text: ‘Studies have shown this isn’t true. They’re conveniently forgetting the times when it all went horribly wrong – and selectively remembering the odd occasion when things went well under severe time pressure.’
  Once, humans probably did have stronger excuses for delaying chores that didn’t need immediate attention, say brain scientists such as Alan Sanfey at Arizona University, whose work has shed light on the evolutionary origins of procrastination.
  It appears that the brain is divided into two parts. One triggers ‘automatic responses’ which take precedence over everything else – such as fleeing sabre-toothed tigers. The other governs ‘deliberate responses’ – writing that report due next week or booking a visit to the optician. Evolution has dictated that the former take precedence. Today there aren’t any sabre-toothed tigers, but we still put things off.