Experts explain the 'student syndrome' that causes people to procrastinate until the last minute
Many people have probably had the experience of procrastinating until the last minute despite being under pressure to meet a deadline, or continuing to put things off because they have more time in their schedule, only to have to rush to get things done at the last minute. This behavior is called
Student Syndrome: Why People Delay Until Right Before Deadlines – Solving Procrastination
https://solvingprocrastination.com/student-syndrome/
According to Schatz, student syndrome is a type of procrastination habit, and is generally an unnecessary delay. A typical example of student syndrome is a student who puts off starting a task until just before the deadline, even though there is a long grace period, such as 'I'll do my summer homework on the last day,' Schatz said. This kind of delay is not limited to students; for example, teachers who grade homework and managers who have to write important reports at work may also postpone work until just before the deadline.
Schatz lists the following four main problems with student syndrome. First, if the task is more difficult than expected or there are unexpected problems, there is no time margin to start at the last minute, which increases the risk of not meeting the deadline. Second, even if you meet the deadline, your study or work performance is likely to decline because you rushed under the pressure of the deadline. Third, emotional, mental, and physical problems increase, such as stress from approaching deadlines, lack of sleep from cramming, and fatigue. Finally, in the case of tasks undertaken in teams, individual student syndrome can affect the group's performance and lead to interpersonal problems.
There are no statistics specific to student syndrome, but according to
In addition, in a 2001 survey , about 50% of people said they used the Internet while procrastinating. In modern times, digital devices and the Internet have become more closely integrated into our lives and every area of life, so 'it's likely that people are spending much more time procrastinating on the Internet than they did in the past,' Schatz points out.
There are many potential causes for procrastination, but Schatz divides the main reasons into two categories. One is a motivation problem, which is caused by difficulty associating tasks with outcomes, such as neglecting future outcomes or prioritizing the enjoyment of the present over future happiness. The other is a psychological disorder, which can manifest as an aversion to the task itself, such as anxiety or fear of working on a task or aversion to receiving negative feedback after completion.
The flip side of the Deadline-Due Student Syndrome is that people often start working on a task at the last minute. This is because, even if motivation is low, as the deadline approaches, it becomes easier to see the short-term outcome of 'finishing it by the deadline,' and even if you have aversion to the task, the pressure of the deadline outweighs it, and so the causes of procrastination are removed. On the other hand, it is equally possible that the causes of procrastination are exacerbated by depression or anxiety, which makes it harder to think about future outcomes, or by lack of sleep, which worsens anxiety.
A key word to consider when thinking about the causes of procrastination is ' hyperbolic discounting ,' a term from behavioral economics. Hyperbolic discounting indicates that the further into the future the outcome is, the less important additional time becomes. In simple terms, this can be explained as 'the difference between today and tomorrow is greater than the difference between tomorrow and the day after.' Therefore, if the deadline is far away, we tend to put it off, but if the deadline is looming, we don't just get impatient but rather feel motivated.
Considering the details of student syndrome, it is important to identify its causes in order to avoid it. For example, if you don't feel comfortable with the goal of 'doing 10 tasks in one month,' break it down into 'doing task 1 in three days,' and you'll be able to see your schedule and results more clearly. Also, since the Internet is often the cause of procrastination, it is important to design your environment so that you can reach for your study materials more easily than accessing your smartphone or social media. In addition, Schatz points out that it is also useful to set weights for tasks and quickly tackle the easy parts or clear the difficult parts first to feel rewarded.
Other techniques to avoid student syndrome include:
Set specific goals, such as 'when and how much to do'
Break tasks into small, easy-to-understand steps. If a task is difficult, set a midpoint.
- Identify your productivity cycle, such as the best times to be active based on your physical condition
Prepare your environment by removing distractions and preparing yourself to tackle planned tasks immediately.
Vary your approach, such as focusing on completing the first sentence first or starting with the easiest or hardest part.
- Use the Pomodoro technique, such as working for 25 minutes and then taking a 5-minute break four times, rather than concentrating for 2 hours.
- Enjoy completing your to-do list, reward yourself for achieving certain goals, or find fulfillment in your work to increase your motivation.
Focus on the goal you will achieve by completing the task, rather than the task itself, and visualize yourself doing well as a result.
Accept that your work will not be perfect.
Eliminate anxiety by clearly acknowledging the fear of not doing well and cultivating self-compassion
If you think depression or lack of sleep is the cause, consult a specialist.
'The key is to identify what's causing the problem and implement techniques to address it,' Schatz says.
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