Video Essay : Why do people procrastinate?
Intro: It’s the year 2024 and procrastination has turned into a widespread issue among students with significant effects to their academic performances and well-being. Research indicates that approximately 80% to 95% of college students engage in procrastination, with about 50% doing so consistently and problematically. So, why do so many students find themselves staring at a blank screen the night before a major deadline, promising they’ll never procrastinate again-only to repeat the cycle?
Body: Factors that cause procrastination
Now more than ever, young adults have expressed their procrastination in the media almost normalizing the behavior as a norm. Which is basically true. Many students and young people rely on social media and online apps to keep them distracted from their academic fears and worries. Studies have shown that between 7%-16% of people procrastinate out of fear of failing. Students often procrastinate because they fear their work won’t meet expectations stemming from perfectionism. \
Example: Video of student experiencing procrastination
Moving forward, many college professors and researchers have found that procrastination serves as an emotional coping mechanism for feelings such as stress, anxiety, or feeling overwhelmed. Researchers have found that this avoidance only worsens the negative feelings, creating an unhealthy cycle of stress and procrastination together.
Example: Video of Neuroscientist Andrew explaining the process
Finally, an obvious factor in procrastination in young people and students is the lack of self-discipline and having a poor ego. A lack of self disicpline can make it difficult to prioritize long term goals over short term gratification. In many cases, there were many times when we needed to run an important errand like getting your taxes done but instead you kept yourself preoccupied doing things like organizing your sock drawer or classifying your plates by color.
Example: Tiktok and youtube video examples of people who have a poor ego
Outro: Clearly, the consequences of procrastination are notable. Understanding the factors and statistics that relate to procrastination is crucial for developing effective strategies to combat procrastination and enhance student success.
Some of these strategies being setting specific and manageable goals and developing better coping mechanisms with negative feelings.
Setting Specific & Manageable Goals: This could be done by breaking down larger tasks into smaller ones, studies have shown that achievable steps can make the workload seem and feel less overwhelming. Psychologists state that goal setting increases motivation and task completion rates.
Developing better coping mechanisms with negative feelings: Identify emotions and understand triggers and what causes your emotions. Accepting one’s emotions is the biggest part of healthy coping because it allows you to acknowledge negative feelings and that it’s a normal part of life and it doesn’t define you.
Hi Briana, I think you chose a pretty interesting topic I already learned a few things while reading your outline. I like the way you set it up and labeled your work. I totally agree with that most young adults as for myself, use social media to keep myself distracted When I’m bored sometimes, but sometimes I can’t help it. I can’t wait to see when you put everything together.
Very good idea to use video clips to illustrate the factors you outline.
Q about perfectionism: Students hold themselves to perfectionist standards and the fear of not meeting their own standards stops them??? Whose standards of perfection? Or teachers set too high standards and cause fear in students?