Why Do Deadlines Make Us Procrastinate?

Imagine you have a big drawing to do for school. It is due next Friday. On Monday, you say, 'I will do it later!' You play with your toys instead. But as the days go by, you get busier and busier with other fun things. By Thursday night, you are tired, and now it feels like hard work.

Usually, when a toy is available right now, we take it. When the drawing deadline is far away, the drawing feels distant too. We treat the 'future me' like a stranger who has plenty of time. So today's fun wins over tomorrow's work.

When the clock ticks closer, the worry grows louder than the fun! That sudden panic makes us act. We realize if we don't do it now, we will be in trouble. This is why you often finish your homework at 10 PM right before bed.