perfection takes time… time they absolutely don’t have, but you know what, at least their page looks spotless! 

2. The Thrill-Seeker: Loves the thrill of grinding when the deadline is literally right now. They call chronic meltdowns the night before a life-altering test “motivation,” and weirdly thrive in crisis mode.  

3. The Avoider: They completely and utterly ignore the task hoping to manage their stress until the deadline creeps closer like footsteps in a haunted hallway. The result? Twice the panic and half the sleep.

Whichever procrastinator you may be, you still have time to save yourself (but not an infinite amount of time, so don’t think about procrastinating this too). 

Here’s some advice: 

1. Set a timer for a short interval, about 10 or 25 minutes, and focus solely on your task until the timer goes off. Take a quick break, and repeat. This divides tasks into manageable chunks and builds momentum, making it easier to get started and stay focused.

2. To fuel your motivation, try rewarding yourself with your favorite snacks or a TikTok brain rot session for every 15 minutes of work.

3. Grab a study buddy! But make sure they’re not a fellow procrastinator or you'll be yapping until sunrise instead of writing that essay.

So, here you are, still reading… which probably means your assignment is still waiting for you. Not to flip the script on you, but it’s probably time to give that to-do list the attention it’s been begging for. So go on, spare yourself the last-minute panic.