7 reasons why intelligent people tend to procrastinate more

For the majority of my academic and professional life, procrastination has been my constant companion.

As someone who is often regarded as an intelligent individual, my habit of putting things off until the last minute tends to surprise and perplex those around me. They question why someone with my capabilities would resort to such a counterproductive practice. I’ve even had colleagues suggest that my tendency to procrastinate might be a sign of laziness or lack of discipline.

In response to these queries and suggestions, I typically find myself pondering the following questions:

Why is it that intelligent individuals like myself seem prone to procrastination?

Could it be that there’s more to procrastination than merely being a sign of laziness or poor time management?

And most importantly, why are we quick to judge procrastinators without understanding the underlying reasons for this behavior?

Through this article, I aim to shed light on the curious link between intelligence and procrastination. I believe that it’s high time we challenge the negative stereotypes surrounding procrastinators and acknowledge that there could be valid, psychologically-rooted reasons behind this behavior.

By the end of this piece, I hope you’ll come to see that procrastination isn’t necessarily a vice exclusive to the lazy or undisciplined. Instead, it can be a trait shared by many intelligent individuals — a trait that is often misunderstood and unfairly stigmatized.

1) They are perfectionists

Ponder on this – intelligent people are often perfectionists at heart. They have a mental picture of how things should be and anything less than this ideal scenario can seem unacceptable.

This desire for perfection is not a switch that can be flipped on and off. It’s a constant, nagging presence—like an invisible coach that’s perpetually unsatisfied with your performance.

Now, when it comes to tasks that have an ambiguous structure or no definitive ‘right’ way of doing things, the perfectionist is stumped. They find themselves at a loss because there’s no clear path to achieving that perfect outcome they so desire.

And so, they procrastinate. They put off starting the task until they can figure out the best way to approach it. Until they can ensure that every detail will be attended to and every potential issue accounted for.

But here’s the catch – the quest for the perfect strategy or the perfect time to start often leads to inaction. It’s like waiting for all the traffic lights between home and your destination to turn green before setting out on a journey.

This is why it’s essential for intelligent individuals to recognise this perfectionist streak within them and understand how it plays into their propensity to procrastinate. Recognising it is the first step towards managing it effectively.

2) They are easily bored

Paradoxically, intelligent people tend to put off tasks because they’re too easy. This might come as a surprise but bear with me.

Imagine being an accomplished pianist who’s asked to play ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ over and over again. The task is so simple that it’s almost insulting. It offers no challenge, no room for creativity. It’s just…boring.

Intelligent individuals thrive on challenges. They crave intellectual stimulation. When faced with tasks that are repetitive, mundane or simplistic, they can’t help but feel uninspired and disinterested.

So what do they do? They procrastinate.

They delay starting the task in the hope that it will become more interesting or challenging with time. Or they might delay in the hope of finding something more stimulating to work on.

This doesn’t mean they’re incapable of doing the task. Far from it. It just means that their intellect craves something more—something that will make them think, create, and innovate.

But here’s the kicker – by procrastinating on these ‘boring’ tasks, they often end up creating unnecessary stress and anxiety for themselves. The task doesn’t get any more exciting with time; it just becomes more urgent.

That’s why it’s crucial for intelligent people to recognize this tendency and find ways to make mundane tasks more interesting or intersperse them with more challenging tasks. It’s about finding a balance that caters to their intellectual needs while also ensuring productivity and efficiency.

3) They are future-focused

This might seem counterintuitive at first glance. After all, wouldn’t future-focused individuals be more driven to complete tasks promptly to secure a better future?

Let’s delve a little deeper.

Intelligent people often have a heightened ability to envision the future in vivid detail. They can foresee multiple outcomes, and this ability sometimes leads them to focus on the end result rather than the immediate task at hand.

For instance, consider an intelligent student who has to write a paper. This student doesn’t just see the paper; they see the potential grade, the impact on their overall GPA, their chances of getting into a good university, and even their future career prospects.

This far-sightedness can create an overwhelming pressure to produce something extraordinary. And with that pressure comes fear—the fear of producing subpar work, the fear of not living up to potential, the fear of failing.

And so, they put off the task. They wait for a ‘better time’—a time when they feel more prepared or inspired—to start working on it.

What’s fascinating is that this isn’t due to lack of understanding or inability. It’s because their vision of the future—filled with high expectations and potential disappointments—can be daunting.

So it’s not about being lazy or disorganized. It’s about dealing with the burden of high expectations and the fear of potential failure. Hence, if you’re an intelligent person who often finds themselves procrastinating, know that it’s not a character flaw. It’s simply your mind’s way of dealing with the weight of your own potential.

4) They crave novelty

Intelligence is often associated with curiosity and an insatiable thirst for new knowledge and experiences. Intelligent people love diving into new subjects, learning new skills, and generally pushing the boundaries of what they know.

This craving for novelty can be exhilarating. It can lead to amazing discoveries, innovations, and personal growth. But it can also be a double-edged sword when it comes to getting things done.

Let’s consider a scenario. An intelligent person starts a project with great enthusiasm. They’re excited about the new challenge and the learning opportunities it presents. But halfway through, another enticing project catches their attention. And just like that, the initial project loses its novelty. It becomes a chore that they’ve lost interest in.

So, they put off finishing the first project and jump into the new one. The cycle repeats itself, leading to multiple unfinished projects and tasks.

This isn’t because intelligent people lack commitment or discipline. It’s because their intellect is constantly seeking new stimuli, new challenges. It’s an inherent part of their nature.

But here lies the conundrum—consistent progress often requires sticking with the same task long after the novelty has worn off. It’s about realizing that not all tasks will be exciting all the time and that’s okay.

5) They tend to overthink

I’ve often found myself caught in the trap of overthinking, and I’m not alone in this. Many intelligent people I know are prone to this habit.

Let me share a personal example.

A few months ago, I was asked to give a presentation at a conference. I was thrilled! This was a great opportunity to share my research and network with other professionals in my field. But as the date of the conference drew closer, I found myself constantly pushing back on creating my presentation.

Why? Because every time I sat down to work on it, I would get lost in a whirlwind of thoughts. What if my research wasn’t as groundbreaking as I thought? What if people asked questions that I couldn’t answer? What if my presentation wasn’t engaging enough?

These ‘what ifs’ didn’t just pop into my head – they set up camp there. The more I thought about it, the more daunting the task seemed. So, I kept putting it off until the last minute.

I’ve since realized that this wasn’t so much about the task itself as it was about the narrative I had built around it in my head. It was my overthinking that made the task seem far more complex and stressful than it actually was.

Intelligent people often have this tendency to analyze and reanalyze every possible scenario before taking action. While this can lead to better decision-making at times, it can also result in paralysis by analysis when taken to an extreme.

6) They have a wider range of interests

Intelligent people are known for their broad range of interests. Their inquisitive minds refuse to be confined to a single domain. They are often polymaths, dabbling in various fields from science to arts, from philosophy to technology.

This wide array of interests is reflected in Leonardo da Vinci’s life and work. He was not only an extraordinary artist but also an inventor, scientist, mathematician, engineer, writer—the list goes on. His insatiable curiosity and relentless pursuit of knowledge across multiple disciplines exemplify the intellectual breadth common among highly intelligent individuals.

While this multidisciplinary approach sparks creativity and innovation, it can also fuel procrastination. With so many interests vying for attention, intelligent people often find it challenging to focus on one task or project at a time. They might start working on a task only to be distracted by a new idea or interest.

This isn’t a lack of focus or discipline—it’s the result of a mind that’s perpetually curious and eager to explore different avenues. But it can lead to many started projects and few finished ones.

7) They derive enjoyment from pressure

This may seem unusual, but intelligent people often thrive under pressure. The adrenaline rush, the last-minute hustle, the satisfaction of pulling off a task against the odds – they find it invigorating.

While most people view pressure as a stressor, intelligent individuals often see it as a stimulant. It pushes them out of their comfort zone, forces them to think quickly and creatively, and brings out their best performance.

For instance, consider a seasoned journalist who thrives on tight deadlines. The pressure of delivering a story in a limited time frame doesn’t stress them out; instead, it fuels their creativity and productivity.

This tendency to perform better under pressure can inadvertently lead to procrastination. They delay starting a task not because they’re lazy or inefficient but because they enjoy the thrill of working against the clock.

However, this approach can be risky. While they might pull off a task successfully at the last minute once or twice, it’s not always sustainable in the long run. There’s a fine line between thriving under pressure and burning out due to chronic stress.

In conclusion: It’s a complex interplay

The reasons behind why intelligent people tend to procrastinate more often are complex and multifaceted. It’s not a simple cause-and-effect situation, but rather an intricate interplay of various factors – from perfectionism and future-focused thinking to a craving for novelty and a love for pressure.

As Albert Einstein once said, “The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” It’s this imagination, this capacity to envision multiple outcomes and possibilities, that often leads intelligent individuals into the labyrinth of procrastination.

But if you’re an intelligent person who struggles with procrastination, remember this: it’s not a character flaw. It’s not indicative of laziness or lack of discipline. Instead, it might just be a byproduct of your intellect, your curiosity, your breadth of interests.

So don’t berate yourself for it. Understand it. Embrace it. And find ways to work with it rather than against it.

After all, the goal isn’t to eliminate procrastination entirely. It’s about channeling your intelligence into managing your tendency to procrastinate effectively. And who knows? Maybe in that last-minute rush or in the thrill of starting a new project, you might discover some of your most ingenious ideas.

As they say, necessity is the mother of invention—and sometimes, procrastination can be the mother of innovation.