A report published this Thursday by the international portal HuffPost, with the participation of psychologists and psychotherapists, concluded that the habit of postponing work commitments, frequently labeled as negligence or lack of effort, actually constitutes a frequent anxiety symptom. According to the specialists, when accumulated pressure overwhelms the individual's response capacity, the central nervous system enters maximum alert and reacts with paralysis, interpreting the task list as a threat to physical and emotional integrity.
Psychotherapist Cathy Ranieri explained that, in environments with rigorous demands, the nervous system tends to react through three main responses: fight, flight, and, frequently in the work context, the so-called "freezing," which manifests as procrastination. Specialist Jordan White added that anxiety feeds procrastination by creating a flight response, since the anxious person feels the need to avoid the task, as starting or completing it generates worry.
This evasion proves counterproductive in the medium term. The fleeting relief sensation caused by postponement feeds an upward spiral of mental unrest, turning the work routine into a cycle of continuous strain. Portugal ranks among the European Union countries with the highest indicators of vulnerability to professional burnout, where extended workdays intersect with modest average remuneration and intense rhythms, worsening the problem.
The specialists recommend five practical measures to break this cycle: creating rigorous weekly planning, regular and scheduled breaks, starting with less complex tasks, priority resolution of the main obstacle, and softening guilt through monitoring self-critical thoughts. Persistent cases should prompt seeking mental health professionals or the psychological counseling hotline of the National Health Service.
