The Hidden Talents of the Procrastinator
There are times when the delays caused by procrastinating can be worthwhile.
Posted February 14, 2026 | Reviewed by Devon Frye
For people who are always on time, there’s nothing worse than having to wait for the people who aren’t.
Jessica’s best friend Julie is a lovely person, but there’s hardly ever been an instance when she’s shown up at the appointed hour. Sure enough, when she does arrive, Julie is not only full of excuses but also a set of entertaining stories. It’s hard for Jessica to stay aggravated for long.
Over the years, Jessica’s patience has worn thin, but she doesn’t have the heart to break things off. Instead, she puts up with Julie’s behavior because the fun seems to outweigh the pain.
Can There Be Adaptive Features of Procrastination?
In a new study on the psychology of procrastinators, RMIT University Melbourne’s Lauren Saling and colleagues (2025) wondered whether the chronically late may have some advantages when it comes to certain features of life. Although procrastinators don’t necessarily do all that well when it comes to meeting deadlines, their practice of taking their time can occasionally be not just adaptive but superior to that of their punctual peers.
One problem that non-procrastinators have is that they can “pre-crastinate,” meaning they respond so hastily that they make mistakes. Their other problem is that if they’re looking to finish something, they don’t stop long enough to consider all the options. A strength in “divergent thinking,” or the willingness to play with ideas, could help the procrastinator win out in jobs that require thinking outside the box.
Testing Procrastination’s Benefits
Defining procrastination as taking longer than necessary to complete a task, Saling et al. decided to find out how this tendency would relate to performance on what is known as the “Blicket Task.” The word “blicket” refers to an object that has certain qualities which, when paired with another object, produce a certain outcome. If procrastinators have hidden cognitive talents due to their tendency to weigh all the options, this would be reflected, believed the authors, in superior performance on this test of deductive logic.
The online sample of 260 participants completed a set of questionnaires to test their tendency to procrastinate (“I often find myself doing tasks that I had intended to do earlier”), ability to tolerate frustration (“I can’t stand doing things that involve a lot of hassle”), and a measure of divergent creativity (coming up with multiple uses of everyday objects).
As used in the Saling et al. study, the blicket test consisted of showing participants the “blicket detector,” three white disks that would light up if the right combination of duplex Lego bricks were placed on them. The participant’s job was to decide which object was a “blicket” and which was not. In phase one, the right combination was black, brown, and green, and in phase two, they were red, yellow, and blue.
The findings showed that procrastinators scored higher on frustration tolerance, meaning that they didn’t get upset by having to let situations run their course. They also had higher divergent thinking scores, and, in support of their enjoyment of playful thinking, were more likely to engage in successful blicket identification. As the authors concluded, “Behavioral procrastinators therefore seem to exhibit an exploratory approach like that of children.”
Not All Procrastinators Think Alike, Though
All of this argues for the joys of procrastination and supports Jessica’s willingness to put up with Julie’s constant lateness, given how much fun they have together. The Australian authors, in interpreting their findings, noted the distinction between “active” and “passive” procrastination. The passive procrastinator simply puts things off. The active procrastinator enjoys waiting till the last minute. Their “deliberate delay” could turn into a cognitive strength.
Before using this study as an excuse for your own procrastination, though, consider the features of this behavior not included in the study. Yes, you may be like the fun and creative Julie, but the Jessicas of the world may not always appreciate this.
If they’ve been friends long enough, Jessica has probably figured out ways to manage their relationship (giving Julie a time that’s 15 minutes earlier than necessary). But in many social situations, the cognitive benefits of procrastination can easily become a tedious bore to those who are forced to wait around.
There is also another lesson to be gained from the study for the “pre-crastinator.” Ask yourself whether you’re so fixated on punctuality that you miss out on some of the joys of delaying an action or decision. You might also make avoidable mistakes if you focus more on the ends rather than the means. Give yourself permission to play with ideas, even though this may feel strange at first.
To sum up, taking some extra time to think before you act can be a benefit to derive from a little procrastination. Creativity doesn’t always follow the clock; allowing yours to flourish may require a little time to play.
Saling, L. L., Weatherhead, S., & Cohen, D. B. (2025). Exploratory tendencies explain task delay in procrastination. New Ideas in Psychology , 79 , 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2025.101190
Share this post Facebook Bluesky Linkedin Email
There was a problem adding your email address. Please try again.
By submitting your information you agree to the Psychology Today Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
Susan Krauss Whitbourne, Ph.D. , is a Professor Emerita of Psychological and Brain Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Her latest book is The Search for Fulfillment.
Get the help you need from a therapist near you–a FREE service from Psychology Today.
This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.