We are already almost a month from the beginning of the new year, and you still haven't started to implement your resolutions from the end of the previous year?
You're not alone.
Procrastination, as we know, is a habit that is very difficult to avoid.
What motivates us to postpone things, at least some of which we know for sure we will have to do in the end under last minute pressure?
We asked Claude to explain to us.
Fuschia Sirua, professor of psychology at Durham University, says procrastination often stems from trying to avoid the emotions associated with certain tasks.
Naturally, procrastination involves voluntarily putting off important activities, despite the awareness of possible harm.
Chronic procrastinators tend to struggle with managing negative emotions.
Brain imaging studies show that such people have fewer connections between areas that regulate emotions and assess threats in the brain.
People with ADHD are more prone to procrastination - probably because of the difficulties in regulating emotions.
In addition, those who procrastinate tend to have an enlarged amygdala - which makes them very sensitive to fear, since a normal-sized amygdala is responsible for fear regulation.
Even a minor inconvenience, like drafting an email, can feel overwhelming enough to avoid for such people.
There are also genetic factors, with links between procrastination and impulsivity - but environmental influences also play a major role.
Dealing with stressors, such as grief, can rob resources needed to deal with conflicting tasks, causing procrastination.
The habit only exacerbates the stress caused by procrastination, as obligations pile up.
This vicious circle harms mental health, academic achievements, financial management and more.
The good news is that learning ways to deal with negative emotions can reduce procrastination.
When you are faced with a 'threatening' task - Siroa advises to stop to identify what emotions arise in you and why you want to avoid them.
Breaking large tasks into smaller pieces can also help.
Finding meaning in the task, self-rewarding for progress in execution and self-compassion are key factors on the way to overcoming procrastination.
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