Procrastination is the act of unnecessarily and voluntarily delaying tasks despite knowing the negative consequences. It's a common experience, affecting everyday chores and important tasks like appointments, reports, and addressing stressful issues. Often seen as a negative trait, procrastination can hinder productivity and is associated with depression, low self-esteem, guilt, and feelings of inadequacy. However, it can also be a strategic response to demands with potential risks or when waiting for new information.

Culturally, both Western and non-Western students exhibit academic procrastination for different reasons. Western students often procrastinate to avoid underperforming or failing to learn adequately, while non-Western students do so to avoid appearing incompetent to peers. Cultural views on time management also influence procrastination. For instance, cultures with a multi-active view of time prioritize accuracy over speed, while linear-time cultures allocate specific periods to tasks and stop when the time is up.

Research on pigeons suggests that procrastination is not unique to humans and can be observed in other animals through delayed gratification behaviors.