advertisement

Depression Can Take Procrastination to a Whole New Level

October 20, 2021 Mahevash Shaikh

Everyone procrastinates at some point or another, and it's completely normal. But in my experience, depression takes procrastination to a whole new level. Why is this? I guess it is because of nihilistic thinking, exhaustion, and lack of motivation, all of which can be symptoms of depression. No matter what the reason is, depression and procrastination often go hand in hand. 

How Procrastination Affects Me 

Putting off work and chores affects my productivity as a human being and as a professional. For example, there are days when I cannot wake up when my alarm rings. In fact, just today, I woke up two hours after my alarm went off. Even though I heard the alarm, I could not get out of bed as I had zero motivation to do anything. All I wanted to do was sleep and sleep and sleep.

If my stomach hadn't started growling due to hunger, I would have continued to sleep. Later in the day, I struggled to begin work. I put off writing this post until the very last minute. Even while writing it, I wanted to stop and finish it tomorrow. And I could have done that. It would even be justified as today was a terrible mental health day

Indeed, on bad mental health days, I procrastinate more due to increased depression and anxiety. But even when it hits me hard, I try to do at least one productive thing. I do not do this not because I am a masochist. I do this because doing nothing worsens my depression and anxiety. And when that happens, I am unable to get anything done. It's a vicious cycle, and I'm willing to bet that you have a similar experience. Also, some work tasks have to be taken care of immediately. Delaying them can result in severe consequences like suffering immense financial loss, not being promoted, or even losing your job. 

Therefore, it is crucial to figure out ways to fight this issue. 

Is It Possible to Eliminate Procrastination? 

I do not think it is humanly possible for anyone to do so. And in the case of people with depression, I consider it a doubly impossible feat. That said, there are ways to reduce, if not get rid of, the urge to procrastinate. Check out the video below to know more. And once you have finished watching it, let me know your tips in the comments section below. 

APA Reference
Shaikh, M. (2021, October 20). Depression Can Take Procrastination to a Whole New Level, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, March 29 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/workandbipolarordepression/2021/10/depression-can-take-procrastination-to-a-whole-new-level



Author: Mahevash Shaikh

Mahevash Shaikh is a millennial blogger, author, and poet who writes about mental health, culture, and society. She lives to question convention and redefine normal. You can find her at her blog and on Instagram and Facebook.

Leave a reply