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Who doesn’t procrastinate from time-to-time? Especially when you’re a young adult, just beginning to assert your independence. You have the freedom to do what you want to do when you want to do it. Well, guess what? The good news is procrastinating can be both normal and healthy depending on the circumstances.

Passive and active

It’s important to understand that there are two forms of procrastination – passive and active. Passive procrastination is considered the “bad” type of procrastination, while active procrastination is considered the “good” type. What is the difference between the two? Passive procrastination is described as a self-destructive process that involves a lack of confidence, anxiety, and emotional distress when a task is not finished by a deadline, or when the inability to complete a task feels like a personal failure.

On the flip side, active or “good” procrastination is described as a time-management tactic that is self-controlled. With active procrastination, you can still successfully accomplish tasks and meet deadlines under pressure. Multiple studies have found that procrastination can be “good,” if it’s an active form of it. In fact, results suggest that active procrastination not only improves your joy, contentment, and satisfaction, but also your focus, concentration, and productivity.

Active and passive procrastination are not the same. Active procrastination is considered “healthy” or “good,” while passive is considered “unhealthy” or “bad.”

What’s the difference?

What’s the difference? Well, passive procrastination involves deliberately not doing a task, just because you don’t want to. Active or “good” procrastination involves understanding when immediate action is needed and when it is not. In other words, active procrastination may mean delaying something until a later time – not out of laziness, but for a specific reason – one that could produce a better outcome at a later date.

Good procrastination

Listed below are times when it’s good to procrastinate:

1. When you need to remove some things from your “to-do list.” When you delay doing a task, or two, or three, it gives you time to decide if it’s really important or worth the effort to complete it. Plus, if you wait long enough to do something (i.e. purchasing that new PlayStation game or Louis Vuitton purse), it may lose its appeal, thus, saving you time, effort, and possibly money!
   
2. When you want to determine just how important the task is to you. Guess what? You’re less likely to procrastinate or delay doing things that are really important to you. Thus, if you have a passion for something it will make your priorities list, regardless of what it is or how long it will take.
   
3. When you want to spark your creativity. Believe it or not, procrastination can make you more creative. More specifically, it gives you time to hash out your thoughts and think of alternative ways of doing things. It helps you “think outside the box” and be innovative.
   
4. When you want to make better decisions. Rushing to complete a task by a deadline can lead to tons of mistakes. It can also lead to poor quality or a lack of passion for the project. Procrastinating provides you with extra time to plan out your next moves, so they are the right moves. Thus, delaying the task may actually produce better results. A win-win for everyone!
   
5. Lastly, when you want to worry less. Ironically, actively procrastinating can make you healthier. Seriously. In fact, a 2005 study found that because active procrastinators are less anxious, they are able to produce higher-quality work. They also have a lower risk of depression, stress, health problems, and emotional distress.

Bad procrastination

Procrastination isn’t all rainbows and sunshine. In fact, it can have some serious consequences. Make sure you are procrastinating outside of these circumstances:

1. When it affects your academic performance. Passive procrastination can lead to poor academic performance in college. A study found that college students, who passively procrastinate are not only more stressed, but also sicker than those who do not passively procrastinate. They also tend to have lower course grades and GPAs.
   
2. When it causes you to have less compassion or empathy for yourself and others. Believe it or not, researchers have found that passive procrastinators tend to be indifferent, disinterested, and cold towards themselves and others.
   
3. When it causes you to be negative. A study on negativity and procrastination found that those who procrastinate until the last moment to, for instance, study for a college exam or a work assessment, are more likely to assume they will fail or be unable to complete the test by the deadline.
   
4. When it forces your co-workers, family members, spouse or partner, or friends to make up for your inaction. Keep in mind that when you passively procrastinate, you make it harder for other people. It causes others to work harder for you, while you do little-to-nothing. What happens then? No one wants to work with you or help you when you need it. This type of procrastination can also cause your co-workers and loved ones to become resentful, frustrated, angry, and hostile towards you. 
   
5. When it triggers or worsens mental health conditions. Chronic passive procrastination can actually trigger or aggravate depression, low self-esteem and self-confidence, self-doubt and insecurities, and anxiety.

A study on the pros and cons of passive procrastination found that chronic passive procrastination may lead to both short-term and long-term self-defeating behaviors and psychological issues – in some individuals.

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About the Author

Dr. R. Y. Langham

Ph.D. in Family Psychology

Ree has a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy (M.M.F.T.) and a Ph.D. in Family Psychology. She spent over ten years counseling families, couples, individuals, and children on adjustment issues such as blended families, same-sex couples, dysfunctional family relationships, relationship issues, etc. Now she writes for famous health organizations and is a published author.
Full Bio | LinkedIn

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