The Detriment of Delay

For many, the classic delay associated with procrastination involves a decision to wait for the arrival of stronger motivation and inspiration. Whether it’s the investment in time, level of difficulty or even firmness of deadline, procrastination is the product of cognitive distortion. We talk ourselves out of taking the initiative.

Passive procrastinators feel overwhelmed, anxious and oftentimes frozen in place. They avoid digging into the work as long as possible. When someone actively procrastinates, they choose to accept the negative consequences of delay in exchange for the choice to work under pressure. Both forms of procrastination result in anxiety, stress and potentially strained relationships.

Neurologically speaking, there are two primary forces in play here. Our limbic system is the center of the brain that regulates emotional response, including motivation. Dopamine release within its pathways leads us to associate pleasure with specific actions or stimuli. Procrastinating may be a means of seeking immediate reward by delaying something less gratifying.

This may beg the question, why wouldn’t we be motivated to cross an item off our to-do list? The counterpart in this battle is the logical prefrontal cortex, responsible for focus, planning and the core executive functions that successfully help us navigate our daily lives. Notably, this area of the brain receives stimulating blood flow and develops alongside the integration of key reflexes, like Landau. When our reflexes remain immature, those connections to the brain fail to strengthen and mature as well.

Reflex integration exercises that support our neurological connections may help us manage those stressful situations that we resist through procrastination. By supporting the integration of our defensive reflexes, we can learn to find calm in chaos. Rhythmic movement exercises also send blood flow to and strengthen the areas in our brain (like our prefrontal cortex) that help us prioritize and prepare. By supporting our fear response and developing our brain’s ability to navigate tasks with focus and purpose, our reflexes work to power the successful pursuit of our goals.