# Does procrastination cause stress?

Last reviewed 24 October 2026. ProcrastiGauge Answers: https://procgauge.com/answers/

URL: https://procgauge.com/answers/does-procrastination-cause-stress/

**Short answer:** They feed each other. Procrastinators report higher stress, especially as deadlines approach, and a 2023 study of 3,525 students found more procrastination predicted more stress, anxiety and depression symptoms nine months later. Stress, in turn, makes unpleasant tasks feel worse, which makes delay more tempting.

Key facts:
- Semester study: less stress early, more stress late in term
- Swedish cohort: more procrastination, more stress symptoms 9 months later
- Self-compassion: helps explain the link between procrastination and stress

In a semester-long study, procrastinators felt less stressed than others early in the term but more stressed near the end. Delay swaps a little stress now for more stress later.

Research on self-compassion suggests part of that stress comes from how harshly procrastinators judge themselves. Being kinder to yourself after a delay is linked with lower stress.

To break the cycle, make the task smaller, plan when you will start, and keep track of your mood along with your work. ProcrastiGauge records both in one short nightly check-in, so you can see whether starting earlier makes your days feel better.

Limits of the evidence. These studies are observational. They support a two-way link, but cannot fully separate cause and effect.

How ProcrastiGauge helps. ProcrastiGauge asks about your mood and wellbeing along with your work every day, so you can see how procrastination and stress move together for you.

7-day free trial, then $4.99 a month or $34.99 a year unless you cancel before it ends. Cancel any time.

Sources:
- Tice, D. M., & Baumeister, R. F. (1997). Longitudinal study of procrastination, performance, stress, and health: The costs and benefits of dawdling. Psychological Science, 8(6), 454-458. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.1997.tb00460.x
- Johansson, F., Rozental, A., Edlund, K., Côté, P., Sundberg, T., Onell, C., Rudman, A., & Skillgate, E. (2023). Associations between procrastination and subsequent health outcomes among university students in Sweden. JAMA Network Open, 6(1), e2249346. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.49346
- Sirois, F. M. (2014). Procrastination and stress: Exploring the role of self-compassion. Self and Identity, 13(2), 128-145. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2013.763404