A study of 140 medical students in China linked procrastination to increased stress levels. The study also associated procrastination and delayed stress reactions with more negative parenting styles, including punishment and rejection.
If you are like most people and find yourself procrastinating, try working on the things that you feel like avoiding first and proactively schedule chunks of uninterrupted time. It’s important to know that switching between several tasks can add to stress and also reduce your productivity.
Being mindful of your thoughts and feelings when you are trying to complete a task can often help you identify the warning signs of procrastination. Reflection can help to bring up the real reasons for putting off a task and then you are free to tackle the problem head-on.
It’s okay to struggle with tasks that are difficult or that you want to avoid. Try starting with those tasks that you’d rather avoid because it could help reduce the tendency to procrastinate. This small change could help reduce stress and add to your experience of everyday wellness.