Many of us are not aware of the role that procrastination plays in our everyday lives.
Procrastination produces a lot of stress and anxiety as a result of worrying about obligations which have not been met. This creates a physical toll on the body and threatens physical well-being. It taxes the immune system and can lead to gastrointestinal problems.
Procrastination also taxes one’s mental health. The stress and anxiety provoke insomnia and other sleep difficulties. Stress and anxiety can lead to or exacerbate already existing depression. The inability to successful complete tasks fosters feelings of incompetence and unworthiness and seriously compromises one’s self-esteem and self-worth. The inability to stop procrastinating creates feelings of powerless and hopelessness which also lead to depression.
Procrastination also destroys relationships. When one procrastinates, obligations are not met and often have to be taken up by someone else, a parent, spouse, or coworker, for example. This creates resentment and conflict and seriously compromises relationships with people who have to pick up the slack created by one’s procrastination.