India, Oct. 21 -- Smitha Kashi, a consultant art therapist and counsellor at Spandana Healthcare, told HT Lifestyle in an interview published Oct. 19, 2026, that procrastination is often rooted in emotional avoidance rather than laziness or poor time management.
Why procrastination happens
Kashi said that from a psychological perspective, procrastination can occur when a task feels overwhelming, uncertain, boring, or carries the possibility of failure, leading the brain to perceive it as a source of discomfort.
She said delaying a task can provide temporary relief from discomfort, even though postponing it can create more stress later. According to Kashi, this immediate relief reinforces the habit, making procrastination more likely when...