The psychology of procrastination
Why do people procrastinate, and what are the social and economic impacts of waiting until the last minute?
In the US alone, it is estimated that more than one trillion dollars are lost by companies each year due to employees and their procrastinating ways. For centuries people and even the world’s major religions have decried procrastination. So if we know that it is bad for us, why do people continue to put things off?
Whether it is for fear of failure or lack of motivation, the reasons why people procrastinate are fundamentally irrational, yet it comes to many as a natural impulse.
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Psychologists argue that today’s “culture of now” and thirst for instant gratification is driving such behaviour that, on a larger scale, damages societies as people put off their health, savings and outlook on the future.
On Thursday’s Riz Khan we ask: Why do people procrastinate, and what are the social and economic impacts of waiting until the last minute?
Riz speaks to Piers Steel, the author of The Procrastination Equation: How to Stop Putting Things Off and Start Getting Stuff Done. Also joining the programme is research psychiatrist George Ainslie, the author of Breakdown of Will.
Join the conversation. Watch the show live on Thursday, December 2, at 1630GMT. Repeats air at 2030GMT, and the next day at 0130GMT.