Procrastination is one of the most basic human impulses, controlling adults and teenagers throughout the western world. This problem is extremely prevalent in teenagers. Often swarmed with work, teenagers tend to leave larger assignments, that are not due soon, for a later date. Instead of working on it periodically, they ignore the entire assignment until the last minute and scramble to finish.

Procrastination can have significant impacts on a student’s mental health; when they procrastinate they often feel extremely anxious, stressed, and overwhelmed about the intensity and proportion of due dates that are incoming. Stress creates a plethora of mental health problems including decreased self-esteem, poor time management, negative impacts on relationships, and an increased chance of depression. The constant panic induces pressure that causes stress in a student’s daily life, creating outbursts of emotion and emotional instability. Mental health, especially at a young age, is crucial, and not taking care of it will harm a person irreversibly. As the English evangelical Anglican cleric and slavery abolitionist, John Newton, writes, “We can easily manage if we will only take, each day, the burden appointed to it. But the load will be too heavy for us if we carry yesterday’s burden over again today, and then add the burden of the morrow before we are required to bear it” (Newton). Newton describes the system in which people leave their work for a later time, allowing work to pile up until it comes unbearably difficult to accomplish.

While easily identifiable as a mental health concern, chronic procrastination can also lead to physiologically identifiable issues. Leaving tasks until the last minute can lead to physical health issues such as sleep disruptions and poor nutrition. One of the most common issues I see among my peers is a lack of concrete sleep schedules. The CDC suggests that high school students sleep at least 8-10 hours per night. However, a recent study published in AAP Publications explains that “73% of high school students across 30 states are not getting enough sleep…” (Jenco). This number has increased in recent years and shows no signs of slowing down. Since schools typically start at 8 am, to get a proper night of sleep, a person would have to sleep at roughly 10 pm. If 73% of high school students find this schedule hard to follow and cannot adhere to it, then there is a major issue at hand. According to the study, sleep depravity can cause an “…increased risk for chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and poor mental health, as well as injuries, attention and behavioral problems, and poor academic performance” (Jenco). Assuming you are procrastinating on a multitude of assignments, having a consistent bedtime is impossible. A study conducted in the Morris County Vocational Technical School in New Jersey revealed that high school students averaged a total of 6.3 hours of sleep per weeknight, with only 1.5% of students reporting getting the recommended 9 hours of sleep. Similarly, procrastination-induced malnutrition is a major health concern. Oftentimes, when concentrating on schoolwork, teenagers forget to eat and ignore their lack of energy. A popular solution to this issue is the consumption of coffee or energy drinks. However, this avenue can lead to further issues involving long-term health, such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular diseases. No matter how you look at it, procrastination can be detrimental to your physical health.

Procrastination, as a prolonged behavior, can have negative consequences on one’s personal and professional life, and only by controlling the urge to slack off can we overcome it. By understanding the root cause of procrastination and taking steps to overcome it, individuals can improve their productivity, reduce stress and anxiety, and achieve their goals. It is essential to remember that overcoming procrastination is a gradual process that requires patience, persistence, and self-awareness.

By Sidharth Nayar

Works Cited

• Jenco, Melissa, and News Content Editor. “Study: 73% of High School Students Not Getting Enough Sleep.” Publications.aap.org, 25 Jan. 2018, publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/13792?autologincheck=redirected.