40 Hilarious Procrastination Memes for the Human Embodiment of ‘I’ll Do It Later’
We all know that one coworker—yeah, the “I’ll circle back on that” champion who’s basically in a committed relationship with their Outlook inbox. They’ve got 37 tabs open, none of them useful, and if procrastination paid well, they’d be your boss by now.
Let’s face it, some people don’t work under pressure—they work only when the deadline has already filed a missing persons report. From “just five more minutes” to suddenly needing to deep-clean their keyboard, these masters of delay deserve their own sitcom (or at least a TED Talk titled How to Look Busy 101).
And don’t even think about judging—Grumpy Shark™ sees you “taking a quick break” for the fourth time this hour. But hey, you’re in good company.
So go ahead—put off whatever you were supposed to be doing and scroll through these 40 painfully relatable procrastination memes. It’s not wasting time if you’re laughing, right?
🦈 “I’ll bite… later.”
#1 Procrastination Memes
Source: TheOddIsOut.tumblr.com
#2
Source: Imgur
#3
Source: 9gag
#4
Source: 9gag
#5
Source: Memebase
How many times have you told yourself you’d watch just one more episode, only to realize it’s 3 a.m.? Memes about binge-watching and losing track of time show exactly how easy it is to get sucked into distractions when you should be working.
This meme hits home because we all know the struggle between wanting to be productive and wanting to relax.
#6
Source: 9gag
#7
Source: Me.me
#8
View this post on Instagram
#9
Source: 9gag
#10 Procrastination Memes
Source: HigherEd.me
Sometimes the to-do list feels like a monster that keeps growing. Memes about adding new tasks while never crossing off old ones perfectly describe how procrastination can make us feel overwhelmed but stuck.
These memes connect because they show how delaying tasks only makes things harder.
#11
Source: 9gag
#12
Source: Meme Guy
#13
Source: 9gag
#14
Source: 9gag
#15
Source: Pagez
You know that sudden burst of energy when the deadline is just hours—or minutes—away? It’s like a flood of adrenaline kicks in, and suddenly everything except the task at hand feels urgent. Maybe you’re furiously typing away, or cleaning your entire room to avoid opening that document. That frantic scramble, the racing heartbeat, and the quiet hope that somehow you’ll pull it off—it’s all part of the procrastination rollercoaster.
Many have found themselves wide awake at 2 a.m., fueled by panic but finally getting things done, no matter how chaotic it looks.
#16
Source: 9gag
#17
Source: www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk
#18
Source: Someecards
#19
Source: 9gag
#20 Procrastination Memes
Source: Someecards
Memes that joke about the creative excuses we make to avoid work show how good we get at convincing ourselves “later” is a better time.
It’s funny because everyone has a unique excuse for procrastinating, and these memes celebrate that shared creativity.
#21
Source: Someecards
#22
Source: 9gag
#23
Source: 9gag
#24
Source: 9gag
#25
Source: 9gag
Have you ever cleaned your whole house or reorganized your desk just to avoid one important task? Memes about “productive procrastination” make fun of these harmless distractions that feel productive but really just delay the main work.
These memes are popular because they show how we sometimes trick ourselves into feeling good while putting things off.
#26
Source: 9gag
#27
Source: 9gag
#28
Source: 9gag
#29
Source: 9gag
#30 Procrastination Memes
Source: 9gag
Dr. Timothy Pychyl, a leading researcher on procrastination, explains:
“Procrastination isn’t about laziness; it’s about managing emotions. People delay tasks because they want to avoid negative feelings like stress or boredom.”
(source)
Understanding this helps us be kinder to ourselves when we procrastinate.
#31
Source: 9gag
#32
Source: 9gag
#33
Source: 9gag
#34
Source: 9gag
#35
Source: 9gag
Procrastination comes with a side of guilt that’s almost as exhausting as the work itself. These memes perfectly capture the constant internal dialogue of “I should be doing this” mixed with “Maybe later” and “Ugh, why bother?” The mental tug-of-war is real.
We, Grumpy Sharks, get how that guilt can weigh heavy but also fuel procrastination itself. These memes turn that cycle into something we can laugh at—because sometimes, the only way to handle the stress is to meme your way through it. It’s not victory, but it’s a start.
#36
Source: 9gag
#37
Source: 9gag
#38
Source: 9gag
#39
Source: 9gag
#40
Source: 9gag
At some point, procrastination evolves beyond just putting things off—it becomes a performance art. A delicate dance of looking incredibly busy while doing absolutely nothing productive. We’ve all been there. Tabs open like we’re conducting serious research, typing away like we’re drafting the next great novel—when in reality, we’re mentally ranking our favorite snacks or deciding if we deserve a nap for all our “hard work.”
These memes capture that struggle with eerie accuracy. They shine a light on the universal experience of acting productive while accomplishing, well… nothing. And if you’re part of the Grumpy Sharks team, you know exactly what we’re talking about. Sometimes, surviving the day means looking like you’re deep in the grind while secretly planning your weekend, your dinner, or just your next bathroom break.
Whether it’s the art of dodging emails, sitting in a Zoom call while mentally checking out, or mastering the blank-stare-at-the-screen technique, we all share this unspoken skill. And the best part? These memes don’t shame it—they celebrate it.
Because if procrastination were an Olympic sport, we’d be the reigning champions. No one fakes productivity better than us—and honestly, we kind of take pride in that. So here’s to the memes that get us, the moments that distract us, and the quiet comfort of knowing we’re not alone in this daily hustle of glorious avoidance.
Now excuse us while we go reorganize our desktop folders instead of answering that one important email. You know, for productivity.
