And here’s how to break the cycle

Perfectionism often looks like a good habit. It pushes students to aim high, care deeply about their work, and want to do well. However, in reality, perfectionism can quietly become one of the biggest reasons students fall behind. When the pressure to do something perfectly feels overwhelming, it becomes easier to delay starting at all. This is where procrastination takes over, not because students do not care, but because they care too much.

Taking Back Control: When Students Speak Up

In a striking spoken-word performance, Suzu Kitamura puts words to an experience many students know all too well. She explores the pressure to succeed, the fear of not being good enough, and the emotional weight that comes with constantly trying to meet expectations. Her performance reminds students that waiting for the “perfect moment” often keeps them stuck.

The message is simple yet powerful: progress does not require perfection. It begins the moment you decide to start, even if you are unsure or uncomfortable.

Why Do We Procrastinate Even When We Know Better?

Almost every student has experienced this moment: you sit down to work, open your laptop, and suddenly feel the urge to check your phone, watch a video, or promise yourself you will start later. This behaviour is not about laziness or lack of discipline. It is a natural response from your brain.

When a task feels stressful, overwhelming, or emotionally uncomfortable, your brain looks for immediate relief. Scrolling through social media or watching videos offers a quick escape from that discomfort. Unfortunately, this relief is temporary. Once the distraction ends, stress and guilt return, often stronger than before. This creates the familiar procrastination cycle that many students struggle to break.

Decision Fatigue: When Your Brain Is Simply Tired

Every mental task you perform throughout the day uses energy. From choosing what to wear to paying attention in class and responding to messages, your brain is constantly making decisions. Research suggests that people have a limited capacity for decision-making each day. When that limit is reached, the brain becomes exhausted, a state known as decision fatigue.

By the time students sit down to study or complete assignments, their mental energy may already be depleted. In this tired state, the brain naturally avoids tasks that require focus and effort. This makes procrastination feel almost automatic, even when deadlines are approaching.

The Psychology Behind “I’ll Do It Later”

Writer and speaker Tim Urban explains procrastination in a way that feels instantly relatable. He describes how our minds drift into YouTube binges, Wikipedia rabbit holes, or moments of staring into space while important tasks wait in the background.

Urban points out that procrastination is not really about managing time; it is about managing emotions. We delay tasks because they make us uncomfortable, anxious, or afraid of failure. Avoiding the task helps us avoid those feelings, at least for a short while.

How Students Can Break the Cycle (Without Burning Out)

Breaking the procrastination cycle does not require extreme self-discipline or endless study hours. Small, realistic changes can make a big difference. Starting imperfectly, even with a messy sentence or rough outline, helps reduce the pressure that causes avoidance. Planning study times in advance can also reduce decision fatigue, making it easier to begin without overthinking.

Short, focused work sessions often work better than long, exhausting ones. Most importantly, students benefit from lowering the stakes they place on every task. Not every assignment has to be perfect. Completing something imperfectly is far more valuable than never starting at all.

The Takeaway

Perfectionism tells students to wait until they feel ready. Procrastination convinces them to avoid discomfort. Nevertheless, real progress happens when action comes first, even before motivation or confidence appears.

Understanding how your brain works can change how you approach your work. Struggling with procrastination does not mean you are failing. It means you are human. On a final note, once you learn to work with your mind instead of against it, taking back control becomes possible.