Procrastination- Uncovering the Truth - By Ethan Johan Gonsalves

Written By: Ethan Johan Gonsalves

Category: Essay

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In a thought-provoking essay titled "Procrastination- Uncovering the Truth," Ethan Johan Gonsalves delves into the multifaceted nature of procrastination. This entry, part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 hosted by Hashtag Kalakar, challenges traditional views on procrastination, suggesting that it may not be the societal bane it's often perceived to be. Ethan examines the psychological and historical aspects of procrastination, offering a nuanced perspective that invites readers to reconsider their understanding of this common human behavior.

About the Work

Ethan Johan Gonsalves' essay explores the theme of procrastination through a lens that combines scientific research and historical anecdotes. He presents a balanced view, considering both the drawbacks and potential benefits of procrastination. The essay employs a logical and analytical style, enriched with references to psychological studies and notable figures, to argue that moderate procrastination can foster creativity and critical thinking. Ethan's work encourages a re-evaluation of procrastination, suggesting it may be more of an incubation period for ideas rather than mere laziness.

Procrastination- Uncovering the Truth

Original Submission by Ethan Johan Gonsalves

Topic: Procrastination- Uncovering the Truth

By: Ethan Johan Gonsalves

Age: 14 years old

Procrastination has often been looked down upon. In fact, 88% of participants in a survey admitted to wasting one hour a day at their workplace. Society views procrastination as a bane that hinders progress. Yet humans have the tendency to procrastinate. It is like the inertia of our brain to remain at rest. But is procrastination really what it seems on the surface? Is it just putting tasks off and being lazy or is there any actual benefit in it?

Procrastination is, as per the Cambridge dictionary, the act of delaying something that must be done, often because it is unpleasant, intimidating or boring. While on a lighter note, almost every task we do is often unpleasant, intimidating or boring, procrastination in itself has been misunderstood for reasons that I will explain below. Any human out there, especially students, would have to be convincing liars to persuade you that they have never procrastinated in some part of their life. Procrastination is the effect of a clash between the limbic system and the prefrontal cortex. The limbic system is the oldest and most emotional part of your brain while the prefrontal cortex is the rational and logical part that plans strategically for the future.

When you have a task that is potentially boring, monotonous or seemingly scary, the limbic system demands instant relief and comfort while the prefrontal cortex realizes that it would be rational to finish that task off instead. And procrastination is simply what happens when our limbic system wins that clash. Procrastination has become increasingly common due to the bustling world we live in which increases the limbic system’s desire to rest and relax.

Procrastination is not a new concept. It is an age-old idea that has been looked down upon by societies like the ancient Romans and the ancient Greeks. In fact, Hesiod, a Greek poet writing around 800 BCE, warned people not to "put off your work until tomorrow and the day after." The Greeks even had a specific word for it: Akrasia (acting against your better judgment).

However, moving back to our topic: “Is Procrastination Really the Bane that People Call It?”. And the answer to that is well, controversial. Society paints the image of procrastination as an outcast that has spread like a virus, creating a pandemic of unproductiveness. Well, if that is really the case, then I pose one question: “Do we think better if we force ourselves to think or if we naturally get into the mode of thinking?”. Procrastination and its misunderstanding stems from the fact that we humans have asked the wrong question and found the answers in the wrong places.

Procrastination is of two types as scientists have categorized: active and passive. But instead of moving into the complexities and their differences, let us take an example. Consider that Person A and Person B have a month to do the same project.

If Person A decided to finish it off and hand it in early rather than procrastinate and put it off, Person A elects to reduce the time spent pondering on the topic and identifying the loopholes. He might submit the project in a week, yet he has failed to understand the weak angles. The rushed process has restricted Person A from exploring the problem in depth.

On the other hand, Person B elects to read the topic and put it off until the last week. He does not necessarily do any actual work. As that person goes about doing daily activities like cleaning and reading, the brain is subconsciously connecting the dots and using logic to understand the project. And as the penultimate week before the deadline begins, this person finally begins his project consciously. He begins to research and think only to realize that the groundwork is laid and that he can stretch his understanding far beyond. Further, the societal assumption is based on the fact that humans do not react to nearing deadlines.

However, every human deep down is afraid of the consequences and now Person B is in a mode where he has critical knowledge and a task to complete in a short time. Person B will finish the project right on time (which is something society might have gotten correct), but Person B has now used his time to brainstorm and think critically and thus completed his work with the actual deadline in mind, not something forced on by the prefrontal cortex.

This idea is not something that has been pulled out of nowhere. It is something that is backed by contemporary science and based on the logic that we must use our brains to think rather than restrict its potential with an artificial deadline we set to meet societal expectations.

The famous Shin & Grant experiment in 2016 is a testament to this modern idea. These researchers also believed that procrastination has been misunderstood. Hence, they conducted an experiment where participants were divided into groups. People in Group 1 were like Person A who completed the task immediately and were called precrastinators. Participants of Group 2 were instructed to play a small game before beginning the task and Group 3 was told to complete the task at the last minute.

And the results led to the same conclusion that I just explained. Group 2’s ideas were found to have 28% more creative solutions than Group 1. But here enters the harsh reality. Group 3’s idea was found to be almost on par with Group 1. The reason? Well, Shin and Grant concluded that moderate procrastination was most effective. So, in the example I stated, if there was Person C who began the project with two days left, he would also have a real deadline that is far too close for any actual thinking which is why, he too finds himself in a situation similar to that of Person A.

There are multiple reasons that psychology has given us for this experiment. First is the incubation effect, where people with more breathing room in terms of thinking, have their brains running subconsciously behind the scenes to connect the dots just like in the case of Person B. Second, we have the Zeigarnik Effect, discovered by Russian psychologist Bluma Zeigarnik in the 1920s, this effect states that our brains remember unfinished tasks better than completed ones. This is the reason why a to-do list is more likely to compel us to complete a task rather than a list that shows completed tasks.

A famous, historic example that demonstrates the same idea is Frank Lloyd Wright. He is the mastermind behind the famed Fallingwater House. It is said that when his client called him to tell him that he was coming over to see his designs, he completed the designs in two hours. But the plan was not the result of two hours of thinking; rather, he reportedly took over two months to develop this idea. This extended period of incubation has likely contributed to the architectural success of the Fallingwater House. This further supports the contemporary idea that incubation is often the best way to boost critical thinking and creativity.

Even J.R.R. Tolkien is another individual who used his time to think things through and not force artificial deadlines. He did not panic-write at the absolute deadline, instead he routinely stepped away from The Lord of the Rings to design an intricate plot which gave his primary plotlines time to organically develop in his subconscious. The Lord of the Rings had a long writing process, but by thinking the plot through and giving himself time to refine, revise and improvise, the book had a well-structured narrative and concrete world building that readers love even today. This example further showcases that the incubation effect is a well-known game changer further supporting the evidence from the Shin and Grant experiment.

Even Bill Gates has been known to take breaks from his demanding workspace. His ‘Think Week’ involved him spending nearly 18 hours reading and thinking without social or digital distractions. This habit has indeed proved beneficial to both Gates and Microsoft as it was pivotal in the making of memos like the Internet Tidal Wave. His ‘Think Week’ is an idea that reflects the incubation effect where the brain is allowed to subconsciously formulate ideas and plans without modern world distractions or forced deadlines.

So, these examples show us that amidst the societal belief that “Procrastination is bad”, individuals have grown and flourished when they have moderately procrastinated. Moderate procrastination is strategic procrastination where you do not force your brain to think, instead you give it space to flourish.

As stated before, procrastination is an idea that has been viewed as a villain and heavily misunderstood but addressing that elephant in the room is important. So, with that assumption challenged, let us remember to embrace procrastination in the right amount. Let your brain think and do not force it to adhere to artificial deadlines based on society’s assumptions. With this space and time, your brain will work behind the scenes to give you that groundbreaking idea you were really searching for.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar is a prestigious international event celebrating the rich diversity of literary talent worldwide. This competition welcomes submissions across various categories, offering a platform for writers to share their unique voices and perspectives. With a focus on creativity and expression, the competition aims to foster a global community of writers and poets, encouraging both seasoned and emerging authors to contribute their insights and narratives.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ethan Johan Gonsalves for his illuminating contribution, "Procrastination- Uncovering the Truth," to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026. Ethan's essay offers a fresh perspective on a universally experienced phenomenon, challenging us to rethink our approach to procrastination. We appreciate his thoughtful analysis and look forward to seeing more of his insightful writing in the future.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.