Individuals who regularly procrastinate end up with more health problems than those who get on with things, according to a study.

Researchers asked 379 Canadian students how strongly they agreed with statements such as ‘I generally delay before starting work I have to do’ or ‘I am continually saying ‘I’ll do it tomorrow’ ‘. 

The same people, who were monitored over five months, were asked about stress and minor health problems, such as colds, flu, headaches and back pain. 

Those who tended to procrastinate reported experiencing these more.

Professor Fuschia Sirois of Durham University, who led the study, said: ‘People who procrastinate aren’t generally lazy or bad at managing their time – more often they are afraid of failing at tasks, so put them off. 

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‘The things they haven’t done prey on their mind and so they feel stressed. It is this stress which we think affects the immune system, leading to aches and colds.’

The study was in the British Journal of Health Psychology.

Researchers asked 379 Canadian students how strongly they agreed with statements such as ‘I generally delay before starting work I have to do’ or ‘I am continually saying ‘I’ll do it tomorrow’ ‘ (stock image)

The same people, who were monitored over five months, were asked about stress and minor health problems, such as colds, flu , headaches and back pain (stock image)