#Procrastination

A fresh set of experiments suggests the urge to finish sub‑tasks immediately — known as precrastination — is real but fragile: people will grab and complete a near task even when it means extra effort, but only while that extra cost stays small. The new paper replicated the original “bucket” finding and then showed that increasing physical effort and travel distance progressively eliminates the effect, while a standard measure of impulsivity did not predict who precrastinates. The work sharpens our understanding of why people sometimes hurry to “tick off” small chores, with implications for decision making, workplace design and mental health in Thailand and beyond (BPS Research Digest summary).

Thai office workers and university students often exhibit a puzzling behavior that contradicts logical efficiency: they grab nearby tasks and complete them immediately even when this choice requires more physical effort and time than waiting for better opportunities. New psychological research has finally quantified this phenomenon called “precrastination”—the tendency to finish subtasks prematurely—revealing it represents a genuine cognitive bias that emerges only when extra effort remains minimal. The findings carry significant implications for Thai workplaces, educational institutions, and mental health services where cultural values emphasizing prompt task completion may inadvertently increase physical and psychological strain.

A new study is challenging how we think about procrastination, revealing that people often delay not just unpleasant tasks but experiences they actually enjoy—such as reconnecting with friends, visiting attractions, or savoring special treats. The research, published in the journal PNAS Nexus and reported by The Washington Post, uncovers a hidden pattern: the longer people put off pleasurable activities, the harder it becomes to finally enjoy them, investing joy with so much expectation that the “perfect moment” never seems to arrive ().

A sweeping new study of over 3,500 university students has cast procrastination in a new, more troubling light: chronic delays are not just a time management problem, but a significant risk factor for mental and physical health issues. The research, coordinated by a team at Sophiahemmet University in Sweden and published this week in a major medical journal, revealed that habitual procrastinators were more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety, stress, sleep disturbances, upper body pain, and even financial difficulties, compared to their more punctual peers. These findings underscore the complex ways that psychological habits can reverberate through every aspect of health, echoing concerns that apply as much to Thai society as anywhere else in the world.

It often seems like a no-brainer: after months or even years away from beloved activities or close friends, one might expect people to jump at the first opportunity to return. But surprising new research suggests the opposite may be true—intense longing can actually morph into procrastination, with people intentionally delaying joyous reunions and experiences in the hope of making them even more meaningful. This paradox, revealed in a new study published in the journal PNAS Nexus and summarized by Neuroscience News, uncovers a hidden link between pleasure and procrastination that has powerful implications for personal happiness and social connection (Neuroscience News).

Recent research and mental health insights highlight a compelling reason for the common phenomenon of procrastination: a close interplay with anxiety that renders many people “stuck” in a cycle of avoidance, overwhelm, and guilt. Rather than chalking it up to poor time management or laziness, new findings suggest that procrastination may be a nervous system response to stress, with perfectionism fueling the cycle—an understanding that carries significant implications for Thai readers facing mounting work, family, or study obligations. This news draws on the latest commentary from licensed therapists and psychiatrists, offering practical, research-backed steps for breaking free from the pattern.