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08/07/2025

Why We Procrastinate on Joy

Wanting something to feel "special" often delays us from doing it

Typically, when we think about procrastination, we think about delaying the hard, boring or unpleasant things in life — paying bills, doing laundry or meeting work deadlines. The bulk of scientific research focuses on why we delay pain, not pleasure.

But we can also put off things we enjoy — catching up with a friend we haven’t seen in a while, visiting a nearby attraction or opening that expensive bottle of wine.

A recent study published in the journal PNAS Nexus explored this hidden side of procrastination. And it found a surprising pattern — the longer we put off doing something we enjoy, the more likely we are to continue putting it off.

Please select this link to read the complete article from The Washington Post.

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