Postponement Frequently postponing tasks leads to stress and lethargy

Especially young men often postpone important tasks
"Tomorrow is also a day", "Deferred is not suspended": With such and similar sentences, tasks to be done are often postponed until later. Young men, in particular, suffer from "pusheritis". This can have health consequences, as researchers now found in a study.
Deferring unwanted duties leads to health problems
The appeal: "What you can do today, do not postpone tomorrow!" Often fades in the daily lives of many people. The postponement of unpopular activities, popularly called "Aufschieberitis" and by experts as procrastination, is widespread, especially among young men. This is shown by a new study by scientists from the Clinic and Polyclinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy of the Mainz University Medical Center. As the researchers report in the renowned journal "PLOS ONE", postponement is often associated with side effects such as stress, depression, anxiety, loneliness and fatigue.

Unfinished makes stress. Picture: thingamajiggs - fotolia

Pokrastination spread especially among young men
The researchers interviewed a total of 2,527 participants between the ages of 14 and 95 in eastern and western Germany. As a spokeswoman for the University Medical Center explained, the subjects were initially interviewed personally and had subsequently completed a questionnaire in the presence of the interviewer. It was also about the question of who escapes the most unpleasant duties. According to a report by Mainz University Medical Center, people who frequently postponed important activities often lived single-handedly, were more affected by unemployment, had a low income, and were especially found among male students.

Life satisfaction was also reduced
Univ. Dr. Manfred Beutel, who initiated and led the study, said: "The study confirms that significant postponement of important activities is associated with stress, depression, anxiety, loneliness and fatigue. Overall, life satisfaction was reduced with procrastination. "For investigator and clinic director Professor Beutel, it was" time to act "due to the increasing frequency of such disease progression. A "special treatment offer for young adults with procrastic behavior" was developed. Beutel explained: "The vicious circle of postponement, avoidance, feelings of failure, exhaustion and depression is carefully worked up during in-patient treatment." According to the university, the scientists want to use future evaluations of the study to find out how much the use of the all-around present is Online offer of distractions by computer and smartphone affects procrastination. (Ad)