topic Re: Worsening procrastination and functioning at uni and work in Young people

Worsening procrastination and functioning at uni and work

Cinnamoliveroll — Fri, 22 May 2026 15:16:26 GMT

For most of this year, I’ve been struggling a lot with studying and general motivation. I’ve always procrastinated, but deadlines used to be enough to push me into action. Lately that hasn’t been working, which is starting to worry me.

I avoid uni work most of the time, even when I’m stressed about falling behind. I end up procrastinating, distracting myself by doom scrolling for hours, and then feeling worse afterwards. I’ve already dropped one course and I’m struggling to keep up with the rest.

It’s not just studying either, everyday tasks like cleaning my room and staying organised feel difficult too, and it’s starting to affect my job as well.

I still care and want to do well, but when I try to start things I tend to shut down or avoid them instead of acting on it - and then tell myself I don’t care to feel better.

This has been happening alongside low mood/self-esteem, anxiety, and some unhealthy coping habits. My thoughts overwhelm me most of the time. I reached out to the university counselling service but didn’t follow up because I wasn’t sure whether this is something counselling could help with, or whether I should be approaching it differently. I still enjoy parts of my life like sport, and hanging out with friends. I guess I’m trying to understand what’s going on and what kind of support would be appropriate?

Re: Worsening procrastination and functioning at uni and work

white knight — Sat, 23 May 2026 03:59:31 GMT

Hi, welcome

I hope I can help. We Champions here are those with lived experience that can guide you based on what they found beneficial.

Anxiety is a serious illness, usually taken lightly. It often develops to depression then you realise how bad this anxiety can be. I wont go further but to suggest a visit to your GP and their referrals. Also I've got at the bottom of this post some relevant threads, just need to read the first post of each.

Your thoughts of doom and procrastination could be a mixture of intrusive thoughts and lack of motivation.

Intrusive thoughts. These come about for a variety of reasons, often due to stress, too many things going on at one time for example, fear or as you eluded, low self esteem. I was treated for this many years ago and in part was taught how to judge if such thoughts were realistic or unrealistic. If the latter then you lack of mind control has to be countered by distracting yourself from those thoughts. Such distraction could come in the form of a walk to a park and back, a drink on a verandah, play with a pet and so on. Another thread is at the bottom for that.
Low self esteem. Sometimes we end up with this and it can be best to benefit from your own techniques. Who else is better to raise your feelings about yourself than you right? So patting yourself on your back works wonders. Regular treats like meeting a friend for coffee or such. Another threa don raising your self esteem is below.
Motivations lectures are amazingly good for you.

Finally, any counselling at all is good, you can always discount suggestions, you are not bound by them.

The following threads could change your life forever if taken seriously and if you allow them.

https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/anxiety/anxiety-how-l-eliminated-it/td-p/183873

https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/staying-well/depression-distraction-and-variety/td-p/275790

https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/staying-well/the-best-praise-you-ll-ever-get/td-p/134999

https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/staying-well/30-minutes-can-change-your-life/td-p/154525

" The wonder of a bee collecting honey can be lost in the fear of its sting" (TonyWK)

Reply anytime I'm here daily

TonyWK

I hope that helps.

Re: Worsening procrastination and functioning at uni and work

Lark — Sat, 22 Aug 2026 11:03:20 GMT

Hi, ik this isn't a super recent post, but I just wanted to let you know you're not alone. I am in a very similar boat, as are many people i know. I have been struggling with procrastination and depression for the last 2 years—it gets better, eventually. I am still struggling, but I have learned to choose when I care.

For example, if I have an urgent assignment due in 4hrs that is only half-written, I tell myself "I care about this". Even if I feel like it's hopeless or there's no reason to bother or I should drop out and go work at Woolies, I know that this assignment is important because it's 50% of my grade. If it were a tutorial with a participation mark, I would tell myself "I care" because if I miss the tutorial I have to write an 800 work reading review by the end of the week—and I just don't have the time or energy to spend 5hrs on a paper when I could spend 1hr at uni. But if it were some French recommended readings, that the lecturer linked online, I'd tell myself "I don't care about this", in that I care about the subject, but this work is unnecessary and I don't need to spend my time on it. This means I feel like my study time is more 'worth it', cause I identify why it matters to me.

This is not a fix-all solution. I still procrastinate a lot, especially because I keep optimistically signing up for more stuff, then realising I am burned out beyond belief. But I'm getting there, and this is what has helped me.

P.S. If this doesn't work for you, that's understandable—I'm just some rando explaining my experience. If you take anything from this, please just know you're not alone and I am sending you a massive hug virtually (if you're a hugging person; if not, ignore this lol). ❤️

Re: Worsening procrastination and functioning at uni and work

Lark — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 07:17:50 GMT

BTW this was paired with taling antidepressants. 🙂 higly recommend